Chris Gratton

The new general manager at CHS SunPrairie in Minot is prepared for the challenges that might lie ahead.

Chris Gratton replaced longtime CHS SunPrairie general manager Brad Haugeberg after Haugeberg retired in June 2021.

Gratton grew up and worked on his family farm in northeast North Dakota and began his career in agriculture at the Harvest States grain elevator in Milton in 1994.

“Through my 12 years in Milton, I worked in all areas of the business from agronomy, custom application, grain grading and scale operations,” Gratton said. “I then went and got my broker’s license so I could become the merchandiser and grain operation manager for that group which at the time had seven facilities and one shuttle loader.”

Gratton was hired as the general manager at the Garrison Farmers Elevator in 2005. The elevator in Garrison was a division of CHS and is now known as CHS Garrison.

Gratton, who lives south of Garrison with his wife, Kari, and has two grown children, said he will now be dividing his time between the two grain elevators.

“I still will be managing CHS Garrison along with CHS SunPrairie as two separate business units,” he said. “I plan on working out of both offices with a set schedule to be determined soon. With today’s technology I will be accessible for anyone, anytime from either business unit every day. Both these business units are very strong and successful and have a strong team of employees working for our owners every day and I am proud to say that I have the opportunity to work with them into the future.”

Gratton said the ag industry, like other businesses in these times, has challenges to meet.

“Agriculture and ag-related businesses have not been spared in the labor shortages,” said Gratton. “One of our greatest challenges is getting, training, and retaining employees today. Drought was and appears to remain a major challenge to farm operations and our operations as well. We did get some relief in some of our trade areas late fall but for the most part remain dry.

“I look forward to getting to know and work with the employee base at CHS SunPrairie and getting my arms wrapped around this business unit. I also look forward to meeting the farmer owners and getting an understanding to what we do today and what we can do into the future to better partner with their farm operations to enhance profitability per acre.”