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New manager at Farmers Union Oil wants to make a strong company better

Look around the office of Don Boos (rhymes with goes, as in hunting), new general manager for Farmers Union Oil Co., and you’ll notice his passion for deer and upland game. Head mounts of three whitetail bucks hang on the walls, along with two rooster pheasants and the skull of the first mule deer one of his sons took with an archery tag.

10/05/11 (Wed)

Don Boos, General Manager
at Farmers Union Oil Co., Kenmare

 

 

By Caroline Downs

 

Look around the office of Don Boos (rhymes with goes, as in hunting), new general manager for Farmers Union Oil Co., and you’ll notice his passion for deer and upland game. Head mounts of three whitetail bucks hang on the walls, along with two rooster pheasants and the skull of the first mule deer one of his sons took with an archery tag.

 

Add in a mix of wildlife art and family photos, and the office seems quite comfortable.

 

Then listen to Boos rattle off numbers while he’s discussing fuel sales on the phone with a supplier, with two computer monitors perched on his desk for referencing information.

 

His office might appear to be a hunter’s hideaway, but make no mistake--Boos is here to work for Farmers Union Oil and its customers throughout the area.

 

He started his new position August 16th, arriving from the general manager’s office at the Farmer’s Union Oil in Bowman. “There’s a lot of potential and great opportunity here in Kenmare,” he said, “and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

 

He cited the facilities, the 75 quality full- and part-time employees, and the board’s interests in the company as qualities about the Kenmare operation that attracted him to the position. “This is a strong company and it’s continuing to grow,” he said. “I like the ag sector business, and this is a strong ag community.”

 

Boos started his career with Farmers Union Oil and Cenex 25 years ago in Scobey, Montana, where he worked as the agronomy manager before becoming the general manager. He moved to Bowman eight and a half years ago to serve in the general manager’s role there.

 

He and his wife Susan have two grown sons, with Brice, 22, set to graduate from NDSU in December and Brock, 20, playing basketball for Dickinson State University. The couple purchased a home in Kenmare and look forward to becoming familiar with their new surroundings.

 

And while that includes deer and pheasant hunting, golfing, following his son’s basketball games and exploring waterfowl hunting spots in the northwest corner of the state, for Boos it also means getting to know his customers.

 

“My goal is to be a strong supplier and to make customer service our number one priority,” he said. “This station has a lot of loyal customers, and we will take care of our core business first.”

 

That said, Boos is also one to see opportunities and make the most of them, especially with increasing demands on the commercial aspect of the operation in communities booming with oil business. And with Bowbells and Powers Lake included in the Kenmare Farmers Union Oil Co. family, Boos is looking ahead.

 

“Our goal is to be involved in all these communities,” he said. “We want to see them thrive.”

 

To that end, more store fixtures have been ordered for the Bowbells station and convenience store, which has been the only source of groceries in town for several years now.

 

“We’re going to put in another 16 feet of groceries there,” said Boos. “We want to make a commitment to the people in Bowbells to expand on that line. It’s needed.”

 

Boos is also considering increasing the hours for the Bowbells station, which closes at 6 pm weeknights and noon on Saturdays. “We’re looking for more help there now,” he said, adding that manager Jodi Benge has been advertising positions.

 

Meanwhile, the Powers Lake station is undergoing an extensive remodeling effort, complete with new pumps and a new canopy. “We’re doing a sizeable expansion there,” Boos said.

 

Kenmare customers will be happy to hear the parking lot will be getting attention from Boos. “Last week, we developed a long-term plan to fix the parking lot in the correct manner,” he said, “and we should be starting that very shortly.”

 

He said the work will be done in sections in order to keep at least some of the gasoline and diesel pumps open for customers.

 

Although the coming winter weather limits the time available to do the repairs, Boos said the area around the C-Store and the diesel pumps is the top priority for this fall.

 

“We will change the lot from asphalt to concrete and do it right so it will last,” he added.

 

Boos looks forward to developing these and other projects in his future with Farmers Union Oil Co., even as he continues to serve the customer base. “We’re taking a strong company and progressing,” he said, “and making it a lot better.”

 

Boos can be reached by calling Farmers Union Oil Co. at 701-385-4277.