Tis covered semi becomes a traveling billboard for the multiple operations of Wagner Sod, Landscaping & Irrigation Company.
Growing the Partnership While they were still kids, but after the purchase of the first farm, Norb says, “Willard and I were working on the back of the stacking machine on one of the hottest summer days. We looked at each other and then finally said out loud what we were both thinking, ‘Do we really want to do this for a living?’ I know I hadn’t made that decision at that point.” Paul reports he went through a similar stage, asking himself, “Why do I want to do this?”
Willard says, “It was about 8th grade when I started thinking I wanted to work with my Dad.” And he never looked back. In time, Norb and Paul reached the same conclusion.
Te transition to ownership began in 2005, when they started buying percentages, investing into the business. Tey had determined they wanted to form a partnership and run the company jointly, when their Dad was ready to retire. After that, their Dad came up with a buyout price. Te buyout was completed in 2014.
Teir roles within the company evolved over time. Willard says, “When you feel like you’re on someone’s heels you know you’re in the wrong spot.” Willard already had been working closely with their Dad at the farm before Norb and Paul finished high school. His role as farm manager was an easy transition. Because they are so close in age, Norb and Paul worked together, first on the sod side, and then on the irrigation, landscape design and installation, and lawn maintenance when those services were added. Paul completed the two-year program in landscape horticulture at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN. It’s a little over 10 miles from Inver Grove Heights, so he could keep working while attending. Norb now serves as estimator and oversees sod installation. Paul manages the irrigation department and the office.
Tough their roles differ, “We think about ourselves as equals,” says Paul. “A lot of people say you guys think so much alike—and we do. We just keep rolling together.”
The Business Evolves Te Wagner brothers now own 570 acres of farmland, not contiguous, but within a 20-mile radius of the original Northfield farm. Willard reports between 80 to 100 acres are devoted to row crops; the remainder to sod. Te fields consist of 65 percent highland soils and 35 percent lowland soils. With the differing elevation, some of the lower ground is typically wetter than the higher ground. Tat can be an advantage during the always changeable seasons, typically allowing for harvesting in some of the fields in all but the most extreme weather conditions, which include the cold and snowy Minneapolis area winters.
All of the grasses are premium bluegrass, with eight different seed blends developed specifically for Wagner Sod Company to meet the varied needs of their customers. Tey offer both standard rolls (2-feet by 6-feet), for installation, delivery or pickup, and large rolls (2-feet wide by 105-to- 115-feet long), which they install. Teir website, www.
wagnersod.com, promotes the benefits of large rolls for their more efficient installation, up to 66 percent fewer seams, and less chance for washout in heavy rain situations. Willard reports their customer base is about 20 percent residential, 45 percent homebuilders, and 35 percent commercial. “We install the majority of our sod,” he says. “Probably 90 percent of what we sell.”
Tey incorporated the fully automated sod harvester around 2000. “Trebro AutoStack,” says Willard. “Love them. Te time savings is great. Tey go so fast and smooth.” Tey brought in Brouwer big roll harvesting and installation equipment soon afterward. Which, Paul reports, enabled Willard to run an even more efficient sod operation. “He has four employees for harvesting and loading, two drivers for the two semis; and eight employees that are cross-trained to mow, plant, handle general turf care and work with the row crops.”
At the Inver Grove Heights site, Norb concentrates more on the landscaping and sod installation and Paul more on the irrigation. But, Norb says, “We weigh ourselves with heavy hands here. We do grading and site preparation, as well as all the design and installation
50 TPI Turf News May/June 2019
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