b'MITCHELL COUNTY HAS DEEP ROOTSA Family Tradition F or more than 50 years, Hays LTI has been part of Mitchell Countys agribusiness network. Established in 1970 by Ray Hays to manufacture fertilizer equipment, the company is now co-owned and operated by two of his four children, Ronald Hays and Donna Hays Stewart. My sisters Lynn [Pinson] and Shari [Cranford] are in education, says Stewart, who oversees the companys financial operation. Lynn is principal at Baconton Charter School, and Shari is the schools student information system administrator. In the mid-1980s, during the lean years, Stewart explains her father offered what was left of the company to her and Ronald. What was left was a great product, wonderful customers, reliable vendors but no money, she says. My brother and I grew up in the business. I sat with Mama around the kitchen table many nights learning how to keep the books. Ronald spent hours with Daddy in the shop. We loved it so much so we determined to keep the company and build it up. The company became Liquid Transport Incorporated (doing business as Hays LTI). The family-management team continued to expand, including the addition of Jimmy Stewart, Donnas husband, who is a co-owner and works with sales and operation.Family Tradition: The Hays LTI family management team After working several summers at Hays LTI, in 2013, Laura Pinsonincludes, Matt Hays, Ronald Hays, Jimmy Stewart, and Donna Hays Stewart. Not pictured Laura Pinson Sinyard.Sinyard joined the company her grandfather established. In addition to assisting Stewart with accounting duties, she managesOur products and services simply outgrew our three facilities, the companys marketing efforts and is involved with sales andStewart says. It was time to find a new home and get everyone customer service.back on one property. In 2015, after graduating from Auburn University, Matt Hays,Wanting to remain in Mitchell County, in 2015, they purchased Ronalds son, joined the company, and manages the production60 acres, just minutes from Downtown Camilla. Two years later, process, inventory, and sales.they relocated to a state-of-the-art manufacturing complex Matthew and Laura have a wonderful love for our customers,that features 225,000-square-feet of production, storage, and employees, and products, Stewart says. They are already puttingadministrative space. their mark on the company. As they learn from us, were alsoOur new facility allows us to be the best we can be for our learning from them. employees and customers and it is everything we envisioned, Hays LTI has expanded into a large-scale manufacturer, sellingsays Stewart. fertilizer hauling equipment including tender trailers, transportKeeping to their fathers influence of generosity, the Hays LTI tanker, side dumps and tanks, plus offering repair services and ateam enjoys donating custom-made smokers for fundraising rental fleet of more than 800 trailers.efforts, hosting community events at the new facility, and As production demands and sales soared, the company wasdelivering their signature homemade pecan pies to customers located in three different properties throughout Camilla. and friends. Manufacturing: Daniel Aldridge, welder, working in the Hays LTI stainless plant. BUSINESS + CULTURE 55'