Courtney’s LLC employees include the founder Rich, grandson John, daughter-in-law Robin, son Ed, and employee Jessica Miller.
by Bridget Weishaar
Less than 100 yards away from where the original business first got its start in 1984, Courtney’s LLC, McLouth, is adding a third generation family member by welcoming their son, John, to the ranks.
Owners Ed and Robin Courtney have no immediate plans of leaving the business anytime soon, they just want John prepped for when they do.
The hidden gem tucked just across the Jefferson/Leavenworth county line on Springdale Road northeast of McLouth, is in its 39th year of business and wants the public to know they offer something for everyone.
The original business owned by Charles “Rich” and Florence Courtney started as a body and paint business and began selling used trucks under the name Courtney’s Used Trucks.
In 1987, son Ed, joined his parents and his older brother Charlie in the business and began doing body work. After Charlie’s passing in 1989, Ed began working on vehicle repairs.
In the early ’90s, the company began selling HydraBeds and Vermeer hay equipment with the goal of being the local go-to business for farmers to get quality trucks and equipment.
Later on, the business started carrying Highline processors, Bradford, Ironstar, and Winkel flatbeds along with RanchHand bumpers and grill guards.
Moving into the future and outgrowing the old space, the business moved into a new building just steps away and incorporated it under the name Courtney’s LLC in 2014.
Rich and Florence began to step back from the business allowing Ed and Robin to step into the full ownership roles. Their goal of growing into the new building was to create more room for service bays and the hiring of additional staff in order to keep up with the growing demands of the local agricultural industry.
The first new product added to inventory was Kansas made Grasshopper lawn mowers and accessories, which they still carry today. On the service side, they also branched into small motors and larger farm equipment. They have bays large enough to house and service combines.
To date, the list of services range from vehicle, farm and lawn equipment to basic maintenance such as oil changes, brakes, tires, and alignments. They offer custom chains, hydraulics on any make or model, and can custom splice belts. Net wrap and twine can be purchased for any brand of hay equipment.
John grew up in McLouth graduating from McLouth High School in 2014. He was incorporated into the shop around the age of 12. He would put in hours before school, and after when not at football practice. He spent his college years in Iowa attending Central College where he graduated in 2018 with a degree in business management with an emphasis in advertising.
Even while enrolled in college, John would come back during the summers to gain work experience under the direction of his dad.
After obtaining his degree, he spent four and a half years working for Vermeer in Pella, Iowa. He learned the working ropes of the Vermeer company and will be putting that knowledge to work on a daily basis at Courtney’s.
“When I was at Vermeer, I was working on the factory side and didn’t see much chance for advancement. I decided to come back home and put my management degree to work,” John said.
Ed is what Robin deemed the “everything in and out” man of the company. When he is not working in the service bay, you can find him behind the counter doing marketing or buying and selling parts. He can also diagnose issues over the phone when not fixing equipment from inside the building. “He really is the jack of all trades,” Robin said.
Ed has been in the McLouth area his entire life except for a short four-year stint at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Oklahoma where he became a licensed airplane mechanic. He can work on just about anything under the sun but prefers to stay away from two-cycle engines.
The fourth employee, and the only one without family ties at Courtney’s, is Jessica Miller. Miller joined the company in March 2022 where she was put in charge of relieving Robin of some of the basic office duties and answering the ever-ringing phone.
With the addition of Miller, Robin’s role moved more toward the bookkeeping and tax dealings of the company. She is also in charge of ordering, inventory control, and product receivable.
Along with John, the couple has two daughters. Anne Harrison lives in North Kansas City and Clare Sturn resides in Lawrence.
Courtney’s LLC is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Along with shop hours, they are available for service calls after hours if needed.
They can be reached at 913-796-6198. The company website is www.courtneysllc.com and they have a Facebook page.
A 40th anniversary celebration is already in the works for May 2024.