Olsen’s for Healthy Animals
by Steve Sischka, Owner, Olsen’s For Healthy Animals
What started out in Chino Valley in 1979 as a dream of Mike and Sherrill Olsen and Mike’s father John has become much, much more over the past 40 years!
Back then, their objective was to just survive as a tiny Purina feed store called Olsen’s Chino Valley Grain, with a 1940s-era feed mill and one lone helper. Today, Olsen’s has five stores in North Central Arizona and 85 enthusiastic, engaged employees. What a difference a few years makes. With the addition very early on of owners Steve and Kathy (Olsen) Sischka and Dan and Barb Olsen, Olsen’s was ready to take on the future.
That future included expansion into Prescott (’80), Dewey (’82), Flagstaff (’97), and Clarkdale (’02) as Northern Arizona grew. With area growth came large competition, but Olsen’s continued to thrive because of its ties to the local communities it served.
Throughout its history, Olsen’s has been committed to helping its community partners be successful and continues to invest money, time and talent to that end. Olsen’s store managers live in the communities they serve and are totally committed to thinking local, speaking local and caring local.
Olsen’s has always been everything animal and pet and as rural animal and pet owners became more sophisticated over the last 40 years, Olsen’s has been there every step of the way. The one thing that hasn’t changed is their commitment to customer service. They want customers to know what true rural American customer hospitality is all about. Their trademarked motto is: “Good Enough, Just Isn’t.”
That’s a tough standard to live up to, but Olsen’s strives to reach it every day.
Looking back on 40 years, Olsen’s added the Arizona Equifest, expanded and modernized their existing stores, implemented a management structure independent of their initial ownership and re-branded all with the intent of making sure that Olsen’s will always be there when their customers need them.
Mike, Sherrill, Steve, Kathy and Dan continue to contribute to the vision of a bright Olsen’s future and remain involved as the board of directors of Olsen’s Grain, Inc., participating on a daily basis as needed.
They are community ambassadors who spread the good word about the company through their community service and longtime community contacts.
Mike and Sherrill are deeply involved with the horse and livestock communities. Steve is a longtime Rotarian with Prescott Frontier Rotary, the voice of Olsen’s on the radio, a Prescott City Councilman and on the board of trustees of Yavapai Regional Medical Center. Kathy is on the corporate board of Catholic Charities and on the board of the Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation. Dan is into ministry with Mountain Top Christian Fellowship, Hospice, YRMC Chaplains and on the boards of Every Man Arizona and Trinity Christian School.
All in all, 40 has a good ring to it, for Olsen’s and the communities they serve.
