The Wagner Company--  a home grown business    by Olivia Richards,  Herman Review     The Wagner Company is a home grown business, with humble beginnings of a family working together.    The Wagner Company is the partnership of Vernell Wagner and son-in-law, Tom Severance, both of Herman.    Forty-six years ago, in 1957, Vernell's father, Howard Wagner, started a gravel hauling business. Vernell recalls that he wasn't old enough to drive the truck at that time, so he would do the loading at the pit site near their farmsite, and his father and his sister, Alvina, did the hauling. "Alvina wanted to earn money to go to college," said Vernell.     Vernell left the area for awhile and returned in 1974 to take over the gravel business. "Dad sort of retired," said Vernell. 'He began to enjoy flea markets and auction sales.' In 1979 Tom joined the business when he became part of the family.    Since the partnership, The Wagner Company has diversified into several mediums. In 1985 they started grading roads, and now care for roads in five townships, and plow snow for four townships. With our open winter this year, they have spent a mere five hours on the snowplow.    During the dry summer of 1988, they provided custom round baling for farmers who were strapped for hay, when the government allowed CRP acres to be cut and baled.    The equipment inventory has grown over the years, allowing the partners to provide better service to their customers. They have invested in a high production screening plant at the gravel pit, a scraper, a crawler loader, rubber tire backhoe, an excavator, a four-yard rubber tire loader, a belly dump gravel trailer, and a 12-yard end dump gravel truck.     The equipment investment allows them to provide demolition work, build driveways and roads, provide all types of digging such as excavating, tiling and ditch clean out.     A few years ago the city of Norcross installed mound sewer systems for its residents. The Wagner Company provided 6,000 yards of sewer sand which had to meet stringent standards of size and cleanliness and also hauled and provided the topsoil to finish each mound.    A percentage from a grant program through the Department of Natural Resources allowed homowners within the Neimackl Lake Park project to install mound systems. The Wagner Company installed 29 complete mound systems to aid in that project.     About three years ago, Vernell designed a sewer system for "Wagner Park" on the north side of Barnesville. Apparently, it is purely coincidental the park bears his name.    Tom and Vernell agreed that probably the hardest job they encounter is repairing broken water mains during the dead of winter.     Tom and Vernell are waiting for spring, and being able to get outdoors to start working on contracted jobs. When school is out TJ, Tom's son, will join the family operation. James Lubenow, Tom's son-in-law, rounds out the full-time crew.    If you are in need of gravel, or any type of digging or demolition, give The Wagner Company a call at 320-677-2488 or 677-3000. "If it's got gravel in it or if it's got dirt in it, chances are we're in it."     Back to top of page     Home   Location   Agriculture   Business   Education   Recreation   Churches   City of Herman   Development  History   Keep in Touch   Got Photos?   Herman, USA   Area Links