John Braun Trusts Summit Contracting to Enhance His Farm's Efficiency

John Braun knew he wanted to add grain storage and handling to his farm near Warner, SD. Recently, Braun Farms cut back on feeding cattle, so they needed to expand their grain storage capabilities. While driving through rural McPherson County, Braun noticed a grain system being constructed that looked similar to what he envisioned. “It looked very professional, and it was going up so fast,” Braun noted. He reached out to his neighbor for information about the company and was told, 'Call Summit Contracting, they’re the way to go.'

At Summit Contracting, Braun collaborated with Grain Systems Specialist, Josh Kramp, who meticulously assessed the needs of Braun Farms. Kramp asked detailed questions about their combine's brand and size, daily harvest goals, wet bushel drying capacity, and future expansion plans. This thorough inquiry enabled Josh to determine appropriate dryer size, bushel per hour movement, and necessary storage capacity. 

Knowing the operation’s current needs and Braun’s desire for future expansion, Summit Contracting developed the grain system  to include the necessary grain conditioning, handling, and storage for the short term, while also designing the infrastructure for future growth. As they developed plans for the grain system, Braun emphasized, "I don’t want to redo this in 10 years. I want something that my boys are going to have for their lifetime." 

Construction on the grain system project started in summer 2023. Summit Contracting built five 60,000-bushel bins, a 1,200-bushel tower dryer, a 5,000 bushel load out bin, and a 30,000-bushel wet bin for Braun Farms. “I said I wanted to be drying corn by the 15th of October,” Braun said, “I gave them the timelines, and I felt they more than met them.” 

Adding the grain bins and the grain handling system gives Braun Farms more control over their grain. “By adding the dryer and the grain handling facility, I’m now in control of my own bushels,” Braun explained. Like many farmers, Braun recognizes the benefits of on-farm grain storage, allowing him to make independent marketing decisions. He offered an example, saying, “I can hold extra bushels, pick up the carry, and deliver it in July,” which ultimately adds more profit to Braun Farms' bottom line. 

Upon completion of the grain system, Braun decided to add a cold storage shed for equipment. He reached out to Summit Contracting again, this time working with Casey Baumgarn, Buildings Specialist. “They drew up the blueprints and got me the building I needed last fall so I could get my machinery in before the snow flew,” he said. The cold storage shed is 80’x200’ with 20-foot sidewalls. Braun chose the post-in-bracket design, which features custom steel brackets wet set in concrete with engineered posts mounted into the bracket, keeping everything above ground and out of the elements. 

For strength and longevity, given the 80-foot width, Summit Contracting used double trusses to withstand South Dakota’s heavy snow load. Door placement was key for Braun, who noted the difficulty in maneuvering large equipment into the corners of buildings. One end of the shed has two 24’x18’ sectional doors, one in each corner, while the opposite end features a centrally placed 24’x18’ sectional door, allowing access to all parts of the storage shed.

One key benefit of working with Summit Contracting is the quality of craftsmanship, which is also evident in the quality of their people. “I thought we worked hard; these guys really work hard,” Braun stated. “They start at sunrise and go until dark.” Braun was particularly impressed by the metal fabrication crew’s ability to come in, assess what was needed, see the angles, draw it on a sheet of flat metal, cut it, fabricate it, and install it. “It was incredible how they can make everything match,” he noted, emphasizing it was all clean cut and professional. The crew also took the time to clean up the jobsite at the end of each day. He appreciated the dedication and professionalism, noting whether it was the grain bins or the cold storage building, Summit's teams consistently demonstrated great skill and commitment.

Any construction project will have issues that come up during the process. Braun noted the only obstacle they had during construction was when the grain system’s dump pit started having groundwater that didn’t flow away as it should. Summit Contracting dispatched a team to troubleshoot the issue, and within less than a week, the problem was resolved, leaving everything functioning perfectly. 

When asked if he would recommend Summit Contracting to a friend, Braun responded, “Absolutely. They’re professional, they give you what you need. Honest.” Braun noted that some days there were 20 or more people working on the construction site and he didn’t worry about anything. As his first big grain handling project, Braun said he put his faith in Summit Contracting’s  team and stayed out of the way. On both projects, crews were focused, professional, and knew what needed to be done. 

Neighbors have asked Braun “How did your project go so well?”, “How was it built so fast?”, “What did you do different?” The answer is always an easy one for Braun, “The difference was, I hired Summit Contracting.”

With Summit Contracting's expertise in building efficient and reliable grain systems and farm buildings, Braun Farms is well-equipped for future expansions and continued success.