BARABOO, Wis. (August 14, 2025) — Quick action from CPR-trained associates and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) helped save a customer’s life at Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Baraboo, highlighting the company’s commitment to heart health and emergency preparedness.
On April 25, one of Blain’s regulars, 73-year-old Jim Krueger of Reedsburg, collapsed from a massive heart attack, often called a “widow maker,” while shopping in the store’s outdoor yard. Associates responded immediately by calling 911, performing CPR, and using the store’s AED until emergency responders arrived.
“Years of training took over,” said Store Manager Jack Adams, who began CPR after finding Krueger unresponsive. “We had five managers working in sync, and that teamwork helped save a life that day. “Assistant Store Manager Luke Baker ran to get the AED and assisted with chest compressions. “You never think it will be your turn to step in during a life-or-death moment,” Baker said. “But our training made all the difference.”
Warehouse Associate Owen Cruice was with Krueger just before the incident occurred and stayed close throughout. Assistant Store Manager Bonnie Pomeroy called 911, while team member Wayne Kiel alerted Baker to retrieve the AED. Adams also helped coordinate the emergency response. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the importance of CPR training and AED access in everyday settings.
Krueger spent 12 days in intensive care and has since completed cardiac rehab. He recently returned to the store with pizza to thank the associates who helped save him. “If I had collapsed anywhere else, I might not be here,” he said. “Because of them and that AED, I get more time with my family. That means everything to me.”
All 45 Blain’s Farm & Fleet stores, along with Blain Supply, Distribution Centers, and Warehouses, are outfitted with green Zoll-brand AED machines. CPR/AED training is provided through Anderson 360. Blain’s began installing AEDs in stores in 2007. The first recorded use of one of the machines took place at its Ottawa location in 2012. Since then, AEDs have been used 13 times across the company. While not all outcomes are known, these moments reinforce the importance of the company’s investment in emergency preparedness.
CPR/AED training is required every two years for Store Managers, Assistant Store Managers, Front End Managers, and Service Center Managers, with annual sessions offered to ensure timely certification. In addition, Blain’s has a 72-person Emergency Response Team supporting its warehouses and headquarters locations.
Krueger’s return to the store coincided with a week of heart health advocacy that included Blain’s annual Bert Blain Golf Shootout. This year’s event drew 341 golfers and 250 dinner guests, raising approximately $200,000 for the American Heart Association (AHA) and other causes. Highlights included a $20,000 donation from Craftsman Tools and a $10,000 gift to the Janesville Fire Department’s Pulse Point initiative, which empowers citizens to assist in nearby cardiac emergencies before first responders arrive.
Blain’s invites the community to join the upcoming 32nd Annual Bert Blain Memorial Heart Walk this September in Janesville, Wis., honoring company co-founder Bert Blain and supporting the AHA’s mission to expand CPR training, AED access, and heart health education. To register or donate, visit www2.heart.org/goto/blains.
Over the past 30 years, Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. have contributed approximately $7 million to the American Heart Association.
