New owner purchasing Longhorn Lawn Care

    After 15 years of ownership, Matt Jablonski of Imperial is selling Longhorn Lawn Care.
    He said this week it’s time for a change.
    He and the new owner-to-be, Keithan Cochran of Imperial are finalizing the details for transferring ownership. Jablonski said that should happen in mid-November to early December.
    After purchasing the lawn care service from Stacy Cochran in 2006, Jablonski has built the company which serves customers in Imperial, Wauneta and Grant.
    Currently, Longhorn Lawn Care services include a 4-step fertilizing program, bare ground vegetation control, commercial weed control and mowing.
    Jablonski also owned a lawn care service in Benkelman for  five years while teaching ag and industrial arts at Dundy Co. High School from 1999-2007, where he also coached.
    He was hired at Chase County Schools to teach ag, junior high science, help with FFA and coach. He was at CCS from 2007-10.
    He had purchased Cochran’s business the year before while teaching at CCS.
    “I got out of teaching to do this because it was getting too big,” he said. “It’s been a great business.”
    As he expressed thanks to his customers over 15 years, Jablonski acknowledged his employees, as well.
    He said he’s had a lot of good part-time help over the years. Brother-in-law Jason Speck has been a part-time employee all 15 years. Keithan Cochran’s wife Michaela also worked for him while in high school, he noted.
    Also among those employees over the years are all three of he and wife Johna’s children—Taylor, 20; Jordan, a CCS senior; and Tristan, a CCS freshman.
    Jablonski said he will be going to work for a farmer/rancher in the area.
New owner has lawn
care background
    After assuming Longhorn Lawn Care later this year, Cochran plans to keep the business name the same and will also take ownership of the business building on East 5th Street.
    Cochran earned an associate’s degree in sports turf management in 2013 from Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, then returned to Imperial as head groundskeeper at the Imperial Country Club.
    The 2011 Chase County Schools graduate also worked at the golf course during high school and completed a college internship there, too.
    He completed his eighth summer there this year.
    During the winters, he’s been employed by Overhead Door Company in Imperial.
    He said with his background, he’s excited for the chance to own his own business in the field and still serve the community.
    He and his wife Michaela, a first grade CCS teacher, have two children—Kamree, 3, and Owen, 11 months.