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Al Brensing
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| October 1, 2006--Al Brensing is in his office every day. He is president of Stafford County Flour Mills in Hudson. His 100 year old company is known all around the U.S. for the ‘niche’ specialty flour ground in his mill. He is calm, quiet, and yet at nearly 90, after a 69 year career, he sees no point in retiring. |
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“You know all your neighbors and it’s a good place to work. I just live three blocks up the road and I just walk back and forth usually. Too tight to buy gas, so I just walk.”
There is always something soothing about seeing the skyline of a small Kansas town. The Hudson Flour Mill stands like a prairie pyramid, majestic and successful.
“I’m just satisfied with the way it is going.”
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Since 1904 farmers lined up their wagons…which have now turned to semi’s to have their wheat ground into flour.
“We have bulk storage over here and then from the bulk storage it moves over into the packer…and that’s where you see the packing taking place. |
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She’s taking off those 50 pound lines there and that’s the way it goes and then she is taking off the five pound line. It’s all automatic. No one does anything except put the sacks on.”
“It’s a satisfying feeling for me to see how it all takes place.”
This mill stands out…like Al Brensing, because it is one of the last independent flour mills left in the country…and the largest independent mill in the state.
“This flour, some of it going to California, some of it to West Virginia…we move a lot of flour out of here.” |
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With the name Hudson Cream Flour, with the rural labeling…it has become a ‘niche’ product. In Appalachia, years ago, it became the premium flour there for making biscuits.
“We’re going to make the best products we know how to make and that’s what we do.”
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Al doesn’t fuss about his age…he’s just too busy. His family and grandkids get much of his attention. But even at the mill, he has other responsibilities. He also records weather data for the National Weather Service.
“It’s interesting to see how much it rains…people what to know that. So I just dip the stick in there to see how much it rained.”
And while Al’s work may be the mill, he is conscience of his civic duty…and spends much time both with his church and here, at the Hudson Cemetery…where he is the secretary.
“A lot of family here in the cemetery, our family and other peoples too.”
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His wife Zelda is buried here….Al will be too. He is at peace with that.
“You hate to lose anybody, your friends…but life goes on you know.”
Just as he is at peace in the place he loves and at the mill he runs. |
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Larry's Note - This 20 million dollar a year business with 35 employees is presided over by a man employees say is ‘priceless’. Al Brensing, the man who gives the tours, knows the history, and is now one of only four presidents the business has ever had.
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