Filled with optimism which exists within the Hendricks community, Chad demonstrated personal motivation and business finesse that allowed him to overcome challenges at an early age. At age 22, Olsen survived the devastation of a fire that consumed his 48-cow dairy herd and barn, leaving him $100,000 in debt. To recover from the loss, he worked odd jobs and then launched a custom harvest business in 1993. Today, Olsen Custom Farms harvests 79,000 acres from Texas to Canada, not including approximately 5,000 acres he farms at home in Minnesota. Olsen also operates a trucking and cattle business.

Besides offering numerous employment opportunities for Hendricks residents, the Olsen Custom Farms enriches the community in numerous other ways. Hendricks owes part of its ‘multinational small town’ status to crews of lads which come from abroad to help out with the Harvest season. Many of these part time residents hail from South Africa and other countries. Chad’s Harvest Festival is one of the more anticipated events of the year. Hundreds of friends and family gather to help celebrate yet another successful growing season on the prairie.