'We're going to go see the grandkids more'

There are, to date, six main reasons why Troy and Mikel Fruit have decided to sell the business they have built together for nearly forty years.

In October, 1984 Fruits first started their business in Ekalaka with the purchase of the T & R Standard Station on Main Street. Troy was 20 years old; Mikel was 21. They purchased the business from Tom Carroll and Randy Smith. The couple ran the business by themselves until 1992 when they hired their first employee, Lance Barrere.

Then, in 1994 Fruit Service & Repair, Inc. expanded with the purchase of the old Ekalaka Farmer's Union station on Highway 323 just outside of town.

Soon after, Fruits added Carquest parts and expanded their livestock feed products, crop chemicals, fertilizer, mechanic and tire shop, and convenience store.

In 1997 they replaced Carquest with the purchase of a NAPA franchise.

Through the years they have continued to add to their selection of ag supplies and even sell wood pellets. There have been some changes over the years, but the business is still running at full capacity today.

On Monday when Fruits sat down with the Eagle to talk about their decades-long success and why they recently decided to list their business for sale, the conversation was seldom about them or their business at all.

"We're going to go see the grandkids more, and we're hoping to find somebody-or a group of somebodys-to take this on and keep the same services we've had available for the last four decades," Troy said.

Troy and Mikel currently have six grandchildren. Their oldest daughter, Kacie (Scott) Perkins, has children ages 13, 11, 7 and 2. Their son, Orry (Montana) Fruit, has 5-year old twin boys, and their youngest daughter Bailey (Klay) Ready got married in 2020. Those six grandchildren and the rest of their family are the main reasons for listing the business.

Besides catching up on family, Monday's conversation was about a wide array of Carter County happenings: the hospital, high school basketball, and Ekalaka Track & Arena among others. It was fitting as Fruits have supported the community and all things youth-from sports to 4-H-over the last 38 years. Both have also served on a number of boards.

They're still involved in most of those things, though Troy did admit that he "got off of the track and arena board" at the association's annual meeting last month.

"It's time to get some of the younger guys involved in the community," he said. "Greg [Brence] took my spot on the track and arena."

Troy said they aren't moving. Both he and Mikel did mention that it will be nice, however, to be able to leave Ekalaka for four or 5 days at a time instead of one or two. Divided out, that's still less than one day per grandchild.

"I didn't think I'd make it out of the 80s," Troy said when asked if he thought they'd still be operating Fruit Service & Repair, Inc. over 38 years after starting their business venture in Ekalaka. "Then the 90s were a blur."

"We wanted to do it as long as it took to get our kids through college," Mikel responded. "I thought we'd just keep doing it until then."

Perhaps now the business located at 23 E HWY 323 can provide those same opportunities for the younger generation.

The listing for Fruit Service and Repair can be found at Dave Smith Realty, Miles City, Montana.