Crouthamel had been looking for a place to build not only to accommodate his growing business, but to a location that would provide his business with a better presence. The new location, just west of Dayton along Highway 175, seems to be a great match.

Crouthamel grew up between Boone and Stratford and had been looking for a place in that area, but decided on Dayton in Webster County.

“Ninety percent of the bins I have put up in the last 10 years have been on the west side of the Des Moines River,” he said. “I knew this piece of ground was here. It makes a lot more sense to be on the west side of the river where the work is. I’ve hauled 40 grain bins in four years across the river.”

The new location also features a new building that will consist of a warehouse, office, showroom and parts room.

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson
Farmer’s Grain Systems has a new location just west of Dayton along Highway 175.

The new facility is quite a bit larger than his original accommodations, and Crouthamel is hopeful his new building will be large enough to be able to store unassembled grain bins and parts inside — all organized per customer.

“This is three and a half times bigger,” he said. “I had originally been working out of a four-car garage. I love the location. I like being close to Dayton.”

Farmer’s Grain Systems

Farmer’s Grain Systems was started six years ago when Crouthamel took over the company he had been working with for 17 years.

“My boss was working towards retirement, so I went off on my own, bought his equipment and took over the grain bin building segment of that business,” he said.

-Submitted photo
Farmer’s Grain Systems is available to build a wide variety of grain handling and grain storage systems. Owner Mike Crouthamel said they are on site for the entire build, starting with the foundation on up.

Farmer’s Grain Systems offers new construction of Sukup grain storage, drying and grain handling equipment and repair.

“We do everything related to the storage, drying or the grain handling,” he said. “Everything from your smallest bin — I’ve built bins that are 4,000 bushels and I’ve built bins that are 75,000 bushels. We do everything from your basic service calls on trouble shooting and fixing equipment — fans, heaters, dryers, stirrators — all of the stuff in and on the bin as well as foundation repair.”

For new construction, Crouthamel said the Farmer’s Grain Systems crew is there from the very beginning to the end.

“I try not to subcontract anything out because I like to know exactly what is going on — ensuring quality. If I pour a foundation, I want to know it is still going to be sold in 30 to 40 years,” he said.

Being in charge of the entire construction process of a grain bin, Crouthamel feels sets him apart from other companies.

-Submitted photo
Farmer’s Grain Systems is available to build a wide variety of grain handling and grain storage systems. Owner Mike Crouthamel said they are on site for the entire build, starting with the foundation on up.

“Probably a third of the dealers out there don’t even put up the bins. They subcontract everything out. I like doing everything myself — it gives me control of the whole job. I know exactly what is there, how it’s done, that it is done and the way I want it done,” he said. “That’s why I dig the footings, pour the foundations. I put up the bins. I put up the augers.”

Being a part of the actual construction could put Crouthamel behind on sales, but that doesn’t bother him.

“I don’t care about awards. I could care less about plaques on the wall. My focus is on the customer,” he said.

Offerings

• Dryers

Crouthamel said Farmer’s Grain Systems offers all sorts of different kinds of drying systems from continuous flow dryers, tower dryers and more.

• Grain handling

Crouthamel said they also offer a wide variety of grain handling systems.

“It used to be everything was just your traditional augers,” he said. “Now, things are moving more towards bucket elevators, conveyors, pallet conveyor augers. We are getting a lot more into the more extensive grain handling systems.”

• Repair

Although Crouthamel is mainly a Sukup dealer, he tries to carry parts for over a dozen different companies — some that no longer exist.

• Coverage area

Crouthamel said Farmer’s Grain Systems’ general area would be Boone, Calhoun, Dallas, Greene, Hamilton, Story and Webster counties with some surrounding areas.

Due to the derecho storm last August and the recent uptick in commodity prices, Crouthamel has found himself busier than usual.

“With the sagging commodity prices, bin sales have gone down steadily the last 10 years, then all of a sudden we have had the derecho, so there is a million acres that was tilled under this year — not even combined. The supply forecast is pretty bleak, so all of a sudden corn and soybean prices have shot up,” he said.