SHELBY – Crawford Drainage Company has installed more than 70 million feet of drain tile since its inception in 1974.
Nearly 2 million feet were installed in the ground just last year.
The farm drainage business, which began with a Buckeye 302A wheel tile machine, is celebrating 50 years of work and determination this year.
A customer appreciation day is planned for March 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Food, refreshments, door prizes and displays will be included in the celebration at 3364 Hinesville Road in Shelby.
All past, present and future customers are invited to attend the event.
Owen Niese, involved with Crawford Drainage and R&R Niese Farms, said students interested in agriculture are also encouraged to attend, such as those from Pioneer Career and Technology Center, and members of the Shelby FFA.
“It’s helping get kids interested in the equipment and the business,” Niese said. “We need more people working in agriculture in general.”
Crawford Drainage Company beginnings
Robert and Lillian Niese rarely found time to see each other due to her career as a teacher, and his as a farmer. Robert also worked at the Shelby Steel Tube Company.
Around 1973, Robert, who “didn’t have enough land to be just a farmer,” came up with the idea of establishing a drainage company and left his job in the tube industry.
“That was the way of making more income, so we could see each other a little more and the kids could too,” Lillian said.
After Robert partnered with his brothers to establish Crawford Drainage Company, he was joined by Rick Gosser, who became the company’s junior partner for around 45 years.
Gosser recently gave up his ownership role after turning 65, but still works for the drainage company.
Many have contributed to continued success
Today, Crawford Drainage Company is owned by Robert and sons Roger and Ken Niese.
It’s extremely important the business is family-owned and operated, but the efforts of others have proven invaluable over the years, said Roger.
“It still takes extra labor to support everything, you know, to keep everything going,” he said.
Crawford Drainage employees, which includes Mike Dawson, Dave Reidel, Brett Chance, Adam Niese, Caden Lesseuer and Brandon Smith, all contribute to the company’s success.
Lillian’s proud to see her husband and sons continuing the work that began 50 years ago.
“They all have their strength,” she said. “It’s important to me because I get to see all three of these men every day.”
While the business is now entirely family-owned, Owen, son of Roger, noted the operation wouldn’t be possible without Gosser’s efforts.
Robert’s brother, Tom Niese, also played an instrumental role in the company’s day-to-day operations.
Tom’s experience from working for the Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District provided the business with years of layout and engineering knowledge.
“He did the majority of our layout work for years (until retiring). He was a big part of this operation, too,” said Ken.
Day-to-day operations
Crawford Drainage works 99 percent with the agricultural sector, completing dozer and backhoe work, erosion control wash cobs, waterway construction, repair and installation of tile systems, and open ditch improvement work.
Additional work includes building site preparations, land clearing and pond improvements. All work and materials are guaranteed.
According to the company’s mission statement, Crawford Drainage continually upgrades the products and services they offer their customers, “helping them to solve water management issues, which ultimately improves the quality of life.”
With the rising cost of farmland, one of their goals is to help farmers make the best use of the land they currently have.
“Maybe the farmer tiled 30, 40 years ago and put the tile on 50-foot spacing, but the opportunity isn’t there to purchase more farmland, so they’re improving the acres they already own,” Ken said.
“We’ll actually go in, locate the original tile, and then split those lines, and make them 25-foot (spacing). By doing that, we can improve soil structure and control erosion, which gets them more production time and better yield.”
Crawford Drainage stocks and sells a large selection of Advanced Drainage Systems tile supplies.
“They (ADS) help us out a lot with our supplies,” Ken said. “We’ve had a really good relationship with them for more than 40 years.”
Building trust for 50 years
A family-oriented approach and value of quality control are two ways the company has built relationships over the years.
“If there’s a problem, they go back and fix it for the customer, and take care of it,” Lillian said.
The company views every project they complete as if it were their own.
“We’re going to fix it right, to where it’s the way I would want it to be done,” Roger said.
Advancements in technology have also helped the business grow.
“Technology has really been a big upgrade, too,” Ken explained. “From what Dad (Robert) started out with back in the day, having an old 302A Buckeye machine, to what we have today, a big Inter-Drain machine.
“Back then, they were still using instruments and targets, then laser, as survey methods. Now, GPS control is utilized with the machinery.”
Dedication to doing the job correctly has also led to valuable customer relationships.
“Most of the customers are repeat customers,” Owen said.
“It’s not hard to convince them to make improvements because they know you’re going to do it right.”
He thanked his father, grandfather and uncle, as well as Tom Niese and Gosser, for establishing the level of credibility, which has resulted in trustworthy relationships with customers.
‘Farmers don’t quit’
Along with their involvement in Crawford Drainage, Robert, Roger, Owen and Ken own R&R Niese Farms, which focuses on corn, beans and wheat in the Crestline and Shelby area.
Roger and Owen handle most farm operations, while Ken focuses primarily on the drainage business.
Commitment from their farmworkers helps make the operation possible.
“That farm keeps us busy too,” Roger said. “There again, we can’t do it without a lot of good help.”
Last year, Robert was still helping harvest and operating the combine at age 84.
Throughout their relationship, Lillian, who didn’t grow up around farming, realized something about farmers – they don’t quit.
“Roger will probably be the same way,” Lillian said with a smile. “Farmers just keep going. They don’t retire very well.”
Crawford Drainage and R&R Niese Farms continue to serve the surrounding communities thanks to dedication from past and present employees, suppliers, family members and their spouses.
“None of it’s possible without us working together. That’s what makes it all work,” Roger said.
For more information about Crawford Drainage, contact Ken Niese by phone, (419)-564-4720, or email (ken@crawforddrainage.com).