Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
When Dan Powers took over his family's business after his father's unexpected death, all he knew was what his mother told him: Work hard and stay with it.
The simple statement led Powers to a career that's taken him through many ups and downs. Today, he enjoys working alongside his children, bringing them into the business and giving back to the community in big ways to say thank you for standing by and supporting him.
Powers grew up in Ridgefield, Illinois, a small town near Crystal Lake, on a 40-acre dairy farm. He and his three siblings helped with cattle and field work. Along with the farm, his parents started a farm equipment and auction business.
He enjoyed caring for the livestock and loved agriculture. He said his family wasn't wealthy but worked hard. He recalls one evening his father bringing home 14 feeder pigs in the back of the family's station wagon.
He attended Marion Central Catholic High School and was mostly interested in finishing so he could start work. Powers did well in football, basketball and track but also worked 40 hours a week for his father.
After graduating in 1972, Powers briefly considered going on in school, but at the last minute he decided to work for his father instead.
That decision might have been fate, Powers said, because two years later, his father unexpectedly died from a heart attack. He's glad for his time with him.
Powers Sales LLC, started in 1948 by his parents, Dan and Lillian, was a business similar to the one Powers runs today. They would buy and sell just about anything. His father was a self-taught auctioneer who ran a strong business for several years.
Without his father, Powers and his brother Mike took over the business and ran it together for about 25 years. They didn't have much to start and had a lot to learn, but they received help from their mother and put in long hours learning the ropes.
He and his brother split in 2000 when Mike went to work for another company. Powers married Deb and needed to decide where to go and what to do as the young couple started a family.
"My Dad told me a long time ago, "if you ever get a chance to go to Wisconsin, head to Monroe - it's as pretty a place as you'll ever find,'" Powers said.
Coincidentally, when they looked at property and farms, the affordable ones were around the place his father mentioned. They purchased a home on County B, where they lived for 10 years, and restarted the business as Powers Auction Service.
Through the years, the business has undergone moving, expansions and has even been minimized. But the roots have stayed the same and follow the lead of what Powers' father instilled in him, staying fair.
"We've been fortunate," Powers said. "The area has been good to us."
Today, Powers has businesses in South Wayne, Browntown, Benton and Baldwin, Iowa.
"We have met so many good people over the years," Powers said. "We travel through the country and come across thousands of people. There are so many good people in this industry."
But the business is for people who like to work, and Powers said both he and Deb are guilty of working seven days a week and taking very few vacations over the last 40-plus years.
Deb has been by his side through the duration, taking a few years off to care for their four children when they were younger.
"My wife has been a great partner," Powers said. "I couldn't do it without her. Some things in life are meant to be."
He also said he's had great employees over the years, including Kenny Schmitz and Wes Phillips, who have been with him for nearly four decades.
The couple's children attended the Black Hawk school district in South Wayne, and business wasn't always booming. For a short time, Powers took advantage of the lunch assistance program and said he never felt good about it.
"I always thought if I ever got on my feet, I'd give back," Powers said.
That's what he did.
It started when his son Mike needed an FFA fundraiser and Powers came up with the idea to collect scrap metal. He supplied the truck and trailer, and students went door-to-door and even out to quarries and fields to collect. They were able to share the $15,000 raised that year with the band and athletics as well. They still hold the fundraiser.
Powers also took on the FFA auction 15 years ago and helps them bring in about $10,000.
More recently, Powers took on fundraising efforts to replace the high school track. Within a year, they were able to bring in about $60,000.
Although there was some outreach from people Powers does business with and Deb organized much of it, they won't take all the credit.
"We have great donators, people who step up to the plate," Powers said. "We can help with some of it, but we can't do it all."
The projects they've helped with are plenty - new concession stands, painted goal posts, landscaping, and the list goes on. Powers is proud that the students help with the projects and many other trade workers donate their time and materials as well.
Powers has also worked the Green County Fair for the past 10 years after hearing organizers needed help with the livestock auction.
"I told them, if it's for the kids, I'll be happy to do it," Powers said. "I've met a lot of good people there."
Powers works with three of his four children in the business today. Photographs of his parents hang on the wall in the main office, as a constant reminder of where the business began.
"I tell (my children) "I'm not the owner. I'm the caretaker. I'm here to take care of this,'" he said. "My parents meant everything to me and were the only people who ever gave me a chance."
When he does find himself away from work, Powers enjoys fishing and has taken a few fishing trips over the years. Ten years ago he took an African safari trip with friends, donating school supplies to children while he was there.
Before he stopped farming about 15 years ago, he loved chisel plowing, where he could enjoy the quiet while accomplishing something with no phone calls until the early morning hours. He also enjoys time with his four children and his grandchild, Danny, who Powers said is guaranteed to be in the auction business one day.
Thinking back to his father's 40-acre farm where he learned to work, Powers said he always strives for one thing: To always be fair.
