The Right Way is the Only Way. Great Idea, but Would It Lead to a Successful Business?

In 1986, five guys in Long Prairie had an idea. What if they could take their combined, 85 years of experience and build a different kind of company?

One rooted in a simple ethos: The Right Way is the Only Way.

No cutting corners. No sloppy compromise. A non-negotiable way of doing businesses, where integrity, quality, and stewardship, both of its people and the environment, were the guideposts.

Great idea, sure. But would it actually work? 

A History of Excellence

From its location on 1st Street South, an American flag flying proudly out front, Dan’s Prize has spent the last four decades producing the best of the best oven-roasted meats for the deli and foodservice industries.

Corned beef, roast beef, pit smoked BBQ, pastrami, prime rib, pulled pork. Flame seared. Slow roasted. Enough to make any mouth water.

Mapped out on the company website are the pivotal years, like milemarkers. In 1991, Dan’s Prize joined forces with Hormel Foods. By 1998, order rates had skyrocketed, leading to the opening of a second plant in Browerville, Minnesota. A few years later, in 2001, a partnership agreement was signed with Certified Angus Beef.

State of the art technology and new product lines soon followed, with Dan’s Prize refusing to detour from its Right Way mentality.

That way of thinking began to stand out. Especially when things like excellence and quality started becoming harder and harder to find.

“One thing we take exceptional pride in is delivering high quality protein solutions that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Andy Myers, Vice President of Operations. “Everyone has had a negative experience purchasing a product; then when you get it home to consume it, you are disappointed. ‘Quality is our legacy’ is a long-standing Hormel Foods slogan that we live by every single day. We come to work understanding we need to make every customer experience exceptional!”

Customer Service? It’s a Perfect Circle

On October 21, Myers was at the podium to give the keynote presentation during the annual Manufacturer’s Breakfast, hosted by the Long Prairie Economic Development Authority and Todd County Development Cooperation.

Around 50 local business leaders filtered into the Long Prairie Country Club for the early-morning event, which serves as a nod to October’s Manufacturing Month.

But it also highlighted the impact and importance that manufacturers have on communities like Long Prairie, where manufacturing isn’t just an industry, it’s the backbone of the local economy.  A time to celebrate achievements and show appreciation for the folks who keep Todd County humming.

Like many companies in the area, Dan’s Prize puts a high value on people. Especially customer service. It’s the secret sauce.

“Dan’s Prize success is rooted in the experiences our customers have with the products we produce,” he said. “Customer service is a perfect circle. This begins with what we can offer the customer. Do we have a product that already meets their needs? Or do we need to go into innovation mode? Once this objective has been met, it is our intention to deliver the product to the right location, on time, every time. Having great customer service leads to repeat business and long-lasting partnerships.”

The Feel of Family

Long Prairie is technically a dot on a map, but for Myers, it also feels like something more. Something deeper. Like family, actually.

“Long Prairie is small enough when you are out and about, you will see many familiar faces.   The Long Prairie community supports many different industries. It’s a very busy town for its size.  The Chamber of Commerce has been great to work with; they engage with the employers and support many great functions across the community. We are very fortunate we put down our roots here nearly 40 years ago!” he said.

Between the savory meats and superb customer service, you’d think Dan’s Prize had covered every corner of what it means to be a success.

But it doesn’t forget one of its most important assets: the hard working team that clocks in every day. Which is why that “best of” mentality also applies to how the company treats its workers.

“Be the best you can be for your employees,” he advises. “They are the heartbeat of what we do every day. Don’t forget to commend a job well done and smile.”

Long Prairie Economic Development Authority and Todd County Development Cooperation thanks Dan’s Prize, and all of our local manufacturers, for going above and beyond to support our community. We hope we’ll see you at next year’s Manufacturing Breakfast!