Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has named Double L of Heyburn, Idaho as the “Small Business of the Month” for December 2017. Double L will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the Senate.

“Not only does Double L provide high-quality equipment that enables potato farmers to increase production, expand their harvest, and achieve their American Dream, they allow more people around the world to enjoy Idaho’s exceptional potatoes,” said Chairman Risch. “Since taking over as CEO in 2004, Chris Hunsaker has worked hard to expand Double L into a global presence while staying true to the company’s core values and commitment to Idaho potatoes. They are a prime example of the American entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovative solutions to empower consumers.”

Double L was founded in 1976 by potato growers Leland Klinger and Lynn Johnson who initially started the company by building equipment that would meet their own specific needs. They later expanded into other handling equipment and in the years since, Double L has never lost the original manufacturing mindset with which the company was founded, while the company and its employees have continued to expand. In 2004, Chris Hunsaker became CEO of Double L and immediately sought an expansion of both manufacturing and clientele, leading the company to move from its original home in American Falls to Heyburn, Idaho. Double L has shipped its equipment built in the United States to countries such as China, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel. This equipment has enabled farmers all across the globe who just a few years ago were harvesting their potatoes by hand to now efficiently complete their harvest using the equipment designed for their unique farms and crop yields, helping them to become sustainable farmers.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to entrepreneurship and provides oversight of the Small Business Administration. The committee also researches, investigates and reports all problems relating to America’s small businesses to the full Senate. As Chairman, Risch honors America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Senate each month.