Young entrepreneur starts ag supply shop in Creston

Most 21 year olds are finishing college or saving money to move out of their parents’ house. But Tristan Travis is the owner-operator of a farm implement business named Travis Ag Supply, and is happily engaged.

TJ Dunphy, a friend of Tristan’s father, was selling BioZyme’s VitaFerm livestock mineral and decided he didn’t want to anymore. Tristan saw a huge opportunity with a product he liked and seized it. He said Dunphy, nutritionist Ki Fanning of Great Plains Livestock Consulting in Nebraska and Jason Oathoudt of Oathoudt Farm Supply in Atlantic, have been tremendously helpful in getting his operation off the ground. Travis has almost completed BioZyme’s online Master Dealer program, studying eight different products.

Travis Ag Supply is not Travis’ first tractor ride. As a freshman in high school he started Travis Hay Sales with his brother. He said that at the time they were baling about 20,000 square bales annually. Travis credits his father Jaime for his ambitious work ethic, accounting skills and savvy business acumen. The hay business helped him learn how to be entrepreneurial and chase goals.

He loves the sales aspect of the business and getting to know customers. Travis has a special connection to people who work with livestock. “I can service them better because I’m a rancher myself,” he said.

In an effort to boost those sales he offers free delivery. Travis Ag Supply specializes in livestock feed, particularly for cattle. He carries other products too like deer mineral and net wrap for baling. He began offering 40 pound bags of cat food after hearing so many farmers tell him what a hassle it was to go into town for it. He does special orders for chicken feed, gates, mineral feeders among other items. “I try to be a one stop shop for anybody who needs an ag product,” Travis said.

He doesn’t get much time off. “Sunup to sundown, everyday,” Travis explained. It’s currently horse breeding season and his family has about 60 horses. Cattle breeding will be next.

Travis Ag does get back-ordered on certain products. Covid mitigation policies have disrupted many supply chains. Wood chips have been elusive amid soaring lumber prices. He said his customers are very understanding when that happens, but for the most part things have been going pretty smooth.

“As farmers and ranchers, we’re doing everything we can to give these animals the best life that they can have,” he said.

Travis’ fiancé is Allivea Skarda. Their wedding date is set for June 25, 2022. He said she’s been, “planning like crazy.”