Our business was founded in 1945 by Bernard J. Riester Sr. and is owned by the Riester’s family. Mr. Riester Sr. passed away in 2016 at the age of 99 years, 2 months and 2 weeks; he had been providing service and training in the shop until the age of 94. Esther Riester ran the accounting, sales and customer service departments until she passed in 1996. B.J. Riester Jr. is the president and operating manager, and Meta Riester, his sister, is also an owner. Meta Riester is a retired Union Springs schoolteacher, active in National Grange, the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum and as an organist for the Ledyard Methodist Church.
