MARSHALL, Minn. — Ralco celebrates 50 years of service to agriculture. The global supplier has been providing the ag community natural solutions since 1971.
“In so many ways we are just getting started,” said Jon Knochenmus, Ralco president emeritus. “We introduced natural products to the agriculture industry when people were skeptical and didn’t understand, but they know now that we were ahead of the curve.”
The anniversary is a milestone that measures Ralco’s past and celebrates its future dedicated to using approaches that maximize nutrient conversion and reduce nutrient waste in both plants and animals naturally, the company said.
Ralco was founded by Bob Galbraith, an entrepreneur who mortgaged everything he owned to start the company out of this garage. Galbraith delivered products with a pickup and gooseneck trailer. Many times, his family, including his children, made delivery trips with him. Galbraith led the company for 19 years and lived to see Ralco become a multinational operation.
The company passed to his son, Randy Galbraith, then to his son-in-law Jon Knochenmus. Currently, Jon’s son Brian Knochenmus serves as Ralco’s president.
“Fifty years is a significant milestone in our company’s history,” Knochenmus said. “It’s a test of time. We have survived drastic changes in the markets as well as transitions through three generations. We have also survived explosive growth. The lessons of the past have prepared us for the future. We are focused on food production and helping consumers understand the care and thoughtfulness that goes into the food they eat.”
Ralco works in three distinct areas to convert naturally more energy out of nutritional inputs and reduce nutrient waste. Each area drives nutrient conversion for strong immunity and superior performance of plants and animals. Essential oils and plant extracts, energy maximizing diets and microbial processes are natural approaches that ensure inputs are maximized for greater immunity, gain and profit.
“Perfecting natural approaches is an extension of our mission and a journey that will never end,” Knochenmus said. “My grandpa said he eliminated the word can’t from his vocabulary, and we continue that tradition. My grandpa also knew that the success of our company depended on our people. We’ve continued a people-first culture for 50 years. I firmly believe that’s how we were able to achieve this milestone today.”
