“Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.” Genesis 1:11
As a teenager, my first job was on a farm two miles north of town. After school let out for the summer, I participated in the haying season, herding cattle, cleaning barns, and ultimately the harvest of grain on the Canadian Prairies. I loved farm life with its zest for hard work, the open air, animal life, crop production, growth, and finally a successful harvest. Farming is as old as mankind and began with Adam and Eve. In many ways, it is a metaphor for all businesses to follow.
I well remember hauling grain in 3-ton trucks to the upright grain silos in the farmyard. We all knew it was not a perfect system because of susceptibility to rodents, mold, the weather, and other means of loss and spoil. I cleaned out many a grain tank, knowing the farmer had a loss of income from his grain harvest of months earlier. Storage of the grain is an important consideration for any farmer.
But no longer. Enter the Silo Bag System, an innovative system that helps to reduce both quantitative and qualitative losses. The silo bags come in response to the fears of farmers who desperately need a large storage space for cereal grains, fodder, corn silage, sunflower, canola and much more. All of this can be stored in a sack-type horizontal silo and can be preserved for up to two years.
The advantages are numerous for all cereal farmers in Romania. Storage costs are reduced; it is resistant to spoilage in any season, it preserves the quality and color of cereal grains, it insures anaerobic preservation and thermal protection, freight costs are reduced, harvest times are greatly accelerated, grains can be stored on the farm with no waste, and farmers only buy what they need.
If you are not accustomed to farm talk, you are likely very bored by now. But remember, in developed countries cereal consumption is still substantial and in developing countries, grain in the form of rice, wheat, millet, or maize constitutes the primary daily sustenance. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop; therefore, they are staple groups. Romania used to be called the breadbasket of Europe and is on a trajectory to recover that status along with the Ukraine.
But even more fantastic is that Grain Bags Romania, is not only making a difference in the agricultural industry with the introduction of these innovative grain solutions but the founder and general manager, Narcis Ranghuic, is a committed Christian, wanting to do business the right way. He started the business when he was in university, being mentored by experienced Christian agriculturalists.
In his own words he says, “I wanted it to be a values-based business. A well-built business, not just to make money, but to see a difference in the way we act. I wanted the partners we worked with to trust that they would not be deceived by the services we offer, wanting first and foremost to provide Christian values and moral values that would direct the gain to the glory of God”.
Narcis continues to share his passion revealing the times with a lot of challenges and temptations. “It is not easy” he insists, but “…the challenge of every day is to let God be the true steward of the business and ask for His guidance at every step; to be able to do His will even in moments full of temptations and challenges.”
“What I enjoy most are the moments when partners from multinational companies ask us why we mention God and then I have the opportunity to tell them that I am just a servant in this life and that is why all I do is His merit. Using your talents in God’s service is wonderful. I wish that in every place, we can reach the country and we can be an example for our collaborators as they see that we are children of God.” His goal is to achieve the quadruple bottom line of profitability, job creation, making disciples of Jesus and being good stewards of people and the land.
The clients of Grain Bags Romania include grain farms of all sizes, pig farms, dairy farms, and food processors. To all of them, they offer excellence in quality, reliability, transparency, and a reminder that the true owner of the business is God himself. As Narcis states, “I believe that God is the true owner and that makes me more responsible every day.” He seeks to demonstrate to other business owners that it pays to obey God and give him the glory each day.
It is a privilege for IBEC to serve businesses like Grain Bags Romania. The business is served by Dave Kier, a veteran in the agricultural industry in Iowa, where he built a thriving feed business, while humbly giving glory to God. As I write this, he is not only serving Narcis in Romania, but is also building a feed plant in Zambia – to create jobs and make disciples of Jesus – for the greater glory of God.
BAM companies such as Grain Bags need capital, donations, prayer, and encouragement. Maybe you cannot be a coach or consultant, but you could pray or give financially toward the success of Kingdom companies. For more information, contact info@ibecventures.com
Larry Sharp, Director of Training, IBEC Ventures
larry.sharp@ibecventures.com