Keys to the Journey

Hi there, I’m Marsha, the receptionist at Wareing Sturgis Ford.

Day in and day out, we sell cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and sports cars. But sometimes, the keys we hand over mark the beginning of something much bigger.

Sometimes those keys start a well-earned retirement. Sometimes they’re handed to a brand-new driver. And sometimes, they’re given to teary-eyed customers saying goodbye to a vehicle full of memories.

These are special moments — the kind we hold onto.

This past week, we had two of those moments here at Wareing Sturgis Ford, and I’d love to share them with you.

The first journey began a few months ago.

One of our loyal business owners called to order a surprise graduation gift for his son — a truck he would need as he stepped into a new role in the family business after earning his college degree.

Our General Manager, Tim, placed the order while the family kept the secret by “helping” their son search for a good used truck. He had specific features in mind, and he really wanted black.

The brothers visited dealerships all over the area, comparing trucks. And every time the graduate thought he’d found the perfect one, his brother somehow found something wrong with it.

Then one day, his dad said, “Tim called — he found a truck we should take a look at.”

To keep the surprise intact, Tim had parked the new truck inside the showroom.

When the family arrived, he casually said he’d grab the keys, pointing toward the truck and adding, “Well, here’s a black one.”

The family laughed and walked around it — Mom, Dad, and both sons admiring every detail.

Our Sales Manager, Kristi, quietly recorded the moment.

After a few minutes, Mom finally said, “It’s yours.”

The young man’s eyes widened. His hands went to the top of his head as if he needed help staying grounded.

“What?”

After a few hugs, the brothers climbed in, and we could hear him laughing and giving his brother a hard time for steering him away from every truck he had looked at.

It was a beautiful family moment — and one we were proud to be part of.

The second story came later that week.

A customer came in to purchase a truck for the ranch. He mentioned his trade-in had a lot of miles but would still be a great vehicle for someone who just needed reliable transportation.

As we visited, he shared that the truck had made many trips back and forth to Sioux Falls — taking his son to football camp.

Specifically, the Sanford Sports Academy High School Football Combine, where young athletes hope to get noticed by college coaches.

As his story unfolded, we learned something remarkable.

In December 2023, his son, Tyler Martin, was involved in a head-on collision with a semi on his way to school. He suffered serious injuries — internal bleeding, a shattered femur, and a broken arm — followed by multiple surgeries and four months in a wheelchair.

But as his dad shared, one thing remained unbroken: his spirit.

Tyler said that during recovery, “All I could do was smile,” knowing that just being alive was a blessing.

The accident was a major setback, but it didn’t change his goal.

He kept working toward a future in football.

That’s part of what brought his dad to the dealership that week. He needed a truck for the ranch — and the very next day, he and his wife would be driving Tyler to Nebraska to begin college on a full-ride football scholarship.

There is a powerful video from Sanford Health that shares Tyler’s full story:
Watch Tyler’s story here

Presenting keys to a vehicle is something we do every day — but sometimes, those keys represent much more than transportation.

They represent beginnings.

They represent milestones.

They represent journeys.

This time of year, we want to wish all the graduating sons and daughters of Black Hills families the very best as they begin what’s next.

Thanks for reading — and stop by anytime to tell us how we can be a part of your journey.

— Marsha