By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Once construction is finished, the new Bucklin Tractor & Implement (BTI) store in Great Bend will be the company’s largest facility among their six locations.
BTI staff and community members held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning at the location on south U.S. 281 Highway. When it’s all said and done, BTI – Great Bend will be just over 100,000 square feet.
Kelly Estes,
BTI CEO, said the construction has been three years in the making.
"There were a lot of challenges to get it going with COVID-19 and permits," said Estes. "We're ready to start rocking and rolling. It was nice to see all the county, city and township representatives come out today. Great Bend has been one of our largest stores all along, so this was on the radar to build."
The new location, on the west side of Highway 281, is located catty-corner from
the current Great Bend store.
Great Bend General Manager Cody Dick said the
facility will be very modern and a boost to customers by providing 60,000 square
feet for the service shop.
"This is for our customers and employees," said Dick. "We want to better serve customers with their needs through parts and service. It's a great deal for the Barton County community. We're going to be getting it started pretty quick."
BTI understood there could be delays with any construction-related project, but
hope to have the construction completed within a year. The current building is
up for sale.
BTI – Great Bend currently has 38 employees and anticipates adding more
agriculture technicians and staff for their parts, sales and administration
departments.