"It's been a long road," Powers said. "But we've had a good time getting here. Sometimes the road is more fun when it takes a while."
The simple statement led Powers to a career that's taken him through many ups and downs. Today, he enjoys working alongside his children, bringing them into the business and giving back to the community in big ways to say thank you for standing by and supporting him.
Powers grew up in Ridgefield, Illinois, a small town near Crystal Lake, on a 40-acre dairy farm. He and his three siblings helped with cattle and field work. Along with the farm, his parents started a farm equipment and auction business.
He enjoyed caring for the livestock and loved agriculture. He said his family wasn't wealthy but worked hard. He recalls one evening his father bringing home 14 feeder pigs in the back of the family's station wagon.
He attended Marion Central Catholic High School and was mostly interested in finishing so he could start work. Powers did well in football, basketball and track but also worked 40 hours a week for his father.
After graduating in 1972, Powers briefly considered going on in school, but at the last minute he decided to work for his father instead.
That decision might have been fate, Powers said, because two years later, his father unexpectedly died from a heart attack. He's glad for his time with him.
Powers Sales LLC, started in 1948 by his parents, Dan and Lillian, was a business similar to the one Powers runs today. They would buy and sell just about anything. His father was a self-taught auctioneer who ran a strong business for several years.
Without his father, Powers and his brother Mike took over the business and ran it together for about 25 years. They didn't have much to start and had a lot to learn, but they received help from their mother and put in long hours learning the ropes.
He and his brother split in 2000 when Mike went to work for another company. Powers married Deb and needed to decide where to go and what to do as the young couple started a family.
"My Dad told me a long time ago, "if you ever get a chance to go to Wisconsin, head to Monroe - it's as pretty a place as you'll ever find,'" Powers said.
Coincidentally, when they looked at property and farms, the affordable ones were around the place his father mentioned. They purchased a home on County B, where they lived for 10 years, and restarted the business as Powers Auction Service.
Through the years, the business has undergone moving, expansions and has even been minimized. But the roots have stayed the same and follow the lead of what Powers' father instilled in him, staying fair.
"We've been fortunate," Powers said. "The area has been good to us."
Today, Powers has businesses in South Wayne, Browntown, Benton and Baldwin, Iowa.
"We have met so many good people over the years," Powers said. "We travel through the country and come across thousands of people. There are so many good people in this industry."
But the business is for people who like to work, and Powers said both he and Deb are guilty of working seven days a week and taking very few vacations over the last 40-plus years.
Deb has been by his side through the duration, taking a few years off to care for their four children when they were younger.
"My wife has been a great partner," Powers said. "I couldn't do it without her. Some things in life are meant to be."
He also said he's had great employees over the years, including Kenny Schmitz and Wes Phillips, who have been with him for nearly four decades.
The couple's children attended the Black Hawk school district in South Wayne, and business wasn't always booming. For a short time, Powers took advantage of the lunch assistance program and said he never felt good about it.
"I always thought if I ever got on my feet, I'd give back," Powers said.
That's what he did.
It started when his son Mike needed an FFA fundraiser and Powers came up with the idea to collect scrap metal. He supplied the truck and trailer, and students went door-to-door and even out to quarries and fields to collect. They were able to share the $15,000 raised that year with the band and athletics as well. They still hold the fundraiser.
Powers also took on the FFA auction 15 years ago and helps them bring in about $10,000.
More recently, Powers took on fundraising efforts to replace the high school track. Within a year, they were able to bring in about $60,000.
Although there was some outreach from people Powers does business with and Deb organized much of it, they won't take all the credit.
"We have great donators, people who step up to the plate," Powers said. "We can help with some of it, but we can't do it all."
The projects they've helped with are plenty - new concession stands, painted goal posts, landscaping, and the list goes on. Powers is proud that the students help with the projects and many other trade workers donate their time and materials as well.
Powers has also worked the Green County Fair for the past 10 years after hearing organizers needed help with the livestock auction.
"I told them, if it's for the kids, I'll be happy to do it," Powers said. "I've met a lot of good people there."
Powers works with three of his four children in the business today. Photographs of his parents hang on the wall in the main office, as a constant reminder of where the business began.
"I tell (my children) "I'm not the owner. I'm the caretaker. I'm here to take care of this,'" he said. "My parents meant everything to me and were the only people who ever gave me a chance."
When he does find himself away from work, Powers enjoys fishing and has taken a few fishing trips over the years. Ten years ago he took an African safari trip with friends, donating school supplies to children while he was there.
Before he stopped farming about 15 years ago, he loved chisel plowing, where he could enjoy the quiet while accomplishing something with no phone calls until the early morning hours. He also enjoys time with his four children and his grandchild, Danny, who Powers said is guaranteed to be in the auction business one day.
Thinking back to his father's 40-acre farm where he learned to work, Powers said he always strives for one thing: To always be fair.
"It's been a long road," Powers said. "But we've had a good time getting here. Sometimes the road is more fun when it takes a while."