![]() Did you know that local Pott. Co. resident, Terry Pierce, makes feeders, sleds, and wagons for the Budweiser Clydesdales? Thirty years ago, Terry started building wagons and sleds for draft horses and was an innovator of change. The process started when he was trying to make life easier for his grandfather who was known for driving his draft horses down Main Street in Oakland for parades. From there, it grew into a national business. Today, Terry (with the help of his wife, Deb, and graphics done by CenPro and horses driven by his friend, Alex Baker) makes everything from horse box stalls to flatbed wagons to show wagons to shoeing stocks to hay and silage feeders to carts and sleds! There’s nothing he can’t make! On top of all that, they run a stallion station and he collects the semen himself and Deb freezes it! And he judges national draft horse events! The brilliance and skillset necessary to accomplish all those tasks is astronomical! Known nationally by so many, he’s even done a show wagon for Terry Bradshaw and for Young Living Essential Oils with his biggest customer each year being Anheuser Busch. The show wagons he makes can be from 40 to 80 thousand dollars! He’s even made trolleys for the Louisiana Zoo, Living History Farms, and Young Living. He told me he does about 50 sleds a year and just shipped his 9th flatbed wagon for the year. The intricate detail and handwork that goes into each is incredible. The things he makes are lifetime pieces for most of his clients. He does a lot of work for the Amish community and is willing to try anything once. He welds. He cuts wood and shaves it. He fires wagon wheels. A master craftsman is an understatement! No wonder he's been inducted into the Draft Horse Hall of Fame! To people here, he might just be “one of the Pierces,” but to the world outside Oakland, Terry Pierce is known as the best of the best! I asked him why he even got started in all of it knowing that his Grandpa Orville had a little to do with it, but he told me if he made stuff, it was an excuse to go to the horse sales! I understood that all too well! Lol. Want to see what he makes? Check out their page Belgian Hill Farm to see it all! Terry ships much of what he makes but also has plenty of buyers that come here, bringing business to our community and encouraging others to see our county. Boy, are we glad you decided to stay, Terry Pierce! Pott. Co. is thankful to have you and Deb! *Blog sponsored by Oakland Industrial Foundation.
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