<b>By RICHARD SITLER<br>
Indiana Correspondent</b> </p><p>

KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. — The logo for the new business co-owned by Neal Hall and Mark Fort – Hoosier Outdoor Power & Farm Supply, Inc. located at 6750 W. U.S. Highway 40 – features a huge checkmark.<br>
According to Hall, “We had a girl help us with our logo. It is in the shape of a checkmark – that was our idea there, that we wanted to do as many things as we can.”<br>
This shows in the wide selection they offer. “We are geared both to lawn and garden, whether it be commercial mowing or residential, along with a lot of agriculture products, as well: anything from lawn mowers to used farm equipment, to Key brand apparel,” explained Hall, who has 15 years of experience selling heavy equipment.
Fort, who also previously owned and sold a business, expanded on Hall’s description of what they have to offer.<br>
“We are a full Bush Hog dealer on the ag line, Cody Tractor Dealership – utility tractors. We handle Kawasaki Power products; Echo; like Neal said, the Key clothing, whether it is insulated bibs, blue jeans; Sullivan shows supplies for the livestock people,” he said.<br>
“We are also a Nutrena and Showmaster Feed dealership. We would really like to promote that for the livestock guys in the area. We do have used equipment. We are trying to push the consignment part of it. So, if a gentleman down the road has a tractor or planter and he is no longer (using) it, he can put it on our lot, consign it, and we will sell it for a percentage.”<br>
Both Hall and Fort have agricultural backgrounds, having been raised on local farms. Fort grew up on a farm nearby and graduated from Knightstown High School in 1982. Hall grew up on a farm near Wilkinson and graduated from Eastern Hancock High School in 1984. Fort continues to farm and raises cattle.<br>
Although their business offers many items for big and small farmers alike, they stress that they carry many items for non-farmers as well.<br>
“We also want everybody to know that this is not just ag,” Fort said. “It is for the residential guy, too. The guy that breaks his mower up here in town at his house wants it worked on – we will do it. Someone who wants a small mower to purchase for his residential – we will do it.<br>
“We’ve got residential weed eaters, trimmers, blowers, rakes, garden hoses, bird food.”<br>
Being from the area, Fort and Hall are community-minded. They believe area farmers and homeowners should have a local, friendly place to go to meet their needs. Fort believes it is important to know one’s customers.<br>
“I think that everyone who walks through that door gets treated just like we’ve known them – we are very friendly. We go above and beyond what anybody needs,” he said.<br>
Hall added, “We don’t want to take from the community; we want to be a part of the community. We donated a utility vehicle when they had the car show. We do what we can.”<br>
In keeping with these views, Hoosier Outdoor Power & Farm Supply services equipment.<br>
It is also in the process of getting into the equipment rental business. The owners want to have available items such as a power washer, backhoe, log splitter and other tools, for rent.
There are many challenges in starting a business, including one that is partly due to Fort’s and Hall’s success. They originally started the business about a year ago, in March, and their original location was at 202 W. Main St., which offered them good visibility. They outgrew that location by increasing their products and services, so they moved to their current location east of town. Some people thought they closed or just did not know where they relocated.<br>
Fort is confident in what his business has to offer customers.
“I think they are going to get good service, all of our stuff is quality,” he said. “There is not one piece of equipment or clothing or merchandise that is not quality. You come in here, we are going to know who you are – it is not like going into a big store in the city.<br>
“We will try to do everything we possibly can for you, whether it is to come pick up your mower or take it back to you because you don’t have time. We will work with anybody and everybody.”
His main concern is getting customers in the door so they can see for themselves – “I just want everyone to know that we are here.”
Editor’s note: This interview was conducted prior to the break-in at this business between Feb. 2-4. See related article on page 1B for details.<br>