Employee Spotlight

Kevin started in the Feedbody Shop in 1983. After twenty years, he moved to the Trailer Shop to help build Hydratail Trailers, and in 2005 became a foreman.

Kevin said, “The best thing about my job is the variety of equipment you can build and the friendships you can build with your co-workers.” Although he works in the Trailer Shop, Kevin assists in building Feed Trailers, Dump Beds, or whatever is needed at the time.

He has two daughters, Lenzie, 23 and Kailyn, 18 with his wife Lorie. Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, but also likes to get away to go fishing and hunting. When he has time, Kevin does a bit of wood working.

The most memorable project Kevin has worked on was an End Dump Trailer. This trailer was built to be very heavy-duty to run on icy roads in Alaska. “Turned out to be really cool,” Kevin said.

He is proud to work in the Trailer Shop along excellent craftsmen and the products they build every day.

This year celebrates 25 years at Ledwell for Duane Knowles. He has worked in the Parts Department since day one and loves it. Interacting with people from all over the United States and different shops around Ledwell is Duane’s favorite part of his job. Duane works half of his time in the office helping walk-in customers and those who call in to order parts. The other half of his time is spent visiting and delivering parts to customers South and East of Texarkana.

Duane is married to Kim and they have a daughter, Kristi. He enjoys cooking on his Traeger Grill, camping and fishing at Lake Wright Patman.

When asked his most memorable story while working at Ledwell Duane said, the first day I came to Ledwell to apply for a job, Mr. Ledwell asked me where I was working. I told him the paper mill. He said he could tell and that I was lazy, making too much money and didn’t need me. He hired me anyway. Since that day I count it an honor to be a part of the Ledwell team.”

David Turnage has been with Ledwell for 23 years and is currently our Purchasing Director. He has worked in a few different shops over the course of his career; Brake and Shear, Feedbody, and was the supervisor of the Pattern Torch before moving to his current position.

David purchases all the necessary supplies needed for every shop to continue working. He said his favorite part of his job is, “Meeting and talking to new people. Also, trying to find the cheapest dollar.”

David and his wife of 19 years, Missy, have two daughters Holly, 18 in her first year of college and Hannah, 13 in eighth grade and plays basketball and is a cheerleader. They also have four wonderful dogs. While not working, he enjoys playing softball. David is part of a team called Cheetahnation that plays almost every weekend.

The most memorable project David recalls is building a house for Watersprings Ranch. “The look on the children’s faces was PRICELESS,” he said about the experience. Not only does David work at Ledwell, he has become close friends with many throughout the years.

Todd Offield has been an employee at Ledwell for 11 years working in the Tank Shop for the majority of that time. Currently, Todd fabricates and welds vacuum tank and says that is his favorite part of his job.

Todd and his wife, Linda have three daughters, Samantha, Kaitlyn, and Skye. He enjoys spending time with them while not at work.

Todd’s most memorable project he has worked on at Ledwell was the new Feed Bin.

“Todd will do any job that he is asked to do, he is a hard worker and does a good job at what he does. “ Brad Stinger – Tank Shop Foreman

Dennis Cleveland has been with Ledwell for 11 years. Currently, he is the city parts runner, gathering parts and supplies needed for all the shops and employees at the Texarkana manufacturing facility. Dennis makes it possible for production to continue even if a tool breaks. His favorite part about working at Ledwell is meeting the customers and vendors in town. Dennis said, “Just making someone’s day better,” is what he really enjoys about work.

Dennis has been married to his wife, Diane, for 24 years. He likes to go fishing, hunting, and riding ATVs with his friends and family during his free time.

Ryan has been with Ledwell for ten years and currently works in the Feed Body Shop. Previously, Ryan worked in the Trailer Shop, as well as, at Ledwell’s Fayetteville, North Carolina location. He mainly works on Feed equipment, but sometimes works on Dump beds, Hydratail Trailers and Flatbeds.

Working service calls are what Ryan says are his favorite aspect of his job. He enjoys getting to see the product that he helped to build out on the road and being used by customers.

Ryan and his wife Lacey have a 4 year old son, Tayler. On the weekends, he enjoys hunting, fishing and hanging out at the lake with friends and family.

One of his most memorable projects at Ledwell was, building one of the first plastic auger trailers with an aluminum boom because it was something new and challenging.

“Ryan is a good worker and very dependable. He takes pride in putting out a quality trailer.” – Mike Harris

Lisa Farris began her career at Ledwell in May of 1991. She started as a receptionist and in Accounts Receivable, but transferred to Accounts Payable within her first year. Lisa continued in AP for 19 years before returning to Accounts Receivable. In 2013, Lisa became Ledwell’s Human Resources Director.

Lisa is in charge of processing payroll, 401K and insurance. Her favorite part of Human Resources is getting to know the 400 plus employees on a deeper level. “Being the one they come to with questions or when they need something done, I know when they are getting married or divorced, expecting or delivering, sick or recovering and in general just want to talk.”

Her most memorable project while working at Ledwell was helping build a log house for Watersprings Ranch. Lisa recalls, “Being one of the ‘girls’, we didn’t get to do any construction, but Mr. Ledwell would let us clean up around the work area. It was still fun knowing we were a part of helping someone else in need.”

Lisa takes care of everyone at Ledwell going beyond her job duties. She is known as “Mama Ledwell” at a local clinic because she is constantly calling for employees to make sure they stay in good health. She has seen many changes at Ledwell and has enjoyed watching the company grow from 150 employees to about 450 and hopes to be here for many more changes and employees.

While not at work, Lisa enjoys fishing and traveling with her husband of 27 years, Jay, and daughter Burgandy, 23. She also loves to go to Northwestern State University football and basketball games.

Eddie Cokeley has worked at Ledwell for 25 years. He is one of those rare cases where he has worked in the same shop, Feedbody, his entire career. While there, Eddie has still managed to work on other types of equipment besides feed trailers. Included in the array of equipment he has worked on are tub dump trucks, water tanks, lumber dumps, and Haliburton floats. “There is a different opportunity to work on every day at Ledwell,” according to Eddie.

One of his most memorable projects was working on an Orange County Chopper trailer. His most recent project, developing the specifications for the industry revolutionizing Low Center of Gravity feed trailer has become one project Eddie will never forget.

“Years ago on our pay stubs there was a moto, ‘Work isn’t work if you like it.’ I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Ledwell and Son over the past 25 years. Building feedbodies and a variety of other products has given me the opportunity to develop expertise in the trade. It has been a joy, not work.”

During his free time, Eddie enjoys spending time with his family, especially playing with his grandbabies. He loves to grow flowers in his garden and go hunting for hogs.

Josh Farmer has worked at Ledwell the last 10 years. He has worked in several shops including Feed Body, Machine, and Truck Shop. Currently he works in the Tank Shop coding tanks. Code Vessels are produced with a 3.5:1 safety factor and follow a strict quality control program that include methods of construction, inspections and documentation.

Josh and his wife Mandy have two children, Corban and Brynnlee. When not at work Josh enjoys hunting, fishing and anything involving guns.

“Every year when I worked with Charlie Cutshell we grew our beards for winter. When we finally shaved, Mr. Ledwell would come by and give Charlie a quarter to replace the razor he tore up shaving his beard,” Josh said when asked to share a favorite story about Ledwell.

“Josh is a hard worker that can build anything you ask him to.” Brad Stringer