Puck Celebrates 45th Anniversary
When Ben and Kathy Puck started pumping manure back in 1979, they never imagined how far it would take their family and the community. On July 12th, 2024 Puck Enterprises celebrated 45 years in business with staff, customers, vendors, and community members. The event took place that their location in Manning, Iowa. The 45th anniversary open house was an opportunity to reflect on the growth and expansion of the business through the years. It was also an event to share gratitude to the people who made it all happen. President and CEO Jeremy Puck opened the event in the morning with a list of equipment on display, as well as the vendors who brought products and information. Jeremy also thanked our attendees and sponsors, which included our Gold Sponsors: Cornell, Midwest Wheel, and Titan Machinery.
Morning of the Event
Throughout the morning, attendees browsed equipment and vendor booths while guided tours took place. Tour guides walked guests through the production line from start to finish, which spans Puck’s campus by more than five acres. For many, this was the first time they’ve seen the latest expansion. Puck added 100,000 square feet of space in 2023. As lunchtime approached, Dinges Fire Company had BullDog fire hose and U.S. Coupling nozzles ready for use by guests. With help from the Manning Fire Department, guests had the opportunity to spray water from a fire hose at a barrel to see just how powerful attack lines can be.
Guests had a range of choices for their lunch selection, as food trucks from the area came for the day. Barrel Smoke BBQ out of Templeton, Game Time Eats out of Omaha, Hungry Spartan Pizza from Exira, Dawn’s Snow Cones, and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies provided meals to hundreds of guests. Near the snow cone food truck, kids could hop on the Puck kid’s carts, driven by Maddox Puck, and take a ride across the Manning campus.
Afternoon of the Event
In the afternoon, guests made their way up the hill to the newly constructed demonstration pond for a demonstration of Puck Fire equipment controlled by LightSpeed. Guests listened while Jeremy explained how the FF4500-45 pumped water from the pond with its extended boom. The Force Feed was connected to a Puck Fire Quick Attack on the other side of the 2.5 acre pond via BullDog Hi-Vol TPU supply hose. The Quick Attack, controlled remotely, sprayed water across the pond for onlookers to view. The Force Feed pump trailer was operated on a smartphone via LightSpeed control systems. In the fire market, Puck Fire is the only manufacturer with advanced, remote system controls. The LightSpeed control system puts Puck and Puck Fire ahead of its competitors by a margin.
Looking Back
After the demonstration, COO Eric Nelson hosted a panel on the history of Puck and its plans for the future. Jeremy was joined on stage with his father, Puck Enterprises’ founder, Ben Puck, as well as Application Manager Jake Doyel, Engineering Manager Matt Lindemann, BullDog Hose Plant Manager Rusty Furtick, U.S. Coupling Plant Manager Bob Gourlay, and PCE International Manager Robert Spajic. The hour-long panel talked through the thought process behind big decisions throughout Puck’s history. Each person shared personal stories and how they got started with Ben and Jeremy, as well as a few favorite memories they’ve made. Every person on the panel agreed that working with Puck has been like nothing they’ve ever done before, and that the culture plays a big part in why they love what they do.
The Des Moines-based band Decoy ended the night on stage with a small concert.
Thank You
Puck would like to thank our sponsors: Gold sponsors included Cornell, Midwest Wheel, and Titan Machinery. Our silver sponsors included Oxbo International, DODA, DSI, Inc., and Dinges Fire Company. Puck would also like to thank our bronze sponsors: McNeilus Steel, Inc., and KROHNE. Finally, Puck would like to thank all of our vendors and guests for joining us to celebrate 45 years in business. To see pictures and stay up to date with Puck, follow us on Facebook.
Vendors Inside
Dinges Fire Company, BullDog Hose Company, U.S. Coupling, Van Wall Equipment, Cope Plastics, DMACC, AgDirect, KROHNE, Cornell Pump, Midwest Wheel Company, Ziegler CAT/CAT, Inc, and DSI, Inc. had booths indoors to talk with guests.
Vendors Outside
Titan Machinery, DODA USA, Oxbo International, Nexgen Ag Supply, Manning Rent-All, and Robinson Implement
DMACC brought a welding simulator
Guests on guided tours were gifted personalized bottle openers made made by our CNC department
Attendees could explore even more Puck equipment in our virtual show room
The next generation took an interest in Puck Fire equipment
Attendees sat on the TTR15P while they watched the product demonstrations at the pond
From left to right; Eric Nelson, Bob Gourlay, Rusty Furtick, Ben Puck, Jeremy Puck, Matt Lindemann, Jake Doyel, Robert Spajic
