Our owner has been working with fenceposts since 1967. His experience with peeled posts goes back to 1980. His expansion into other wood products happened in the mid-1970s.
So, if you’re looking to do business with someone that knows his stuff, you’re in the right place.
Words like “perfect,” “true,” and “identical” roll off his tongue as though he’s been making treated wood posts that way all his life — because he practically has been. His 25-year product warranty is nothing to sneeze at.
He’ll admit that there are places in Oregon and South Dakota that make what he makes, but other than that, he knows of nobody in the nation that makes true treated wood posts like he does.
“It’s a specialty item,” he said. “It’s a big investment … the treating part is almost impossible to get into these days because of new or changing EPA regulations.”
He grew up on a farm in Posen, Michigan, with a handful of cows and cash crop. He noticed how much freedom his uncle with a floor-tile business had — and liked the looks of that independence.
He’s self-taught in all things wood posts.
“There’s nobody to teach you,” he said. “It’s trial and error. There’s no MSU, CMU or anyplace to teach you how to make these.”
About his choice to start a business, he said, “You just take the gamble and do it.”
What started as peeling cedar posts in Posen, grew into Michigan Bark in Rochester, Michigan, and “up north” in Michigan, and nine locations throughout the state.
He’s always done posts — cedar, then wolmanized, but the shift from doing exclusively posts to creating mulch happened in 1993. He still does mulch, but doesn’t make it for “small guys,” but does bag what he sells in professional bulk.
The arrival of the “big box” stores fueled what he calls a constant, changing evolution. Fast-forward to the 21st century and enter the son that was in the fence industry — selling and installing highway fence. They are preparing for the proverbial passing of the torch.
What began as a small business around the Utica/Rochester area, has grown to a payroll of more than 50 employees. Cheers to Gene for noticing a need, finding his niche’ and doing something nobody else was doing!
“The time you have to put into it — and the dedication — makes you successful,” Gene said. “Having a business is no three-day-a-week job. It’s 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Always looking forward, Gene has been creating posts for orchards and farms — and is expanding into vineyards, hops farms, marinas, farms and ranches.
Word to the wise about business and the market?
“It changes without you even realizing it,” he said.