Introducing your Watonwan Farm Services connection to AgQuest

Since the merger of WFS, Inc. financial division
and AgQuest this fall, three WFS employees
will now devote their time to AgQuest Financial.

Senior financial officer, Dean Olsen, and
financial associates Sam Runge and Gale
Carlson will work from their current location
at the St. James WFS office servicing AgQuest
customers.

"My job is to develop new business for
AgQuest in the WFS trade territory,"
said Olsen who will be meeting with new
and current borrowers to explain AgQuest's
products and services.

Olsen has been with WFS finance division since 1998, and in the finance industry since 1986 when he started working for a St. James bank. He looks forward to getting out in the country to meet personally with customers and to help them with their financial questions and concerns.

The merger allows both AgQuest and WFS to benefit. "I want people to look to AgQuest for where they want to do business. This will then help WFS to gain their market share as well," said Olsen. "My number one goal is for WFS to see more business as well as AgQuest."

The challenge Olsen sees is getting customers to do business a bit differently than they are used to and getting them acquainted with AgQuest's products.

"AgQuest is relatively unknown in this area," said Olsen, but pointed out that the name is getting more recognition all the time, due to marketing and promotional efforts. “That’s part of my job, to get people acquainted with the company and what we are all about.”

Olsen is married with three children and lives in St. James.

Assisting in the process of promoting AgQuest products and services are financial associates Sam Runge and Gale Carlson.

Runge will process the loan documents for AgQuest customers. She brings over three years experience working with WFS to her new position.

“I really enjoy the fact that there are more people to work with through the AgQuest Company,” said Runge. “I’m looking forward to becoming more efficient and getting the loan document process refined and timely.”

Runge is married and lives in St. James.

Carlson, who is continuing her duties with WFS, but working on a part-time basis for AgQuest, brings six years experience to her position.

“I will work with Dean and WFS patrons on Companion loan notes applications,” said Carlson.

She also aids in helping WFS managers and agronomists with potential customers and answers questions for patrons seeking more information about financial products.

“People seem very, very receptive,” she said.

Carlson sees her new role with AgQuest as an enhancement to her current responsibilities with WFS. She enjoys getting patrons set up and excited about AgQuest’s products and experiencing on a personal level, the dynamic between the patron, the program and AgQuest.

“We have a lot of patrons,” she said. “And have huge potential.”

Carlson lives in St. James and is married with three grown children.

Contact Dean Olsen at 507-375-1402, Sam Runge at 507-375-1404, or Gale Carlson at 507-375-1403.