LP Gas, February 2014
TOP PROPANE RETAILERS Southern hospitality T he Southern States Cooperative bobtail pulls into a driveway and comes to a stop on farmland that stretches nearly as far as the eye can see in one direction This is Briarpatch Farms an Oxford N C farm that uses propane for a variety of reasons Propane heats the farmers house his greenhouses and a swimming pool Its also used for cooking and to dry grain and cure tobacco The four month crop drying period requires a propane delivery to Briarpatch Farms twice a week on average But with Thanksgiving less than a week away at this time and the last tobacco leaf of the season recently cured the owner of Briarpatch Farms abandons his breakfast for a chat with 25 year old Brandon Williamson whos driving the bobtail on this day At 350 gallons per cure times 115 cures we probably burned about 40000 plus gallons of propane this tobacco season says Danny Williams the 62 year old farmer who takes one last propane delivery after curings complete so hes set to start the 2014 growing season One unique aspect of Williams relationship with Southern States is that it isnt limited to propane He also counts on Southern States for 90 percent of his farming inputs including seed fertilizer and fungicide Southern States BY KEVIN YANIK MANAGING EDITOR kyanik@ northcoastmedia net Propane is at Southern States core but a day with the nations 10th largest retailer shows how it goes far beyond fuel for the farming community A Southern States bobtail parked in front of a sign advertising propane and deer corn for 999 per bag Where else can someone meet these two needs Continued on page 34 32 LPGas February 2014 www LPGasmagazine com
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