BTI's Mark Koon, Trucking Manager, Retires

BTI wishes every happiness to Mark Koon on his retirement from BTI! Mark is retiring from BTI as the Trucking Manager after 23 years with BTI! 

Mark came to BTI in 1997 first as a part-time Service Technician during the downtime as he ran his custom harvest crew. Mark originally hails from Southern California and his journey in agriculture brought him to Bucklin, Kansas. Mark originally owned and operated a fertilizer applicator business in Southern California and developed business relationships with custom harvesters as he rented trucks and hoppers to harvesters in order for them to cut later into the night as elevators did not stay open late in California. As fertilizer companies began offering application services, Mark knew he had to pivot his business. With his love for agriculture, Mark started his custom harvesting business. When Mark did research and reached out to custom harvest friends and kept hearing them name, Kelly Estes.

Mark and several custom harvest friends actually chartered a plane from southern California to Dodge City, Kansas to come to BTI Bucklin to take a look at combines. Mark first bought combines from Kelly Estes in 1985 and the friendship was formed. Mark ran his custom harvesting crew in California and later relocated it to Bucklin, Kansas in 1995. Mark's family made the move because they truly wanted the small town lifestyle for their kids. The ability to work in the same town you live in was really important to them as a family. In 2001, Mark decided to take a full-time position with BTI as Combine Service Manager and leave the harvesting business. 

Mark is most looking forward to being able to travel in retirement to Galveston Texas, California to see his parents, and spend more time with his kids and grand kids. Congratulations, Mark! We thank you so much for your time with BTI!