South-Bound & Building
The town of Fort Payne might not have been on many people’s radar. It wasn’t on Fratco’s either—at first. “We were actually looking at somewhere adjacent to our current manufacturing footprint,” recalls Bill Champion, Fratco’s COO. “But the South had just blown up for us. People were paying freight just to get our pipe down there.”
From Welding Sparks to GPS Precision
In 1952, Alfred “Pete” Schlatter opened the doors of a modest welding shop in Francesville, Indiana. Just a stone’s throw from the fire station, this small-town machine shop wasn’t built on big dreams of corporate success—but on a desire to serve the hardworking farmers in the community.
Rooted in Trust, Grown With Grit
In a corner of northwest Missouri—where four miles west puts you in Nebraska, a short drive north lands you in Iowa and Kansas lies just to the southwest—Liles Enterprises stands as a testament to the kind of quiet resilience and family-driven purpose that defines the heart of America’s drainage industry.
Drainage Doesn’t Just Move Water—It Moves the Needle
When most people think about field drainage, they picture one thing: getting water off the land so crops don’t drown. Simple enough, right?
Field Journal: Beating the Heat
When the sun’s beating down, things on the worksite can get more than just uncomfortable—they can get downright dangerous. Heatstroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion are no joke. So here are the best ways to keep cool and beat the heat this summer.
Field Journal: Telling It How It Is—Professionally
Working out in the field isn’t exactly like a boardroom meeting, and that’s part of the charm of getting to work out there. The language is straight to the point, the jokes fly fast and everyone appreciates honesty. But when it comes to business communication, especially with clients, vendors or managers, the balance between being straightforward and maintaining professionalism becomes crucial.
Meet Aditya “Addy” Kotecha
Addy plays a key role in making Fratco’s operations more efficient, reliable and innovative. “My job is very hands-on,” Addy explains. “It involves solving problems with machines, quality and processes—making things work better, safer and smarter.”
Blueprint for Success: Built for Open Water
There’s a certain comfort in staying where it’s safe. In a harbor, a ship is protected—tied off, anchored and still. But that’s not its purpose. A ship was built for the wide-open sea—for risk, movement and a mission.
NACADE 2025 recap
The 2025 North American Conservation & Drainage Expo (NACADE) in Indianapolis, Indiana, brought together industry leaders, researchers and professionals to discuss the latest advancements in water management. This was the second biennial event, founded by Jason and Justin Brown, brothers and owners of Mid America Trenchers from Dexter, Iowa, along with Brad Baker with Springfield Plastics. Mid America produces the Buckeye line of wheel trenchers and Link drainage plows.
Field Journal: Nature’s Tough Lessons
Out in the wild, nature’s not just a nice view—it’s the ultimate teacher of hard, honest lessons. For those of us who spend our days working under the open sky, nature’s got some straightforward advice on living simpler and stronger. Here’s what the great outdoors can teach us about cutting the clutter and finding real grit.