As seen in the Tried & True Summer 2025 issue
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. Pete was a welder, a fixer and a problem-solver. He built his business by mending broken equipment, fabricating custom solutions and lending a hand to his neighbors whenever they needed it.
Francesville was—and still is—a small town, boasting a mere thousand residents, but the Schlatter family’s reputation for quality work and integrity reaches far beyond the town limits. In the early years, the shop focused on repair work, especially in the off-season when farm equipment sat idle. But it was a chance conversation at church that sent Schlatter’s down a path that would forever change its future.
Richard Overmyer, Pete’s friend and fellow church member—and the grandfather of Fratco’s CEO, Chris Overmyer—had an idea. As Ron Schlatter recalled, “Richard suggested to my dad that the tile industry needed different accessories that could be used in conjunction with the installation of the drainage pipe. And so my dad started that, and it was very good for our business, which provided work through the wintertime.” That single suggestion laid the groundwork for a business expansion that would carry on for generations.
What began as a side project soon became a key offering. Schlatter’s began manufacturing drainage accessories, with Fratco promoting and selling the products. That partnership gave Schlatter’s steady work year-round and helped cement their role in the growing farm drainage industry. It was a simple collaboration built on trust, but it blossomed into something much greater.
A Family Business Through and Through
Schlatter’s Inc. has always been a family business. After decades of leadership, Pete passed the torch to his son, Ron, who helped steer the company through decades of growth and innovation. From a young age, Ron worked alongside his father, learning the value of hard work and the importance of treating people right.
By the 1970s, drainage work was booming thanks to healthy corn prices and major advancements in both equipment and plastic drainage pipe. Recognizing an opportunity, Schlatter’s became the first U.S. importer of Barth drainage machines from Holland. “In the summer of 1973, I made my first trip overseas to see the manufacturing plant … to see if this would be a fit,” Ron recalled.
The next several decades saw a flurry of expansion and new services. Schlatter’s added laser-based grading systems, became dealers for Buckeye Traction Ditchers and Wolfe Equipment, and by the late 1990s, partnered with Trimble Navigation to bring precision GPS control to farm drainage work. The company became known not just as a local repair shop, but as an international leader in farm drainage technology.
Today, the business is in the capable hands of the third generation. Ron’s children—Nanci, Jake and Joey—each play a vital role. Nanci handles bookkeeping and coordinates operations. To help the business stay involved in all facets of the industry, she also serves as executive director for Indiana LICA. Jake runs the shop, oversees all machine repair and manufacturing and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the field, no matter the weather. Joey joked as Jake rolled his eyes, “When it’s frozen out, I get to sit behind my computer, but Jake’s got to go work in it.” Joey focuses on GPS technology and outside sales, often traveling across the country to install systems and train operators.
Even beyond the immediate family, Schlatter’s has always been a family affair. Aunts, uncles and even Grandma Eleanor have taken turns behind the desk. “If you’ve had the Schlatter last name—or even married into it—you have worked here,” Joey said.
What Schlatter’s Offers
Schlatter’s Inc. may be small, with just nine full-time employees, but its impact is big. The business revolves around three core areas:
Machine Sales and Service: Schlatter’s sells some of the most respected names in the industry, including RWF BRON drainage plows and PTX Trimble machine control systems. But they don’t just sell—they service and rebuild them, taking on the toughest projects.
Technology Sales and Support: GPS technology is essential in modern farm drainage. Schlatter’s installs, services and trains customers on advanced systems to ensure pipe is laid precisely on grade and in perfect alignment. Their GPS school, running for over two decades, has drawn contractors from 19 states and as far as Canada and Australia.
Custom Manufacturing: Schlatter’s also fabricates custom drainage equipment and accessories, like onboard reel carriers and disc closers for pipe installation. Many are built specifically to work with Fratco pipe, making Schlatter’s a vital link in the drainage supply chain.
As Joey put it, “We basically sell the machines and the GPS machine control systems to put drainage pipe in the right spot—vertically as well as horizontally. Because the pipe that Fratco produces is only as good as how well it’s being installed in the ground.”
A Lifelong Partnership with Fratco
Few industry partnerships have the longevity, depth and mutual respect of Schlatter’s and Fratco. From manufacturing outlet guards to collaborating on logistics and field solutions, their relationship has always been rooted in shared values: honesty, reliability and service.
Over the years, the two companies have backed each other up in countless ways. “There will be times when a machine is broken down and desperately needs a part,” Ron shared. “And I know for sure people have ordered a load of tubing, so a Fratco truck would go down there and take the part that our customer needed.”
Their partnership goes beyond products—it’s about teamwork. “Us and Fratco out in the industry—we kind of look out for each other,” Joey said. “If one of us hears a problem with the other, we let them know so we can get it taken care of.
Both of our companies want to stand behind our mistakes and make it right for our customers.”
Whether it’s pipe installation, part delivery or training, customers know they’re in good hands. Schlatter’s and Fratco aren’t just suppliers—they’re partners who’ve helped shape the farm drainage industry across the Midwest and beyond.
Why They’re the Perfect Partner
What makes Schlatter’s the ideal Fratco partner? It’s who they are: problem-solvers, teachers, innovators and friends. They don’t just sell products—they stand beside customers through breakdowns, upgrades and learning curves. They take on challenges others won’t, whether it’s crawling under a plow in the freezing cold or fixing equipment competitors won’t touch.
