HUTCHINSON, Kan. (November 12, 2025) – On Wednesday morning, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce hosted its November membership breakfast, sponsored by PrairieLand Partners, celebrating local achievements in business and agriculture.
The event kicked off by naming Acoustic Contracting, Inc. as the November Small Business of the Month. CEO Larry Kucharo has been leading the company since 1988, specializing in the supply and installation of acoustical suspended ceilings for clients across Kansas and the Midwest, including churches, businesses, and school auditoriums. Acoustic Contracting was recognized for its commitment to great quality, customer service, and for its history of donating time, labor, and materials to various community organizations.
Debra Teufel, President and CEO of the Chamber, then announced the 2025 Farm Focus Family of the Year: Bill and Kelly Royer with their sons Alek and Koby. The Royer family represents six generations of farming in Reno and Harvey counties, primarily raising wheat, soybeans, and oats, along with cattle. They work alongside Bill’s parents, Bill Sr. and Leta. Bill Royer also works part-time at First National Bank in Hutchinson, serves on the school board, and volunteers with Haven High School’s clay target team. Kelly is an account manager and senior interior designer at John Marshall Company in Wichita and is an active volunteer for their church, school, and local events. Both sons earned Agriculture degrees from Kansas State University and returned home; Alek operates a swathing business and volunteers as a firefighter, while Koby works part-time in seed sales with Oldhe Seed.
The Agribusiness of the Year award went to Bridgman Oil. Founded in 1960 by Bud Bridgman as a commission agent for Standard Oil, the company established Hutchinson as its home office in 1977 after Bud purchased the Burrton and Hutchinson locations. Since 1989, Brad Thompson has worked with the family to build Bridgman Oil into a trusted source for propane, oil, and fuel. Now employing 11 dedicated team members, the family-owned and operated company continues to serve the area with reliability and care.
Greg Lackey, Store Manager for Hutchinson PrairieLand Partners, the event’s Key Sponsor, shared exciting news about a partnership with Hutchinson Community College (HCC). PrairieLand Partners is collaborating with HCC to offer a program where students can earn a two-year associate’s degree and become a John Deere certified technician. The plan involves first-year students attending the HCC south campus and second-year students completing their program at the PrairieLand Partners Hutchinson location. To accommodate this, PrairieLand Partners has committed to a 32,000 sq. ft. expansion of its current facility, a project that began in August 2025 and is scheduled for completion by August 2026.
