The History of VPSI

 

THE YEAR WAS 1957… 

 

And Indiana's poultry producers had a problem.

 

There was no easy way to get all of the health supplies they needed for their flocks without going through a veterinarian. 

  

Doctor Everett Pringle knew there had to be a better way. As a veterinarian and owner of a local poultry processing plant, he had seen enough. He knew how difficult it was for the farmers he personally knew and worked with to get the health supplies they needed for their livestock. So he set out to fix it. 

  

That’s when the idea to open Veterinary and Poultry Supply (VPSI) was born. Working out of the same Goshen warehouse our main office is located in today, Doc would load up his truck and drive health supplies directly to the farms where they were needed. 

  

While Doc knew everything there was to know about poultry, he knew that poultry producers weren’t the only ones struggling to access the supplies and equipment they needed. He was on a mission to help all of his neighboring livestock producers run successful operations — it didn’t matter if they had turkeys, cattle, swine, or even goats  — he knew he could help. 

  

But something was missing. He needed someone that could help him run the business. So he decided to bring on a partner.

  

THE TEAM GROWS (AND A BIT ABOUT LARVADEX)

  

"Doc, you're bankrupt. Let me help,” soon-to-be business partner Ed Bradford said after going through the books. Little did he know, that day would change everything for him. He never imagined that VPSI would grow into a family business that his kids and even his grandkids would all be involved in together. He just knew that a friend of the family needed his help. 

  

With Ed on board, the business took off and Doc’s vision of helping local producers was thriving. But bookkeeping wasn’t the only thing that Ed was good at. He had an eye for opportunity and the confidence in his team to make it happen. 

  

It wasn’t long after Ed joined the team that a new product called Larvadex hit the market. It revolutionized the way poultry producers controlled flies by attacking the larvae instead of the adult flies. At the time, there was nothing like it. The manufacturer knew they had something special. And so did Ed.

Larvadex would be a game changer for VPSI’s customers. But when Ed asked the manufacturer for selling rights, he was told...

 

NO.

  

And no.

And no...

And no, again. 

  

The manufacturer had a plan to sell the groundbreaking insecticide through a select few distributors. VPSI wasn’t on that list. 

  

But that didn’t stop Ed. After yet another rejection, he set up a meeting with the manufacturer’s team. And again, they expected to tell Ed no. Instead, they were shocked when Ed introduced them to VPSI's newest sales rep — a man hired to sell only Larvadex. 

  

It worked. The manufacturer finally saw how confident Ed was that Larvadex would be a success through VPSI and they said yes. VPSI went on to be the top seller of Larvadex out of any other distributor with selling rights. It put Larvadex and VPSI on the map. 

  

Larvadex was the kickstart we needed to grow to different states and locations. Year after year, VPSI has continued to grow thanks to the dedication of our team and the support of our customers. 

  

KEEPING UP WITH CHANGE 

  

But the world looks a bit different than it did in the ‘50s. And the livestock industry is no exception. As a company, we’ve learned to adapt to meet the needs of our customers. 

  

For instance, in 2017 the FDA changed the livestock industry overnight by putting new regulations in place. Certain products that producers were previously buying over the counter were no longer available without a veterinarian. This meant that growers would need a prescription for drugs and medicated feed. 

  

So we opened VPSI Pharmacy that year. Through our pharmacy, we're able to supply our customers with the products they've always gotten from us that switched to Rx status and new medications that we were unable to provide before the change. Our customers can even get their VFD orders from us. 

  

We continue to stay on top of FDA changes to remain compliant and supply our customers with the products they need to keep their animals healthy. We even hired a staff veterinarian that specializes in cattle to help service our customers in parts of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. 

  

We know that our industry will continue to change and we’re up for the challenge. We will always continue to do what’s right for our customers and their animals. You can count on that. 

  

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY 

  

The hard work, perseverance, and genuine care for their customers that Ed and Doc put in years ago are what helped set the stage for our company culture now. 

  

Today we're still family-owned and operated. And we're just as dedicated as our founders were. Our team operates with the same work ethic and determination as we have since day one. 

  

We still meet customers where they need us – whether that’s their farm, barn, feed store, vet clinic, or even their storage shed or garage. We still personally stock their coolers and shelves. We still hunt down just the right product to keep their animals healthy. Most importantly, we still listen. And we still care about our customer’s success. 

  

Now, we operate across the Midwest with locations in seven states. We stock thousands of animal health and nutritional supplies from top manufacturers for all livestock, horses, and small animals. We don’t just do business with producers now – we also work with feed mills, dealer stores, and veterinarians. From small backyard farms to large-scale livestock operations, the success of each one of our customers is important to us. 

  

If your work involves animal health, then we’re here for you. 

  

Let’s do business together. Click here to find a VPSI Sales Rep near you.