GMS to close after 40 years

A staple in the local farming community will no longer be in operation as of December 20.

“We are ready to move on to the next phase of life – retirement,” said Georgia Steffen of GMS Lab near Cropsey.

Georgia and her husband, Herb, have operated GMS for more than 40 years. She was a trained medical technician and worked in medicine for 15 years before they opened the lab.

“GMS Lab was kind of hatched in the kitchen at our farmhouse,” recalled Georgia. “We were talking about other options I could use to be at home more when the kids got off the bus and I was needed here.”

After looking into various options, they came up with a soil testing lab since there is plenty of soil in this area with an abundance of crops being grown. Following some research and planning, they pulled in a small trailer, gutted it and the business began.

“That was the first GMS Lab. We have since grown to our current facility which is quite nice,” Georgia explained.

They started out in the mobile home and moved to a double-wide structure in about five years.

“In 1997, we built the lab we are in now,” said Herb.

When GMS began on September 1, 1983, there were 40 soil labs in the state and currently there are under six. While there may have been more labs back then, they were much smaller. GMS is able to do more soil studies now than they did originally when they only offered pH, P and K testing.

“Now it goes so much further as we do manure, water, tissue and even foreign soils,” Georgia notes.

Herb has noticed plenty of changes over the years including spreading fertilizer more efficiently. Trucks can spread two or three products at a time these days.

Georgia refers to the GMS staff as “absolutely fantastic” throughout the years. With the advancement of robotics and computer technology, they only have four employees now and each one has a plan to go forward after GMS closes.

“They are transitioning in their own ways,” said Georgia.

The Steffens want to spend more time with family, especially with their eight great grandchildren. Georgia also enjoys quilting. In fact, she started out by making a quilt for each great grandchild. She finds it to be very fulfilling work.

“I kind of look at it as life: when life gives you bits and pieces, you can look at it as trash or you can put them together and make something beautiful.”

The couple wants to thank everyone in the vicinity they have had dealings with.

“You’ve made it great,” said Georgia.

“It’s been a long, short journey,” joked Herb.