Great Farm Offices
With modern office space, work seems easier and customer meetings more productive
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 6, 2009
Last winter the Willis Kuhns farm, Arthur, Ill., added on to an existing farm office attached to the farm's equipment shed. This new 20 x 32 ft space features a new, private conference room and an additional wall of cabinet space for recordkeeping.
"What I like about this is, people will stop in more often," says Kuhns. "It gives our farm a more business-like atmosphere instead of being in the house. If you're in the middle of things and get called out your work will still be there when you get back. If you're in the house, especially with grandkids around, it may not be there when you get back."
The Kuhns use the conference room to meet with seed salesmen, hold family conferences, and client meetings. "It's amazing how much we've used that area in just the short time since we added on."
A conference room is an ideal space to meet with suppliers, salespersons, and employees, agrees Tom Waters, Orrick. Mo. "Our farm office and conference room serves many purposes," he says. "Chief among them are regular meetings with our Board of Directors."
Prior to building the conference room the Waters met in the living room or around the kitchen table. "Sitting down at the conference table provides a more professional and businesslike atmosphere for our discussions," says Waters. "The large table provides ample room to spread papers and information and the chairs are comfortable for meetings that may last several hours.
Take a look at the gallery of office below.
The new office space at the Willis Kuhns farm, Arthur, Ill., is attached to the farm's existing 72-by-72-foot shop, which is attached to the 168-by-72-foot storage shed.
"One advantage is, everyone knows where to meet," says Willis Kuhns. "It's not at the back door or the house. It's at the office."
"Separating family and business can be difficult," says Tom Waters, here with his wife and business partner Karla. "Our office and conference room enable us to better focus on our business and leave the living room and kitchen table for the more important 'family times.'"
Dave Weber, Geneseo, Ill., crop and cattle producer, likes the wide open counter space in his farm office.
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