Movin’ in by month’s end
A “caravan” from New Hampshire to Minnesota around July 29 may not seem like a significant adventure. But for communities like Minneota and Tracy, it’s likely to have extremely economy-changing effects.
Stephen Trachtenberg, CEO of “Chasing Our Tails,” pet treat product company will lead a “caravan” of trucks and equipment, cars and members of his staff to it’s new home in Southwestern Minnesota, where he’ll set up his business in Sanborn, Lucan, Tracy and Minneota.
The company’s largest asset, according to Trachtenberg, is its people, and will include families for which he’s purchased four homes, three in Tracy and one in Lucan. “The key to the ‘American Dream’ is home ownership,” Trachtenberg recently told “Pet Age” magazine.
He’s providing, “Low, to no cost housing to at least 10 employees.” In Minneota, Trachtenberg has been fixing up the building he purchased, the former Schott’s Manufacturing facility by fixing the roof and the floor.
Now paved with what he calls, “Minnesota Blue,” the floor hardly resembles what was left after Schott’s closed its doors. Currently, he’s planning to pave the lot between his building and the Minneota American Legion Building in an attempt to stop water leakage into his building. Trachtenberg now has a home in Walnut Grove and will oversee the Lucan slaughter and mobile slaughter units; Sanborn processing plant; Tracy manufacturing facility and the Minneota packaging and delivery plant.
Trachtenberg says his product is a leader in what he calls, “Farm to Pet Bowl Revolution.” “We are the only Farm to Pet Bowl manufacturer in the pet industry,” he recently told Pet Age.
“We have a commercial farm, USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) slaughter facilities and mobile USDA slaughter facility to go directly to farms and schools.” The company also includes a USDA meat processing facility and FDA-registered dog treat manufacturing.
“We start with the best raw materials,” said Trachtenberg, which makes moving “closer to the raw product.” He explained it by saying, “Farm to Bowl is not a tagline — it’s how we operate.”
Recently, he hired Nicole Finch as Director of Compliance and Quality.
She has ties to the Marshall area and recently worked for Turkey Valley Farms. She’ll be running the USDA building certi- fied food facility in Tracy. While operating out of several Southwestern Minnesota facilities, Trachtenberg has already begun a drive to create “community re-investment” by purchasing homes for his staff.
“Once they prove they can care for the home we will transfer ownership to the em- ployee, who will provide a down payment and eventually take over the home.” Once the equipment is in place and the work force is established, Trachtenberg in- tends to begin manufacturing and selling what he calls, “Premium, natural, quality products for pets.” The variety of products are “single ingredi- ent, preservative-free treats and chews.” The “Chasing Our Tails” website represents the product the company produces.
They include: •Smoked Bones “Barbecue has gone to the dogs! What dog can resist the tempting taste of smoked marrow bones or pig ears? We prepare these treats without cooking or the use of formalde- hyde, mold inhibitors or preservatives. Oursmoked bones and parts are US sourced and US made. Our product assortment caters to canines of all size,” says the website.
•Dehydrated Treats “They are exceptional for everything from puppy training to senior dogs with dental issues. The treats are 100 percent organ or striated muscle that is carefully hand-trimmed of extra fat. They are expertly dehydrated to retain natural color, smell, and taste that dogs love.”
•Freeze Dried Treats “We bring another innovative product to you for your pet, Duragenic Freeze Dried Pet Treats. Conventional freeze-drying requires that products be cooked or high pressure pasteurized before being dried, but the proprietary process provides what your pet craves FARM FRESH veggies and proteins! Using 100 percent raw, hand cut produce and hand trimmed whole muscle meat freeze dried at the peak of freshness.”
•Antler Chews “Elk, Deer, and Moose- oh my! We use 100 percent naturally shed antler from the US to create an odorless, long lasting, low fat chew for your dog.” They are high in calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, and manganese. They are all natural.”
There are several other products as well.