Bartlett Hay Company has been a staple in the downtown Falcon business district for nearly 20 years. What started out as a young couple hauling hay for local ranchers, feed stores, and local farmers has grown into a family company that now also operates a feed store at 7090 Meridian Road.Lonnie and Renee Bartlett began assisting Renee’s data in his hay business in 1986. Lonnie Bartlett had just lost his job, and the couple was looking for a job they could do together. They began buying hay from ranchers and farmers and stacked it in people’s barns. Sometimes, theyw ould travel two to three hours to get hay to deliver to local farmers and ranchers.Soon, the hay business became their sole profession, and, as they started a family, they took their children along with them on pickups and deliveries. From 1986 until 1990, the couple worked out of their home in Peyton. They had a pickup truck and a gooseneck trailer, which could haul 250 bales of hay at a time. In 1989, they bought a semi truck, which could hold 600 to 700 bales of hay.”It was risky because we didn’t have any other income,” Renee Bartlett said. “We decided it was a risk we were willing to take.”Before long, the Bartletts were supplying hay for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Air Force Academy stables, local equestrian and many farmers in Parker, Colo.In 1990, the Bartletts bought the property on Meridian Road to park their hay trailer.”There wasn’t much down here when we bought the property.” Renee Bartlett said. “There were no stop lights – just houses, the sub shop and the Kwik Way filling station. At that time, we just had the land and a fence around it.”Renee Bartlett said it was their goal to someday have a feed store in addition to the hay hauling business. In 2002, their dream came to fruition as they began to design the building. Brooks Construction did the building and insulation, while the Bartletts worked with subcontractors for the framing, drywall, and painting.”We were building a house at the same time,” Renee Bartlett said, “so it was scary and hectic. But it was well worth the time and effort we put into it.”Bartlett Hay and Feed had their grand opening in March 2003. The store sells grain products, tack and animal products for horses, dogs and cats, hats, gloves, horse warmers, rakes, blankets, ropes, and some home decor.Renee Bartlett said she works 60 hours six days a week. She enjoys the ability to leave the store in the late afternoons to be home with her five children. Lonnie Bartlett often works 10- to 11-hour days five days a week, and sometimes six days a week in the summer. They also have one full-time employee and three part-time student employees.The business has developed into a family affair, with all five Bartlett children helping in one way or another. Renee Bartlett said two of her boys, ages 15 and 13, help deliver hay when they aren’t attending school. The couple’s 17-year-old daughter helps in the store, and babysits the younger kids when her mom is gone.The Bartletts suffered a recent setback when the facility was broken into on February 7. The alleged perpetrators broke the lock on the fence. They had their own semi truck and hooked it onto Lonnie’s delivery trailer. Between the loss of the trailer and the hay that was loaded on it, the couple lost $25,000. The crime has not been solved.Despite the loss, the Bartletts are happy with the growth of their business and proud of the services they provide Falcon residents.”We’re successful because we’ve been here for a long time and people know us.” Renee Bartlett said. “We continue to provide service for our customers and offer quality hay. We appreciate our loyal customers. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”It is a lot of hard work, but as a family affair, it has been a lot of fun.”
