By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
GREAT BEND — Progress has been slow but the end result will be worth it. Once construction is complete on the new 100,000-plus square-foot building, the new Bucklin Tractor & Implement (BTI) store south of Great Bend will be the largest facility among the company's six locations. Great Bend General Manager Cody Dick said not to expect anything in the immediate future.
"They're pouring concrete right now, but it's probably going to be the first of next year before anything's completely done," he said. "We hope to be in it by the end of this year, but realistically, we're looking at 2024."
Weather has caused a few delays, but Dick said once the new building is finalized, it should not take long to transfer all the goods from the current location, which is catty-corner from the new building on U.S. Highway 281 south of Great Bend.
"We kind of have a process in place with what has gone on in the past with our other dealerships, so we should be able to move in pretty quickly once things get complete," he said.
A groundbreaking for the new building was held in early June of last year. The new facility will be very modern with a 60,000 square-foot service shop. BTI's other locations include Bucklin, Greensburg, Ness City, Hoxie, and Pratt.