Catching Up With 2013 “Giving Away the Farm” Winner Don Hahn

August 4, 2014

The winner of Morton Buildings’ 2013 “Giving Away the Farm” sweepstakes almost didn’t claim his prize when Morton contacted him with the good news last fall.

“I didn’t believe it,” Don Hahn said of his stroke of luck when his 60’ x 90’ machine storage shed was delivered to his Havana, Ill. farm on a warm August morning.

Hahn wasn’t so sure about returning the phone call. Ultimately, a voice of reason stepped in.

“My wife talked me into calling them back.”

Hahn was the winner of Morton’s fourth version of the “Giving Away the Farm” sweepstakes, awarding a $50,000 credit towards the construction of a Morton building. He submitted his winning registration form at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. last summer. The show had become an annual stop for Hahn to see Morton and other new products in the farming industry.

“I started signing up for (the sweepstakes), maybe from its inception,” Hahn explained. “It’s pretty basic, pretty easy, pretty painless. Basically just part of the stop at the Farm Progress Show.”

And what about the reaction to his good fortune, once the disbelief had worn off?

“Very surprised and elated – gosh, first time I’ve ever won anything,” Hahn said with a big smile across his face. “I was thrilled – it was a neat experience.”

Once his sweepstakes win was confirmed, Hahn went to work on the planning of his new project.

“First, you have to decide what you want. In this particular case, I upgraded over the prize amount. It just takes a while to pick out the color and the size and just exactly what you want and where you want to put it.”

When we visited his farm during the building delivery earlier this month, Hahn had a chance to reflect on the process of planning the project with the Morton sales staff. His response was one Morton has come to expect over its century of experience as a leader in the construction industry.

“Morton people are really nice people to work with. Very cordial and not pushy – I like that. Well-pleased”.

Hahn was no stranger to Morton Buildings prior to his big win last year. His farm already features a Morton that still stands as tall and strong as it did when it was built four decades ago.

With the planning and delivery complete, Hahn expressed excitement and relief over being able to put his building to use. But not before one of Morton’s industry-leading construction crews brings his storage facility to life over the coming days.

“It’s always fun to watch these guys build it,” Hahn said. “We’ll have a good time and I’ve got several of my friends and neighbors that will be watching too. It’s quite an event.”

Of course, Morton’s “Giving Away the Farm” sweepstakes is back and bigger than ever in 2014. The contest, currently ongoing and scheduled to end on October 16, still showcases a $50,000 credit towards the construction of a Morton Building for the winner. The 2014 winner will also receive an Exmark mower and a Bad Boy Buggy for the first time in the history of the giveaway. The total value of the prize package is more than $76,000.

Explore More Blog Posts
Get Started