CONRAD, Iowa — Ritchie Industries, a leading manufacturer of livestock watering products backed by Granite Creek Capital Partners announced the appointment of Chad Huyser as chief executive officer.

Huyser will lead Ritchie’s next phase of growth, building on the company’s 105-year legacy of innovation, quality and reliability.

Building on Ritchie’s strengths

In his role, Huyser will guide Ritchie’s next phase of growth while supporting the people, products and stakeholder relationships that have made the company a trusted leader in livestock watering. He will focus on continuing Ritchie’s tradition of product innovation, expanding solutions for end users and further elevating Ritchie’s role in modern livestock production while preserving the values that have long defined the brand.

“We find ourselves at a significant inflection point across agriculture,” Huyser said. “Today’s landscape is shaped by evolving dynamics that impact our customers’ decisions every day. Our role is to stay deeply connected to producers and their needs, while continuing to innovate in ways that improve efficiency, simplify management, and support our customers’ long-term success.”

Huyser’s vision is centered on advancing durable, energy-efficient watering solutions while exploring technology that enables producers to make more informed, data-driven decisions.

“Reliable access to drinking water is one of the most important drivers of animal health and performance,” Huyser said. “By continuing to deliver reliable solutions for producers, while thoughtfully integrating smart, practical technology, we have the opportunity to turn something as fundamental as water into a true on-farm advantage.”

Experience rooted in ag, focused on the future
As a proud “Iowa farm kid,” Huyser grew up on a Central Iowa livestock and row-crop operation, where he developed a deep-rooted passion for agriculture that continues to guide his work today.

“We have both a unique opportunity as well as a responsibility to be a collective voice in agriculture,” Huyser said. “Our industry is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact in feeding a growing population, but that position cannot be taken for granted, especially given the challenges facing our producers and owners. Agriculture is not an easy business, yet it remains some of the most rewarding work carried out by families across the country and around the world every single day.”

Huyser comes to Ritchie with nearly 30 years of global leadership experience across equipment manufacturing, finance, operations, and sales and marketing. His career includes roles with Vermeer Corporation, ARGO Tractors, De Lage Landen and Lely International. He most recently served as president and managing director for Lely North America, where he oversaw all regional operations and led the organization through significant growth and expansion during his 19-year tenure.

“We are excited to welcome Chad to Ritchie,” said John Paul Owen, chief commercial officer at Ritchie. “Having worked with Chad for nearly a decade at Lely North America, I have seen firsthand his ability to build great teams, support strong brands and stay closely connected to customers. I look forward to what the future holds for Ritchie under his leadership.”

“Chad brings global leadership experience, a deep-rooted understanding of Ritchie’s agricultural end markets and a strong record of supporting customer-focused growth,” said Jim Clark, partner at Granite Creek Capital Partners. “We’re excited for his leadership as Ritchie continues to evolve and serve producers with the reliable solutions and customer-first values that have defined the company for generations.”

Under Huyser’s leadership, Ritchie is well-positioned to build on its strong foundation and bring together reliability, innovation and practical technology to help producers keep one of the most essential elements of any livestock operation flowing: water.

“Stepping into a role held by only a select few leaders over Ritchie’s more than 100-year history is an exceptionally rare opportunity,” Huyser said. “I’m proud to help steward this iconic brand forward.”

About Ritchie Industries

Founded in 1921, Ritchie Industries has spent over a century serving livestock producers with dependable, innovative solutions. From inventing the first automatic waterer to becoming a global leader in livestock hydration, Ritchie has remained true to its core values: do the right thing, have a passion for the brand, embrace innovation, and be dependable.

Built by hardworking people who care, Ritchie automatic waterers are trusted by producers across the world for their durability, efficiency, and animal health benefits. Designed to reduce labor, conserve water, and operate reliably in all seasons, Ritchie products are built to last — saving producers time and money year after year.

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, based in Conrad, Iowa, offers a wide range of advanced livestock watering solutions for the beef, dairy, equine, and other livestock sectors. With more than 100 years of operating history, Ritchie has earned its reputation as a leader in animal health, known for pioneering innovation, exceptional quality, and unmatched reliability. Ritchie waterers are engineered to be durable, energy-efficient, and dependable, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh, clean water to cattle, horses, and other livestock, even in the harshest climates. Built to withstand extreme weather conditions, Ritchie products are trusted across all 50 U.S. states and are used in over 20 countries worldwide.

Rob Amundson, CEO of Ritchie commented, “Working with Prairie throughout this process has been an exceptional experience. Their deep industry and ESOP knowledge, attention to detail, and strategic insight were invaluable in helping us navigate this important transaction. We are grateful for their guidance and support, which played a key role in bringing us together with Granite Creek and Rural American Fund while positioning Ritchie for continued growth and success.”

“We are proud to have helped bring together Ritchie and Granite Creek as this partnership opens an exciting new chapter for Ritchie. I am confident that with Granite Creek’s expertise and resources, Ritchie will continue to lead the industry in innovation and quality. A particularly rewarding aspect of this deal is the successful outcome for Ritchie’s employee-owners, whose dedication has been key to the Company’s success. It’s been a privilege to work with the Ritchie team, and I look forward to seeing their continued growth,” said Anthony Dolan, Managing Director at Prairie.

Maxx Zomick, Associate at Prairie stated, “This transaction marks another successful engagement for Prairie’s Investment Banking group, highlighting our continued commitment to supporting middle-market and ESOP-owned businesses.”

Granite Creek Capital Partners, is a Chicago-based private investment firm focused on providing capital and operational resources to lower middle market companies engaged in manufacturing, business services, healthcare, and agribusiness. With an experienced team of investment professionals bringing expertise in private equity, banking, operations, and business development, Granite Creek has a successful track record of investing in and supporting its portfolio companies. Granite Creek has been named to Inc.’s Founder-Friendly Investors list for five consecutive years, honoring the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs. For more information on Granite Creek, visit www.granitecreek.com or call 312-895-4500.

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Ritchie Industries produces livestock watering tanks that are insulated, heated, and free flowing to supply continuous fresh water to livestock. The company’s products are suitable for beef and dairy cattle, hogs, horses, sheep, goats, and exotic livestock. Products range from a single stall waterer to fountains that accommodate 500 head of cattle. Some products are built to attach to a stall or fence line while others are free standing.

Thomas Ritchie, an Iowa farmer, invented an automatic animal watering system in 1921 for the purpose of keeping his own livestock supplied with fresh water. His invention became popular among the farmers in the area, so he patented the concept and sold it to farmers around the state. C. D. Wilson, Sr. purchased the business in 1943 and moved it to Conrad, Iowa. In 2004, Clifford D. Wilson, Jr. sold the Company to the Ritchie Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Exporting represents over 22 percent of Ritchie’s sales, with products being exported to Canada, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East. Most of the sales to Canada, Europe and Asia are for larger units that are used in cattle and dairy operations. Exports  are responsible for creating 17 jobs through exporting.

In recognition of the small business community’s contributions to the American economy and society, the President of the United States designates one week each year as National Small Business Week. Scheduled for the week of April 30th this year, Small Business Week 2023 will honor the more than 30 million small businesses in America.

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