News Closing in on 1 million starts Farm & Ranch Map GIVEAWAY OPENED Coastal Farm & Ranch will give away a 2014 Ford F-250 Propane Powered Truck to a lucky customer. A new Runnings store opened in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman and former Twins pitcher Jack Morris were at the grand opening. Back in January, the National Association of Home Builders predicted 1.15 million housing starts for the year — a 24.5% increase. It seemed reasonable at the time, even though 86% of HCN readers polled shortly thereafter expected an in- crease of less than 20%. The end-of-year tally remains an open book, with two months of potential surprises (for instance, 6 ft. of snow in Buffalo). But here’s what we know about the year so far, and what we can read into the future: - - liver 9.6% increases in starts, the full-year tally will be 1.01 million. BUILDING Tractor Supply’s expansion plans are getting a boost from a new distribution center being built in Casa Grande, Arizona. EVEN EVENT The Wheatbelt Show will take place Feb. 2-4, 2015, at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Missouri. At Ace event, a Shark Tank reunion O RLANDO , F LORIDA — They swam with the sharks and lived to tell about it. Ten contestants from the hit TV show “Shark Tank” gathered here at the Ace Hardware Market area, bringing their hot prod- of the Stop Drop foam tube that blocks objects from fall- ing into the cracks of your car seat. “Ev- eryone of these guys is a master mar- keter,” he added, referring to the “Shark Tank” alumni in the crowded aisle. “The retailers are giving us star sta- Lewis, maker of a drywall repair kit called Wall Rx. “I don’t deserve it, but 14 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 they’re giving it to us. If this is as success- ful as what we’re seeing today, I’m sure we’ll be back.” The Shark Tank show of force was ar- ranged by Lori Greiner, the celebrity in- vestor with a reputed golden touch for developing home improvement prod- “Shark Tank” stars. Byron Young is a “Shark Tank” star who almost gave up because the lines were too long at the casting call. Luckily, a show producer overheard him describ- ing his CordaRoy Sleeper, a chair-to-bed transformer, and whisked Young to the front of the line. - ally cool for us, because we’re all together and we get to share stories.“ HOMECHANNELNEWS.COM