FARMINGTON – The Trantens of Kingfield have been presented the Farmington Rotary Club eighth annual Community Service Entrepreneur Award.

The Tranten store family is comprised of Neal G. Tranten and his sons, Neal C., Donald and Clay.

In 1955 Neal’s father, Harold, purchased the A.G. Winter family store on Depot Street, changing the name to H.S. Tranten & Son. After his father’s death, Neil took over management of the store, which was then called Tranten’s Yankee Grocers.

The Tranten family moved from Madison to Kingfield at the time of purchase from Amos Winter, who had become a prime mover of the Sugarloaf ski area. Neal G. and his wife, Mozelle, had five children, Tracy, Holly, Neal, Michael and Clay.

Tranten’s health food store, Gussie’s, Main Street, opened three and a half years ago. It is located next to Tranten Too, which is beside Tranten’s, a Shurfine food store, the major grocery store. The three stores provide employment for close to 50 people.

The move from the original Depot Street location took place about 1990. About four years later Tranten Too was added, then Gussie’s.

The Tranten children graduated from Mount Abram High School, Salem. Donald, Clay and Neal, who stayed with the store, incorporated after taking over from their father when he retired.