Grasshopper Wins Business Award

The Grasshopper Co./Moridge Mfg. received a 2008 Best In Business Award on June 19 in conjunction with The Wichita (Kan.) Business Journal’s annual selection of the region’s best managed businesses. The ceremony took place at Wichita’s Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The Grasshopper Co. was one of five overall winners from over 250 nominees.  Companies nominated for this award were judged not solely on recent growth but also on their financial health, product and marketing innovations and involvement in the community.

“Being recognized as a progressive and stable company gives me an opportunity to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication,” says Stan Guyer, company president. “Employees’ everyday achievements showcase our company’s products and their teamwork and internal innovations help us achieve this award as we continue our quest to be the best.”

The original group of 252 nominees was whittled down to 15 in April by a regional committee representing progressive companies and winners from past competitions. The finalists were evaluated and chosen by Don Beggs, president of Wichita State University and Karyn Page, president and CEO of the Kansas World Trade Center. 

Doug Edney of Edney Distributing, Lakeville, Minn., says his company has worked with the Moundridge-based business since his father first bought grain dryers from them. Since 1970, he says, “we’ve always had a partnership mentality with Grasshopper. There’s a lot of cooperation in marketing their products.  They’re outstanding.”

“We’re gracious that the selection committee took into consideration product innovation and community involvement in their decision process,” Guyer says. “Steady, manageable growth that provides a stable environment for our employees has always been our goal,” he added.  Recent innovations included in the decision process are the PowerFold™ Deck Lift which raises mower decks upright with the flip of a switch, and the award-winning T-Drive Zero Turn Drive System co-designed with Parker Hannifin. Community involvement considerations included the company’s support of a local hospital, a local daycare program and volunteer activities undertaken by the company’s employees.

The company’s honors and achievements have accelerated in recent times.  In addition to the Partnership for Engineering Excellence Award received from Parker Hannifin last fall, the company also received the Export Achievement Award in 2007 from the World Trade Council of Wichita. The company’s products are sold through a network of over 1000 independent outdoor power equipment dealers worldwide.

“The Best In Business Award adds a great deal to our 50th Anniversary celebration this year,” says Ruthanne Stucky, marketing director. “Grasshopper was pleased to be a major sponsor of the community-wide Black Kettle Festival this year, and our official 50th celebration earlier this month gave us an opportunity to thank over 600 employee and family members with a carnival, great food and fireworks.”

Grasshopper was prominently featured in a special edition supplement to the Business Journal on June 20 in conjunction with the award. Contributing to the editorial of the Best In Business edition, Mike Wall of Bescorp writes, “These companies understand that the quest to be the best is a never-ending journey, not a destination. It doesn’t stop with the receipt of a prize or an award, or a cornering of the market. They understand that insights gained in pursuit of becoming the best ultimately contribute to the long term success of the organization.”

As part of the Best In Business Award, Grasshopper representatives will attend a “meeting of the minds” in Napa Valley, California, later this year where they’ll discuss business strategies and receive economic and investment forecasts from UMB National Bank of America.