Janea Danuser, vice president of local agricultural equipment manufacturer Danuser Machine Co., is a busy person. But to her, it's worth it.
"Danuser Machine Company plays a supporting role in feeding the world," she said.
She's part of the fourth generation of Danusers to run the company.
"Obviously, they're one of our oldest family-owned businesses," said Bruce Hackmann, economic development director for the Callaway Chamber of Commerce. "It says a lot for the company to be able to sustain what they do and add to what they do over 100 years."
Danuser's brother, Glenn, co-owns the family business with her. Their great-grandfather founded the company in Fulton in 1910.
"When I was little, I remember the feeling everybody knew everybody in our town," Janea Danuser said. "Clearly, Fulton has grown a lot over the last 40 years, but I think we still have a friendly, small community feel."
She fondly recalls eating pancakes during the Kiwanis Pancake Day and bonding with her tennis teammates at Fulton High School.
"My four best girlfriends were on that tennis team," Danuser said. "We stay in regular contact ,and every other year, we meet in a city for a short vacation together."
After graduating from FHS, Danuser took a gap year and then attended Trinity University, where she received a B.A. in sociology and psychology in 1991. She traveled the world with the Semester at Sea program during college and eventually ended up working in Seattle.
Back in high school, Danuser had been fairly sure she didn't want to spend her life selling post hole diggers.
"My parents didn't push the family business on us when we were growing up," Danuser said. "I think they were very smart to allow us to find our own way."
Glenn - who joined the family business in 1996 - and father Jerry soon reached out to her about coming home. Janea realized her degree could help her handle human resources and organizational management at the business.
"In college, my perspective broadened, and I realized there was a lot more to a business than selling one product," she said.
Danuser added she felt a sense of duty to the company's employees, many of whom stayed for decades. She moved back to Fulton in 1999.
At the time, being a woman involved in manufacturing agricultural equipment was unusual. Danuser became the third-ever woman on the board of the Farm Equipment Manufacturer's Association since it was founded in 1950. She is up to the challenge.
"I was never a sweet, quiet girl," Danuser said.
While she has never let old-fashioned attitudes bother her, she can remember a couple of incidents.
"I did think it was funny when a new vendor stopped me as I walked through front office," Danuser said. "He actually asked, 'Hey honey, would you? ' I don't remember whether that gentleman wanted to send a fax or for me to find someone for him but the 'Hey honey' does stick in my memory."
Times have changed. Danuser said there are more women in farming than ever. A second woman joined her on the FEMA board.
"Danuser Machine Company now employs its highest-ever number of women, including a woman welder," Danuser said.
In her role as vice president, Danuser manages human resources and attends meetings almost every day. The company is currently expanding by 11,000 square feet.
"With our construction project, each day includes some aspect - from selecting paint colors to researching energy-saving options," Danuser said.
When not at work, Danuser plays with her cats - whom she describes as "extraordinary" - and keeps up a running rivalry with her mother in the card game canasta.
"Because I publicly discussed our canasta record (at the Fulton Public Schools Foundation Gala), I will note she won two of three games on Sunday," Danuser said.