Spudnik: Harvesting the Future of Idaho
In the heart of Idaho’s vast agricultural landscape, where the iconic Russet Burbank potato reigns supreme, one company stands out for its unparalleled contributions to the potato farming industry. Founded over six decades ago, Spudnik has grown from an idea into a global leader in potato harvesting equipment manufacturing, revolutionizing how farmers cultivate and harvest their crops.
Spudnik’s story began in 1958, when Carl Hobbs set out to address the inefficiencies in potato harvesting. With a strong desire to reduce the staggering amount of physical labor required, he engineered the first-ever potato scooper. When he heard from naysayers that his new machine was going to nick all of the potatoes, he decided to name the company using a play on the name of the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik. The inception of Spudnik signaled the beginning of a transformative journey in agricultural technology. Over the years, Spudnik’s dedication to improving harvesting techniques and machinery has cemented its reputation as a pioneer in the industry.
Meanwhile, Grimme, a Germany-based company developing machines for potato harvesting in Europe began testing the American waters in California. Their equipment was a success there where conditions were similar to Europe. However, when they received an order for potato harvesters from Idaho, where the potatoes were larger and the soil was heavier, it was a complete disaster. The two companies began talking in the 1980’s and in 2003, Spudnik Equipment joined the Grimme Group.
In 2018, Spudnik decided that they needed to expand. “We were outselling our production capacity every year, “ said Rainer Borgmann, Spudnik CEO since 2008. In three years. they doubled their manufacturing capacity footprint. Since 2008, they have grown from 150 employees to 550 today. “But with growth comes growing pains,” explained Borgmann.
“Trying to hire the right people so that production can keep up with sales demand has been our biggest challenge,” lamented GaryDee VanOrden, Production Director at Spudnik. The tight labor market has required the company to double their wages to attract employee. “Our marketing team used to market our products, but now they market our jobs,” said VanOrden. The Idaho-grown company has some employees commuting up to an hour to their facility in Blackfoot.
Seeing an opportunity to collaborate with others facing similar challenges, Spudnik partnered with a handful of other eastern Idaho companies to start the Eastern Idaho Manufacturing Association. They jumped at the opportunity to merge with the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance and get more traction attracting more people in today’s tight labor market. “We all compete for the same people, but what we’ve learned is that if we can all come together with the same goal in mind, we can solve the problem for everyone,” said VanOrden.
Spudnik would like to see Idaho Manufacturing Alliance members who share the same labor challenges pool resources to create much greater awareness of the trade school opportunities for young people seeking high-paying jobs without the expense of a college education. “In some cases, Spudnik pays more for machinists than the starting wage for an engineer,” said Borgmann. A marketing initiative to attract more young people and convince their parents, would be of immense value. “For example, why couldn’t we create a trade internship that allows students to participate while they are still in high school?” asked Borgmann.
With labor constraints being the top deterrent to future growth, the leadership at Spudnik believes that manufacturers need to band together to keep trade schools alive by helping the programs attract more students. “We have got to get over the mindset that a career in a skilled trade is not as valuable as a college degree,” explained VanOrden. “Machinists are just as important as engineers.”
As Spudnik looks to the future, it remains committed to solving the issues that made it a global leader in potato harvesting equipment manufacturing. “We know we are not the only company with a need for skilled machinists and welders, so it would be great to solve the problem for everyone, “ pleaded Borgmann. They would love to hear from other Idaho manufacturers on ways to help solve the labor shortage faced by all. Honoring the collaborative legacy of their founders, their future success is a remarkable testament to the power of community.
Learn more: https://www.spudnik.com/