Robert L. O’Dell opened O’Dell Turf for business in 1969. This family-owned business oper-ated from a location in Omaha, Nebraska, until they needed additional room for expansion.
In the early 1970’s O’Dell Turf moved to their current acreage north of Elkhorn, Nebraska. During that time the business focused mainly on sodding yards and other residential needs until the early 1980’s when there was a shift in the market to include erosion control.
Erosion is the wearing away of the soil by rain or wind. During highway projects and other con-struction, top soil can erode and pollute streams and other waterways. To prevent this pollution, O’Dell Turf lays sod, erosion control blankets, straw or seed to keep the top soil in place. Today, ninety percent of their work is done for the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) providing erosion control along new highway projects. Since the NDOR work is through a government contract, specific rules and regula-tions need to be followed. Certified seed, fertilizer and other materials must be used and job site blueprints need to be followed closely. The remainder of the O’Dell Turf business comes from private and residential projects. Most of their work is focused in eastern Nebraska, but the turf business has traveled as far as Imperial, Nebraska, Council Bluffs and Sioux City, Iowa.
Experience and Quality Set O’Dell Turf Apart from Competition
Today the successful turf business is owned by Betty O’Dell with day-to-day operations
carried out by brothers Bob, Don and Rod O’Dell. Depending on the market, the turf company keeps anywhere from five to 20 laborers and operators on their payroll – including some that have been with the business for many years. This longevity and experience in the sod business helps O’Dell Turf survive in an industry with ever increasing competition, higher material costs and increased fuel prices.
The O’Dell staff is kept busy with the daily maintenance on their 80 acres of sod production. Maintenance includes fertilizing, frequent watering, mowing and treating for pests and fungus. Sod is usually harvested a year after plant-ing and it can be harvested in small square slabs, rolled small rectangles or large, wide rolls. The O’Dell business uses CAT® machinery for their daily operations and they feel that the CAT® equip-ment gives them an edge over their competition.
According to Rod O’Dell, “I’m able to go places with the CAT machine that I can’t with other machines.”
The turf business has been using CAT equipment since the fall of 2000. After testing the equipment they felt it out-performed the machinery they were currently using. The zero percent financing also helped them purchase three CAT skid loaders.
“It was a deal we just couldn’t pass up,” said Rod.
CAT Machines Handle Daily Challenges
While facing daily job site challenges like mud, bumps and steep slopes, they feel the joystick controls make the CAT equipment easy to handle and the track system gives them the traction they need to handle any rough terrain.
“I wouldn’t try to take another machine down a steep hill, but the CAT 287 crawled right back up. The CAT track machine could handle it,” Rod said. Since the CAT equipment has lived up to their expectations, O’Dell Turf does plan on purchasing more CAT machinery through NMC when their current equipment needs replacing. They’ve also had good experiences with the product support through NMC.
“They’ve been helpful and informative – we’ve had a service guy out here working on a machine in the mud and rain to get us up and running,” Rod said.
O’Dell Turf customers can expect the kind of quality craftsmanship that comes with over three decades of experience in the industry, high quality products and unmatched customer service. NMC is proud to provide the equipment and product support O’Dell Turf needs to get the job done.
