When Leroy Young started making archery accessories for himself and friends in his Missouri garage in the 1950s, he was just looking for a way to have high-quality products to support his love and passion for archery. Young turned that hobby into Lee’s Archery & Pro Shop, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2021. The company, now known as Neet Products, is commemorating the milestone by introducing revamped premium archery accessories featuring new styles, fabrics, colors and textures. What hasn’t changed is the company’s focus on creating high-quality American-made products, outstanding customer service and relationships that continue today.

Leroy Young honed his craftsmanship sewing leather at Town & Country Shoes in Sedalia, Missouri. He started making finger tabs in his garage and showing them off at archery competitions, and he was soon making them for others. Young met his wife, Judy, at Town & Country Shoes, and in a matter of a few years, the couple left the shoe factory to start their own business in 1956.

In 1965 the Youngs moved their operations to the current Neet Products location at 5875 Highway 50 in Sedalia. Their daughter, Brenda Eichholz, is owner and president, and said the original building was just 4,500 square-feet.

“The original footprint included manufacturing space, a retail store and a shooting range for archery lessons,” Eichholz said. “In addition to working in the factory, fletching arrows and setting up bows in the pro shop, Dad ran an indoor league at night and taught people how to shoot. I would do my homework at the desk and people would be shooting. Mom was doing all the office work, and in those early years, made thousands of Hoyt arrow rests. I don’t know how they did it all; it was a labor of love for them.”

Today, Neet Products occupies a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing complex and makes quivers, bow cases, shooting gloves and finger tabs, arm guards, and additional archery accessories. The company also makes many products for other archery companies. Eichholz says the company has stayed true to its commitment to excellence by redesigning its production processes to be more efficient and providing what today’s customers want.

“Our revised plant layout means we have better communication between team members, and we have more cross-training happening,” she said. “We’ve also implemented continuous quality improvement processes. Our designers have been busy reworking many of our popular products using new leathers and fabrics and adding techniques like embossing.”

Leroy Young died in 1998, and Eichholz and her mom continued to run the business. In 2012 Judy died, and Eichholz took the reins full-time in 2020. She said that every day she is amazed at what her parents were able to accomplish.

“I’ve been in this building since I was 2 years old,” she said. “I worked here after school helping do all kinds of work and learning the business. My parents started with nothing and became a leader in the industry for many years. Sixty-five years is a long time to be in business these days, and we’re committed to our relationships with dealers that have stayed with us since the beginning. I’m so proud to be the caretaker of my parents’ dream and hard work.”

For more information on Neet Products, visit www.neet.com.

Historic photos courtesy of Brenda Eichholz, current president of Neet Products.