Mike Bagnall was 18 years old the first time he walked into a GreenStone branch. Born and raised on a dairy cow operation, Mike knew he belonged in a career in agriculture.
“I could never see myself working a 9-5 office job,” explained Mike. “I spent all my summers growing up out in a tractor. I was born to be out on the road and in the field.”
For Mike, his passion was found in hauling livestock for the producers who supply our country with the food we all enjoy.
“I was still in school when I applied for a loan with GreenStone to buy my first truck and trailer,” said Mike. “It seemed like all the stars aligned for me at the time because I was able to buy my truck from someone who was retiring from the business. I was really serious about making this my career, and with the support I received from GreenStone, I was able to make it a reality.”
A Business Based on Loyalty
Eighteen years later, Mike now owns and operates two trucks and trailers hauling livestock like beef and dairy cows, swine, and even sheep. With the help of his brother, Mike is able to run both trucks and trailers multiple times a week making pickups and deliveries, mostly to and from livestock auctions for over twenty farms across northeastern Wisconsin. Mike has even financed two custom-built trailers through GreenStone with moveable gates that can be adjusted for the type of livestock he is hauling.“We continue to get busier and busier,” Mike says. “Some of my customers are the same people who I started hauling for back in 2007. I’ve continued to grow my customer base over the years, but something that is extremely important to me is loyalty.”
This kind of loyalty for Mike means when he gets a call from one of his customers, he’s on the road headed their way. “I’ve hardly missed a Monday hauling livestock in the last eighteen years,” laughed Mike. “When you’ve got 15-20 people regularly calling on you, you better be there for them. I know they’re relying on me, and I want to be the person they can depend on.”
The Value of a Dependable Lender
While Mike is focused on being there for his customers, having a dependable lender has been a tremendous help in continuing to grow and expand his business.“I remember there was a time when I needed to buy a truck very quickly to keep normal operations running smoothly. I texted my loan officer at GreenStone and was able to pick up a check the same day and had purchased a new truck by that afternoon. You don’t get that anywhere else! I’ve applied for loans from other lenders and there were always too many hoops to jump through. With GreenStone it’s always been a simple process, and they want to see you be successful and continue to grow your business.”
A Team Effort
When Mike became a business owner at 18, there were a lot of things he had to learn quickly. One of those was how to manage his growing business’s taxes. After about a year of trucking, he quickly realized the value of tax and accounting services to support the growth of his trucking operation. Again, he turned to GreenStone for support.
“When you own your own business, you really need to know your stuff when it comes to taxes. I knew right away that I wanted my taxes done right the first time, so I could focus on other parts of my business.”
Mike has been a tax customer of GreenStone since the beginning of his business. Throughout the years, he’s gotten to know his GreenStone team well, especially his tax accountant, Megan LaPlant.
“Megan does an amazing job. I know when I turn over my paperwork to her it’s going to be done right, and I don’t have to worry about it,” says Mike.
Growing up in the same small town, Megan graduated with Mike’s brother who now works with Mike hauling livestock multiple times a week.
Mike stand with his tax specialist, Megan LaPlant in front of the truck he financed through GreenStone.
“That’s the thing about working with GreenStone, the people there understand our industry and there’s a good chance they’re also your neighbor or someone you know. It makes it easier because they understand the type of work we do whether that’s something like farming or hauling livestock,” Mike said.
“One thing I really appreciate about working with Mike is his willingness to learn,” commented Megan. “He sat down with me recently to learn more about the depreciation of his equipment and how it impacts his business. The fact that he’s eager to learn more about what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ so he can continue to run his business more efficiently says a lot about him as a business owner.”
What does continued success look like for Mike? That’s easy. It means continuing to serve the farmers of northeast Wisconsin and maintaining the same great relationships he’s built along the way.
“My goal is to continue to keep my people happy and have them keep calling me,” Mike says with a smile. “This is what I belong doing, and the relationships I’ve built and people I’ve met along the way are the reason I love what I do.”
To view the summer 2025 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.
