There isn’t much being sold in Swift Current that gets bigger than agricultural equipment.
For Full Line Ag, big business is a big deal, which is why it makes more than a little sense that it was the recipient of the Large Business of the Year Award at the 2024 SCBEX Awards.
Having operated in Swift Current for the last 18 years, the company has been a staple in Saskatchewan agriculture for 25 years now. The Swift Current location, located west of Swift Current along the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, has enjoyed growth in the area that is only matched by the growth of the machinery it sells.
Gerald Swystun, general manager and dealer principal for Full Line Ag in Swift Current, is thrilled that their practices landed them the nomination. For him though, what makes them a great business is more than the work.
“It’s family,” said Swystun. “That’s what most of southwest Saskatchewan/Swift Current was built on family values. We fully support others and our family-run business, and we treat all of our staff like family.”
Currently, Full Line Ag has dealerships in Saskatoon, Purdue, and Swift Current. To this day, Swystun keeps an open door policy where any of his employees can approach him about any issues or with any advice.
“If their direct supervisor and them can’t get along, or can’t come to an agreement, my door is open,” said Swystun. “Same with any of the managers in the departments. If you come in and you’ve got some lunch on your cheek or whatever, well, I’ll tell you. I expect you to tell me because I don’t want to go my whole day and find out at the end how many people saw me like that.”
Swystun recognized that there are more than a few large business ventures in Swift Current. Not only in the agriculture field, but other industries have their own well-run institutions that he respects and thinks are deserving of similar accolades.
“I have pride in all the other dealerships, businesses, and large businesses in Swift Current,” said Swystun. “They’re not slouches and to survive in today’s market and to survive COVID lockdowns and changes, I think it’s fantastic that anybody who survived is going far with it today.”
The SCBEX Award itself can be seen when customers walk through the door. It serves as a symbol that the practices of the last 25 years have served them well, and that they will continue to grow and evolve in the next quarter century. After all, growth is a constant part of the Full Line Ag story.
“We started out with six people, which definitely is not in the large business category,” said Swystun. “In 2006 when we started Full Line Ag Swift Current, we started out with seven people on North Railway.”
Eventually, that operation would grow to encompass two buildings, one being the parts and shop building, the other being sales.
“It was thought that we’d never fill those boots or need any more property,” said Swystun. “But all of a sudden agricultural equipment went from 70 feet to 90 feet.”
Then it jumped again up to 110 feet, and from there to 135 feet. Full Line Ag and its merchandise outgrew the confines of North Railway and ended up without at the current location off the Trans-Canada Highway.
This post was originally published on here
