"Beyond the Belt" with Ryan Abel, Abel Farms
A few members of the WCCO Belting team traveled across the North Dakota and Minnesota state
border to visit with Ryan Abel outside of Breckenridge, Minnesota. Separated only by the Red River,
Breckenridge is the sister-city to Wahpeton, North Dakota, which is home to WCCO’s manufacturing
facility.
Ryan is a third-generation farmer who operates Abel Farms alongside his father, uncle and cousins.
Founded by Ryan’s grandfather and uncle around 1962, they originally raised barley and oats. Today,
the family business raises sugar beets, corn, soybeans and wheat.
We asked Ryan about the rubber belting they use within their operation, and he walked us over to the
belted tube conveyors on the property. “The quality of our crop relies on the smooth handling of the
conveyor belt, and with the right belt you’ll be able to use it for years. The original belt was 12 to 13
years old before we had to have it replaced.” This statement confirms how sourcing quality raw
materials from trusted suppliers helps WCCO Belting to produce superior rubber products that boost uptime.
It was great to learn about the Abel’s family business, and we are grateful for Ryan’s willingness to show
us around their farm. Ryan, thank you for contributing to the growth of the agircultural industry and helping to feed the world. Good luck this season.