Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the June 2026 edition of Fareway Focus magazine.
After five decades of service, leadership and quiet influence, Al Wiltse is stepping away from Fareway Stores Inc., closing the book on a 50-year career that helped shape both people and the company itself.
Known to many as “The Cowboy,” Wiltse’s steady hand, strong values and commitment to others leave behind a legacy that will continue to guide Fareway for years to come.
Journey begins
Wiltse’s journey began in 1976 at age 20, when he was hired by Bob Cramer at the Fareway store in Algona, Iowa. At the time, his ambitions extended beyond the grocery business.
With an eye toward becoming an auctioneer, Wiltse stepped away briefly to attend two weeks of auctioneer training, planning to pursue the craft full time. But as fate would have it, a conversation with Fareway supervisor Don Dennert changed the trajectory of his life.
Dennert encouraged him to take a full-time opportunity at the store in Carroll, Iowa – a decision that would set the stage for a half-century of loyalty and leadership.
Wiltse embraced the opportunity. In 1979, he transferred to the store in Harlan, where he worked under grocery manager Harold Sissel. Two years later, he moved to the Estherville store and earned a promotion to assistant manager under Dick Smith.
These early years proved formative, giving Wiltse exposure to different leadership styles and sharpening his understanding of what it meant to lead effectively.
By 1984, he made what would be his final store transfer – to Storm Lake – where he worked under grocery manager Denny Langholdt before eventually succeeding him in the role.
Leadership legacy
As manager, Wiltse became known for not micromanaging and developing people. He believed in equipping employees with the tools, knowledge and confidence they needed to make decisions independently.
His approach emphasized trust and accountability – ensuring his team understood the goal and then empowering them to achieve it. His style was influenced by the many mentors he encountered along the way, including Dave Greiner, who served as assistant manager during Wiltse’s time in Harlan.
Wiltse led the Storm Lake store until 1999, when he stepped away from day-to-day retail operations to continue serving on the Fareway Board of Directors. Over the next 27 years, he remained an active and engaged voice in the company’s growth, contributing to strategic decisions that helped shape Fareway’s future. His final board meeting on May 18 marked the end of an era – not only for Wiltse but for an organization that benefited from his steady influence.
Wiltse witnessed – and helped navigate – many transformational shifts in the grocery industry during his career. These include the early days when customers brought jugs into the store to fill vinegar from barrels to the evolution from hanging beef in markets to the efficiencies of boxed beef.
Innovations like MSI ordering systems streamlined product procurement, while scanning technology elevated Fareway’s ability to compete in a fast-changing retail landscape. Though some changes took time to embrace, Wiltse recognized each as a step forward in strengthening the company.
He also played a role in guiding Fareway through periods of significant growth. Wiltse was part of the discussions that led to the expansion of the Boone warehouse campus in 2005 and again in 2010. These investments that allowed the company to increase its store footprint.
The company’s expansion beyond Iowa followed a deliberate progression beginning in 1998 in Moline, Illinois. That was followed by Nebraska (Omaha, 2004), Minnesota (Stewartville, 2009) and South Dakota (Sioux Falls, 2016). Growth then continued into Missouri (Kansas City Meat Market, 2020) and Kansas (Olathe Meat Market, 2022).
Throughout these years, leadership evolved alongside the company’s footprint. Wiltse’s presence provided continuity throughout the transitions of Fred Greiner, president from 2006 to Sept. 1, 2018; Reynolds Cramer, promoted to CEO in February 2014; and Garrett Piklapp, who became president in 2021.
Wiltse took pride in seeing the company’s reach grow while staying grounded in its core values. As he retires, his legacy continues through his sons – Bret, who rose from bagging groceries to EVP of merchandising, and Jason – who carry that forward as members of the board of directors.
Yet for all the operational milestones and strategic decisions, Wiltse’s legacy is perhaps best measured in people. He consistently points to the managers who developed him as foundational influences and carried that same commitment forward in mentoring others.
His leadership philosophy remains simple but powerful: train people well, listen to customers and communicate clearly. Balance the need to adapt in an ever-changing world with a deep respect for the traditions and leaders who laid the groundwork.