When Marc Reck (B.S., ’77) decided to start his own company in 1990, he had a lifelong passion for agriculture and the opportunity to build a business his way. That meant developing his niche skillsets, building relationships, and focusing on the details. Or, as he, his employees, and even his clients and customers would come to call it – the Reck Way.
“It’s all related back to my time at CSU,” Reck said. “You can’t put a dollar figure on it.”
As the 13th member of his family to attend Colorado State University, Reck was well accustomed with the University when it was his turn to come to campus. But even beyond the legacy, Reck always had his sights on CSU.
“It was the ag school in the state. That was really my draw to the University,” Reck explained. “And being from a small [high] school with a graduating class of 35, I wanted to experience life, obtain an education, and meet people from different areas and backgrounds.”
If the education Reck received at CSU was his foundation, then the experiences he had and the relationships he made were his bricks and mortar.
“I worked a lot on the weekends, but my fondest memories and where I built some of my some of my strong relationships were through my classes, activities, and brotherhood at Farmhouse Fraternity, and always the football and basketball games,” he said. “They all helped prepare me to start my career and know what was available in the world.”
Reck was raised on his family’s farm outside of Wiggins, but the year before he graduated, the family decided to sell it. Realizing he wouldn’t be going back home to work the land, he decided to stay connected to the industry by going to work as a loan officer for Production Credit Association (now known as Farm Credit) in Yuma.
“Those were the best two years of my life when it came to gaining experience, but I realized I didn’t want a salaried job,” he said. “I decided to obtain my real estate license to sell ag real estate to not only work in an industry I loved, but be rewarded for hard work.
Reck began selling ag real estate and lived in Vail, Fort Collins, and Fort Morgan– marrying his wife, Jennifer, along the way – before settling in Sterling in 1986. While working through the “Ag Credit Crunch” in the late 1980’s managing and selling ag properties, the entrepreneurial seed was planted to start his own company, Reck Agri Realty & Auction, in 1990 in Sterling.
Since then, Reck’s business has worked to connect buyers and sellers of farm and ranch properties in Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas by providing a choice of either selling by auction or by private treaty. Their team has sold more than 883,000 thousand acres (or enough land to stretch from Denver to Detroit).
“Our niche is successfully navigating complex situations and taking care of everything and everyone along the way,” Reck said. “Landowners decide to sell for a variety of reasons. Often there are multiple owners and/or siblings, and many situations are emotional and challenging. We have always been about the people and the details. That’s the Reck Way.”
The University will get to see the Reck Way up close and personal on September 30 when Reck and Jennifer ring the Old Main Bell before the Rams take on Utah Tech.
“It’s very much an honor, especially being Ag Day,” Reck said about being able to the ring the bell. “There are many prominent and successful individuals in the ag industry who have come through CSU, so for the University to ask me, it’s an honor and a privilege.”
Whether it’s through organizing local alumni events, attending athletic events, or just urging prospective students to obtain an education (especially at CSU), Reck has always stayed closed to the University and is thrilled to be coming back to campus on Ag Day.
“The University is so vibrant and there’s always something going on, and it’s always fun to experience the energy at the University,” Reck said. “Plus, [the Rams] always seem to play better when they’re wearing pumpkin orange.”
Be sure to get your tickets (and don’t forget to wear Aggie Orange) for the Utah Tech game on September 30 by visiting the CSU Alumni Association.
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When you join the Colorado State University Alumni Association, you become part of something bigger – a global community of green and gold that keeps alumni connected to the University and each other. Life member Marc Reck is making an impact on current students and future Rams through volunteerism and donations; providing support for alumni programming, outreach, and nationwide engagement; and preserving time-honored traditions that bind us together as Rams. You can make a difference too, and gain access to benefits such as exclusive invites, bookstore savings, career services, and more. Become a member today!
