Don Huebner was born in Rapid City to Edward and Joan Huebner. He grew up in Rapid City and started at a young age working for his father who owned a filling station and wrecker service. Don credits his work ethic to his father who always taught his children that hard work was the key to success.
Even though Don was born and raised in the city, he always had a love for the outdoors, horses, and longed for the “country life”.
Don continued to work for his dad right up to the sale of Ed’s Towing and repair and continued working for the new owners until the family purchased Ace Steel and Recycling in May of 1989. Don, his brother Galen, and their brother-in-law Dennis were able to venture into business on their own and purchased Ace Steele and Recycling with the help and support of their parents, Ed and Joan. When his brother-in-law Dennis passed away in the fall of 1989, younger brother Bill returned to Rapid City to join the family business, and later sister Dorene came into the business. The first eight years or so was a struggle with payments to make and growing pains in the business, but slowly things got better and better. The same year the family went into business together, Don started a family of his own. Marrying in June of 1989, Don and Tammy have two daughters, Tara who is a senior in high school, and Codi who is a freshman.
Along with a great work ethic Don has a wonderful sense of family. Camping, team roping, hunting and going to brandings are past times and hobbies that Don shares with his family. Don has taught his girls a lot about taking care of the livestock at home, working with horses, safety on the lake and while hunting. The work ethic that Don learned from his father is one that he continues to pass along to his girls. One way that he does this is to take the girls to brandings and teach them that the hard work of a branding can also be a fun way to spend a day.
After 12 years of constant work at Ace Steele, the family expanded the business and purchased a failing Cow Country Equipment. The company had a bad name and was not going to be easy to turn around, but after the first year, he knew he had to develop new products or the company would not make it long term! So he started looking at the needs of the area ranchers and saw the need for someone in the area to build products like overhead grain bins, portable livestock shelters and portable tub systems. Every year he tries to develop a new product. This view into the agricultural needs of the area has taken a business that was in financial ruin when the family purchased it to the business that it is today.
Don has helped with the increase in Cow Country’s recognition by his continued involvement in area agricultural related events. Don has been a volunteer for the Days of 76 in Deadwood for 21 years where he now heads up the outriders for the annual parade. Don is on the Central States Fair Rodeo committee, where he has served as a volunteer for the last four years and has been the past chairman for the Central States Fair/Black Hills Stock Show roping committee. Don worked on this committee in one capacity or another for 10 years. Don’s two daughters, at the age of about 7 years old, also helped at the team ropings, pushing cattle and helping any way they could and they are still helping at the team ropings. Don, through Cow Country, supports area youth in rodeo fund raising and provides various equipment to local events.
