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Ashley Bentley
Dave Miedema, president of E. Miedema & Sons Inc., Byron Center, Mich., examines a tray of cabbage transplants in the company's greenhouse. |
BYRON CENTER, Mich. — Five members of the fourth generation of the Miedema family to be involved in E. Miedema & Sons Inc. made a commitment to take over the company after their fathers.
“They bought a farm together this winter, so they made a commitment to stay in the business,” said Dave Miedema, president.
Dave Miedema and his brother, Ken Miedema, vice president, are the third generation owners of the company.
Dave Miedema’s three sons, Jeremy, Tim and Joel, along with Ken Miedema’s two sons, Ryan and Jeff, plan to take over the company when their fathers let it go.
“I’m not retiring yet, but I’d like to take a day off in the summer to ride my Harley,” Dave Miedema said.
The seven men met with lawyers recently and are working on the legal aspects of the transfer, he said.
The farm the five sons bought this winter is operating under the name Generation Four LLC. Dave Miedema and Ken Miedema did a similar thing when they took over the company, and still operate Miedema Bros. LLC, he said.
“We rent to the company (E. Miedema),” Dave Miedema said. “It’s all legal stuff, but it’s all family-owned.
Dave Miedema said the fourth-generation members are working out now who will take over as president and what roles the other four will play.