By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

WaKEENEY -- Even in an uncertain economy, a superior product is more than enough to make a deal work.

That's why the Senne Co., based in Topeka, has only high hopes about its new partnership with MCM in WaKeeney.

Before a packed courtroom Wednesday -- moved inside the Trego County Courthouse because of continuing showers outside -- the acquisition of Midwest Contracting and Mfg. Inc. was announced. Jim and Bob Funk will remain as officers and stockholders in the company and will continue as resident managers of the new company.

Nearly 40 people were on hand for the purchase announcement, heralded as a $1.5 million investment.

It won't stop there, however, as the company plans to boost its employment by 12 to 14 workers in the near future.

In fact, one worker already has been hired and a second will start next week.

The immediate goal, said Mike McGivern, president of Senne Co., is to boost the sales of the MCM's Dirt King tricycle by 2,000 percent during the next two years -- up from 1,000 a year now to 20,000 in two years.

"We are glad to be here," McGivern said.

While MCM has its roots in the agricultural and oil industries, the collapse of both in the early 1980s prompted the company to diversify.

That's when the Dirt King tricycle was developed. The tricycle, a number of which were on display Wednesday, is considered virtually indestructible and is favored by daycare providers.

During the announcement, Jim Funk talked about the company and its history.

"I don't know how you can compress 26 years into three minutes," he said.

While the tricycle has survived through the years, Funk said they first tried their hand at a scooter, which might be brought back into production. Several other new products are in the offing, and a couple might be announced in a few weeks.

Jim Funk told of how he and Bob Funk are getting to the age when they might want to retire, and that's why the sale took place. Before the meeting, Bob Funk said the deal was made to ensure that when they do retire, MCM will live on.

"On Aug. 6," Jim Funk said, "we went to work no longer as partners, but as employees after 26 years."

While the focus of the announcement revolved around the tricycle, Jim Funk said MCM continues to do subcontracting work for farm equipment manufacturers. He said they also cut and wrap boards for Enersys, for installation in some of its batteries.

Even that process has been boosted by the acquisition, when a shrink-wrap machine was brought in to make the process faster.

"This is a big deal for WaKeneey and Trego County," said Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton.

Hineman told of how WaKeeney's population has fallen through the years.

"This is a very positive development," he said. "It will pay dividends, not just for WaKeeney, but for the rest of the area as well."