In mid-September, Van Horn Inc. acquired Macon Ag Service, its seventh location in central Illinois.

With this purchase, the company now serves more than 4,500 customers in 11 counties. Van Horn provides fertilizer, seed, crop protection, consultation and custom application services. Roger Oliver, Van Horn Inc. president, says he's just trying to keep up with his customer's demands.

"We just feel like we need to keep up with the agricultural industry in this area," Oliver adds. "The consistent growth we've experienced over the years is a direct result of our dedicated employees and the excellent service we provide to our customers."

Roger Oliver says Van Horn's custom application business has grown tremendously in the past few years.

With fertilizer prices defying gravity, Oliver hopes grain prices remain high.

Van Horn was started in 1934 as the Van Horn Seed Company, a small family-owned business. Lyle Van Horn retired 42 years later and sold the company to his employees.

Oliver says a lot has changed since those days. In fact, this year is the first time they've offered customers the opportunity to lock in fertilizer prices. Oliver notes the never needed to before.

Despite the changes, Van Horn is still 100% employee-owned. Oliver says the employee-ownership program has garnered tremendous results.

"It helps me retain people longer," Oliver notes. "They take a little more pride in their job because they know it will impact their future."

Van Horn has locations in Warrensburg, Dewitt, Findlay, Bethany, Sullivan, Cerro Gordo (the headquarters), and now Macon. The company currently has 53 employees and services 800,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in Central Illinois.