Wisconsin is a land of extremes. We’re not talking about dairies or the Dells. This upper Midwestern state — almost considered “Northern” — experiences climatological extremes typically described in myths or movies. They say, before their first steps, every young cheesehead hears the legendary tale of the 1967 “Ice Bowl” that registered a gametime temperature of a frigid negative 13 degrees. Yet, 50,000 loyal Green Bay Packers fans arrived like it was business as usual. Because that’s how Wisconsinites are: They show up when there’s a job to do.  “I like to tell my guys we have a 150-degr ..read more

No cussing.  That’s a rule you’d expect to find in the halls and classrooms of an elementary school. But at a construction jobsite?  “We have a no-cussing policy here,” says Rob Pickinpaugh, owner of Rosedale Concrete Construction in Bakersfield, California. “We have good people. We do good work. We are in the people business because we want to develop lifelong friendships.”  Curse-word-free construction – it’s just one small, but important, policy that every employee of his 45-person business practices on their jobsites. After all, a company that can keep four dozen grown-ups ..read more

A love for the land can be powerful.   For one Iowa contractor, his passion was strong enough to motivate him and his wife to start a business largely focused on timber and prairie preservation. And even though K&D Land Improvement provides a broad range of services, it is the conservation-focused work that co-founder Dan Hansen enjoys most.  “I literally grew up in the woods, not far from here,” Dan says, working on a timber improvement job in his hometown of Lehigh, Iowa, where the business is based. “Running Bobcat® equipment out here keeps me attached to the land … I kno ..read more

Zeigler Tree and Timber Company in Louisiana recently faced a business-defining dilemma. The surgical tree removal company needed a more efficient way to meet its residential customers’ rapidly growing demand of their arborist and disposal services, while continuing to ensure the well-being of employees faced with one of America’s most challenging jobs. “Back in the day, it was a climber-based industry,” says Korey Zeigler, vice president of Zeigler Tree. “It was hard to continually grow when freelance climbers really determined what they were going to charge you and when they would show up ..read more

For Randy Whitfield, family is more than the last name on a business card — it’s a mindset. As the founder of Whitfield’s Lawn & Garden Specialist (LGS), Randy has watched his business grow from a family dream to a multi-generational operation. And, thanks to his son and successor, he’s seen it evolve from relying on manual labor to using the latest equipment technology to get jobs done.   Quite the return on investment considering the family’s current footprint in the community of Des Moines, Iowa. From day one, Randy Whitfield instilled a family-first mindset in every area of ..read more

Those who live in the Hawkeye State, and even those who just visit, call it Iowa Nice — a reputation the state has earned for doing neighborly things for others. Like holding the door open for strangers, chatting up your grocery store cashier or stopping to help a stranded driver.  Helpful, hardworking and honest — they’re just a few of the traits Iowans are known for. In 1977, Rick Kading was inspired to help more of these humble folks find more affordable homes. And almost a half-century later, Bobcat® equipment is playing a key role in Rick’s mission, start to finish.   Home ..read more

America, 1898: The City of Greater New York was created, the World’s Fair opened in Omaha, the Spanish-American war was fought and finished, and the Bjork Family Farm was established near Dunbar Township, North Dakota.   Four generations later, Brian Bjork carries out his family legacy on that same farmstead. “I never changed my address until we built a new house a few years ago,” Brian says, “and even then, our mailbox only moved about a foot.” Brian built a new house across the street, and his daughter and her family moved into his childhood home. As Brian’s siblings peeled off on ..read more

Ronny Delaughter attends therapy every day in his own back yard. But instead of a traditional therapy session, he’s sitting in the seat of his Bobcat® E50 compact excavator he’s affectionately named “Brutus.”   For several years, Ronny was ill, struggling with a myriad of physical and mental health challenges. His health was destroying his future. Against all odds, Ronny found positivity, happiness, and a higher quality of life thanks to the help of his Bobcat excavator.  Planting the seed  For most of Ronny Delaughter’s adult life, he has been a provider and hard worker ..read more

Why did a former up-and-comer at one of the world’s leading aerospace engineering companies pull his head out of the clouds and pursue a career in excavation? “I love getting into Bobcat machines and digging in dirt,” says Dwight Messick. As the owner of a thriving residential and commercial excavation company, you could say Dwight certainly landed on solid ground. He attributes much of the success of his company, MH Services in Northern Virginia, to his trio of Bobcat® T870 compact track loaders. “It’s like grabbing your computer when you go to work,” says Dwight. “The T870 is that piece of e ..read more