In this episode of “How We Did It: Conversations with Ag Equipment’s Entrepreneurs,” you’ll hear from Steve Sukup, CFO and co-owner of Sukup Mfg. direct from their operation in tiny Sheffield, Iowa. With nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing space under roof, Sukup is leading manufacturer of grain bins, grain dryers, material handling equipment and pre-engineered metal buildings.

“Dad was allergic to bee stings. And there were always wasp nests in the corn cribs. So, in the early 1960s as shelled corn was moving, Dad bought a StorMor bin. But in those days, it was like heating a pot on the stove. You could put heat in the bin but the grain on top is cold unless you stir it. Dad came up with an idea of a stirring machine that would make the grain dry more evenly and quickly. My brother Charles and I would climb in the car with him and hit all those state fairs in the 1960s to show it.” --Steve Sukup, CFO and co-owner, on the very first product, created by his late father, Eugene.

You’ll hear an impressive story of this family-run company from small-time beginnings to market dominance today, including 800% growth in the last 20 years, primarily through new product development that expanded their core. Today, Sukup Manufacturing is 600-employees strong and created some of the largest grain storage capacities in the word. This podcast covers a lot of ground, not to mention Steve’s unique perspective as manufacturer and politician ... to how the company repurposed grain bins for housing in Haiti.

And as a special BONUS, you’ll get to hear the voices of the late Eugene and Mary Sukup together, thanks to audio from previously recorded interviews at Sukup.