Built for the Field, Rooted in South Dakota: Copperhead Agricultural Products
What started with an idea from local farmers in 2008 has grown into a South Dakota agricultural manufacturing company serving producers across the country.
Copperhead Ag began with a conversation in 2008 between local farmers and Kevin Berg about how to improve closing wheels on corn planters.
Berg’s engineering background and existing machine shop in Humboldt gave him the tools to take the idea from conversation to prototype, testing and refining different designs in the field.
“We could go try something in the field. It didn’t work. We could come back, change it, make some tweaks to it,” Berg said. The process was repeated several times during the company’s first year.
That early collaboration between farming and manufacturing became the foundation for Copperhead Ag.
The company’s first product, the Furrow Cruiser spiked closing wheel, was designed to address a problem farmers were already experiencing.
The team combined different approaches already on the market to create what Berg described as a “happy medium.”
The result was a success.
But building a product was only the beginning.
From stay-at-home mom to salesperson
In Copperhead’s early days, Emily Berg became the company’s first salesperson. A stay-at-home mom at the time, Emily found a babysitter a couple days a week and started visiting farm equipment dealerships. She was learning the product and the sales business as she went.
“I don’t know. I’ll get back to you on that” became a frequent response when dealers asked questions she couldn’t answer. Then came a breakthrough. A North Dakota dealer placed an order for 100 rows of the product, giving the Bergs the confidence that they had something worth pursuing.
From there, Copperhead continued to grow, building its reputation around quality products, reliable service, and a commitment to listening to customers.
That customer-focused approach remains central to the company today.
Copperhead’s products extend well beyond its original closing wheel, with solutions for planting, harvesting, and other agricultural applications.
Innovation remains central to the company’s approach. Berg says staying ahead requires continually developing new designs, improving existing products and, when appropriate, acquiring other companies.
Just as importantly, the company has focused on being easy to do business with.
“We’re just reliable and easy to do business with,” Berg said, pointing to product quality, on-time delivery, customer support and continued innovation.
Growing from Humboldt
Copperhead’s growth has remained rooted in South Dakota.
The Bergs started their businesses in what had been an old grocery store in Humboldt. As the business expanded, the Bergs added onto the original shop, built another facility and eventually added a location in Tea. Berg said the decision to remain in South Dakota has been an easy one.
“We’ve traveled quite a bit over the years, and South Dakota is just a comfortable place to be,” he said. “Great people, great workers, great customers. It’s just a great place to do business. Couldn’t be happier here.” The company has also grown alongside First Manufacturing, the Bergs’ CNC machining operation.
Together, the businesses connect agricultural innovation with advanced manufacturing, creating opportunities for employees in a rural South Dakota community.
Copperhead’s next chapter will continue to look much like its first: identify a need, develop a solution and keep improving. The company continues to work on new products while expanding its reach with farmers and dealers across the country.
More than 15 years after local farmers first brought an idea to a Humboldt machine shop, Copperhead Ag has grown into a business that connects South Dakota agriculture, manufacturing and innovation.
More than 15 years later, Copperhead continues to build on the idea that started the company: developing practical solutions for farmers and turning those ideas into products built in South Dakota.
