Heartland, Inc. 2008 Performance: Building of a Strong Foundation for Continued Growth

Heartland, Inc. 2008 Performance: Building of a Strong Foundation for
Continued Growth

MIDDLEBORO, Ky., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Heartland, Inc. (OTC
Bulletin Board: HTLJ), a diversified company with businesses in steel
warehousing and fabrication and petroleum retail and wholesale operations,
announced net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 of $2,351,735 or
$.06 per diluted share ($0.06 per basic share), compared to a net loss of
$1,038,832 or $.03 per diluted and basic share reported in the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007 Revenue for the year was $39.5 million, compared to
$14.1 million reported in the 2007 fiscal year.

Operating income for FY 2008 was $1,234,429 compared to a loss of $1,090,267
in fiscal 2007. As of December 31, 2008 the company had working capital of
$7,260,545 and had generated cash flow from operating activities of $2,559,092
for fiscal year 2008.

"By any measure, our 2008 performance speaks to the progress we have made in
building a foundation for a profitable and growing enterprise, "said Terry
Lee, Chairman of Heartland. "In a year of difficult economic challenges, we
have expanded and diversified our businesses; improved and solidified our
capital structure; sharply reduced corporate overhead costs and achieved
positive cash flow and profitability".

In October 2008, Heartland completed the purchase of Lee Oil Company, a multi
state petroleum marketer and distributor which has in excess of 35 long term
petroleum supply contracts with retail and wholesale customers.

Mound Technologies, the company's subsidiary which fabricates structural and
miscellaneous steel, completed the purchase of its formerly leased building
and property in April of 2008. The purchase lowers costs, adds assurances for
uninterrupted manufacturing and provides additional property for future
expansion.

With the purchase of 37 industrial acres in Washington Court House, Ohio, the
company formed a new venture, Heartland Steel, Inc., for the purpose of
building and operating a structural steel service center. The center is
centrally located in an underserved region and will provide a wide range of
plate and wide flange products to customers in the fabricated metal business.
The initial phase of the facility is expected to commence operations in the
second quarter of 2009.

"We will continue to build a thriving enterprise through the prudent
management of our existing businesses, the upgrading of their capabilities and
the broadening of their reach and through selective future acquisitions of
businesses," concluded Mr. Lee. "We look for situations with strong customer
relationships and skilled and experienced personnel in place. Through this
process, we hope to develop new synergies among the acquired companies, which
should allow for greater cost efficiencies, enhancing each company's
individual strengths."

About Heartland, Inc.
Heartland, Inc. is a holding company with three subsidiaries. Mound
Technologies is a full service structural and miscellaneous steel fabricator
located in Springboro, Ohio. Lee Oil Company services and sells over 40
million gallons of petroleum product annually through a combination of retail
and wholesale operations. Heartland Steel, Inc., is a new venture which will
operate a structural steel service center in Washington Court House, Ohio
beginning in 2009.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are
forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Amounts herein could vary as a result of market
and other factors. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not
limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

SOURCE Heartland, Inc.

Paul G. Henning of Cameron Associates for Heartland, Inc., +1-212-554-5462,
paul@cameronassoc.com