Customization
of Equipment Randy says, “A lot of times the equipment is altered for soil type, a specific operation or method of operation. Our TPI networking is key to that. We’ll talk to some of the other growers to develop ideas and our staff does a tremendous job of building on that. We have three Oliver Cletracs that we’ve equipped with 16-inch tracks. They were built in the 40s, but we still use them because we like the results they give us.”
All of their other tractors have 54-inch flotation tires. Tey’ve made their own mower frames in a weight more suited to their peat soil. Tey’ve modified a harvester to equip it with 54-inch tines. And those are just a few of the many modifications they’ve tackled.
Organizational Details The Trucking Company is located on the east side of the 700-acre parcel. Mike Kusek is Trucking Manager and in charge of logistics. Plans are underway for the business office to relocate from Randy and Hilda’s home to a site on that parcel too, within the next year.
Peak staff size is 35, a combination of full-time and part-time farm and trucking personnel. Roger Blair is the sales representative.
Patty Sauls is administrative assistant. Cassidy Weidert is logistics coordinator, and her sister, Lainey Weidert, assists and works with credit card processing. Jasperson Sod Farm is using Turf Logistics for sod orders and routing and Fleet Complete for truck tracking.
Association
Memberships Jasperson Sod Farms is a member of the following associations: Turfgrass Producers International, Te Lawn Institute, Wisconsin Sod Producers Association, Sod Growers of Mid-America, Wisconsin Green Industry Federation, and Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association, Illinois landscape Contractors Association, and Wisconsin Nursery & Landscape Association.
Fun Facts Randy Jasperson has attended each annual “Te Street Rod Nationals,” held the first week in August in Louisville, Kentucky, since 1975. It’s a family affair with the whole family attending this year. Tere are more cars in their collections than those pictured, including Hilda’s silver anniversary pace car Corvette. Mark Jasperson bought his ‘48 Chevy street rod when he was in 8th grade. He worked on it for seven years before it was road worthy. Mark says, “It took awhile, but it was worth it.”
Dawn and Ryan Menken’s children—and Randy and Hilda’s grandchildren—are the stars of the Jasperson Sod Farm website. Makenna is 8 and in third grade. Bennett is 5 and in kindergarten.
Bennett is helping Grandpa Randy on the tractor.
About 1919 or 1920, Randy’s grandfather was in a car dealership selling model T Fords. Tat lasted until 1932 when he switched car companies and sold Chevys up to World War II. Randy caught the street rod bug from his grandpa—and passed it on to the rest of his family.
Randy Jasperson has served on the North Cape School Board for over 25 years. With his grandkids now in the school system, he’ll stay put.
Randy Jasperson is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of Turfgrass Producers International.
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. All photos courtesy of the Jasperson family.
Working on equipment in the 1970s on Jasperson Sod Farm.
40 TPI Turf News September/October 2017
Who wouldn’t smile seeing this shot of Makenna on that beautiful natural grass?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
