In The Yard

Dale Mininger spent 43 years around heavy equipment, working as an operator, mechanic, maintenance manager, and crane operator. He joined us In The Yard , to shares stories of running Cat equipment across the West, restoring antique iron, and passing down knowledge to the next generation through the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC). From preventive maintenance to modern machine te...

Matt Study started Sapphire Construction in 2018 after working across heavy civil, highway and general contracting. What started with a mini excavator and a desire to build a business of his own has now grown into a dirt work business with 15 pieces of equipment and a roughly 10 person crew. Matt joined us In The Yard to share what he's learned about growing a business from from hiring the right p...

What role do minerals and mining play in Idaho’s future? In this episode, we're joined In The Yard by Katherine Himes, director of the McClure Center for Public Policy Research to talk about Idaho’s mineral resources, critical minerals and the importance of putting clear, nonpartisan information into the hands of communities.

What keeps construction leaders up at night? According to Caterpillar's Vice President of Technology, Kristin Gaskill, it’s rarely the machine itself. It’s people, process, safety, and finding ways to do more with less. In this episode of In The Yard , Tyler Simmons sits down with Kristin to talk through how Caterpillar is helping customers tackle their toughest challenges through technology.

Mining benefits much more than most people realize! Ryan Sistad of Better In Our Backyard joined us In The Yard to talk about responsible resource development, critical minerals, and why local conversations matter when it comes to mining the future.

As president of the Idaho AGC and a fourth-generation leader at Guho Corp, Anthony Guho has a front-row seat to Idaho's construction industry. Anthony joined us In The Yard to discuss developing the next generation of construction professionals and how technologies like Cat Grade and VisionLink are helping contractors do more with their workforce.

Benoit Gaillard, AI Product Management Team Lead at Caterpillar, and Justin Bailey, Chief Information Officer at Western States Cat, joined us In The Yard to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of our industry. From practical applications of the Cat AI Assistant to the broader opportunities AI creates across the business, Benoit and Justin share their perspective on using tec...

For families facing childhood cancer, Camp Rainbow Gold at Hidden Paradise is a summer camp unlike any other. Camp Rainbow Gold gives kids the chance to experience the great outdoors in a safe, adaptive space designed to meet their physical and medical needs. The Camp Rainbow Gold team joined us on In The Yard to talk about the impact the camp has on so many families in the community, and how comp...

With more than a decade of hands‑on experience in the Cat dealer network, Mike Bettencourt has seen heavy equipment evolve from purely mechanical machines to today’s technology‑driven jobsite solutions. Mike now serves as an Application Specialist at Western States Cat where his day-to day involves helping customers unlock the full value of Onboard Technology and operator coaching systems built in...

In this episode of In The Yard , Tyler sits down with Brennan Gruhn to break down all the new machines and technology Cat unveiled at CONEXPO. They discuss VisionLink upgrades, the brand-new TUL100 track utility loader, the 319 excavator, and next‑gen motor graders. From diving into Grade Assist and on‑machine tech, to what these updates actually mean on the jobsite, Brennan and Tyler break down w...

Tristram is an engineer, entrepreneur, and self-professed Horse Girl living and working in Montana. She joined us to talk about everything from winter weekends spent skijoring to launching her own engineering consultancy, to how a small skid steer made a big difference on her ranch. Through it all, she's never afraid to take the reins!

February 2026 marks Western States' 70th anniversary as a Caterpillar dealer, and to celebrate we sat down with VP of Product Support Tom Terteling, Jr. Tom will be the third generation of his family to lead Western States, and told us what it means to him to carry on the family legacy and what he sees for the future of the industry.

Preston Skaar turned ditch work into a thriving business. Now he's getting the whole family involved and passing a love for excavation down to his son, Bridger. The duo joined us In The Yard to talk about building a business, the stunning places they get to work, and why the right machines and relationships make all the difference.

With 30 years' experience in the industry, Dan Neace has seen first-hand the way technology has changed the heavy equipment world. From looking up manuals on microfiche to now mentoring the next generation of technicians alongside him on the shop floor, Dan is proud to build both his teams and communities for a better tomorrow.

When Idaho State University needed a new cross-country track, the Pocatello community stepped up to make it happen. Now, thanks to partners like McKee Construction and Western States, ISU athletes and the Pocatello community have a beautiful new space to use year-round.

Accounting is a key aspect of running a business, and the team at Sorren has the insights to help contractors be successful. Josh Tyree, CPA and Matt Goodfellow, CPA joined us In The Yard to talk bonus depreciation, job costing, and tax updates construction professionals need to know.

Ben Davenport finds it hard to envision a world without mining. He joined us In The Yard talk about Idaho's rich mining history, what's next for the industry, and the upcoming conference in downtown Boise.

Founded 41 years ago, Mason Logging is a true family business, now thriving through 3 generations. The Mason family joined us In The Woods this week to talk about how the logging industry has evolved, what people get wrong about their work, and the machines helping them win everyday.

Dan Kinney from Rock Placing Company joined us In The Yard to share how his team transforms steep terrain into usable space. From sourcing boulders in Idaho to building 22-foot engineered walls, RPC is bringing artistry to machine operations.

Cwentin Clifton wasn’t sure he’d make it to the 2025 Western States Operator Challenge—but with a last-minute decision and a little encouragement, he walked away with first place. A seasoned operator with many years of experience, Cwentin joined us "In the Yard" to talk about seat time, the challenges, and the support system that makes him a winner.

Wayne Hammon, CEO of the Idaho Associated General Contractors, joined us In The Yard to talk about the Idaho AGC's commitment to supporting small business owners and to creating pathways for young people coming into construction careers. Over the course of his 13 year tenure, he's taken pride in the Idaho AGC's advocacy work for the construction industry and seeing AGC members (including Western S...

Jordan from D&D Tri-Rivers Excavating can sum up what he values in an employee's work ethic in 3 L's: don't be late, don't lie, and don't be lazy. With strong company values and a dedication to a job well done, Jordan joined us In The Yard to talk about his own career experience with the company and how his team has benefitted from Cat's recent machine and technology updates.

Marc Holmes has worked on equipment all over the world. While he learned a lot wrenching on mining machines in the field, he now enjoys working on the rebuild team at Western States with his son, Brock (you might remember Brock from our second episode of In The Yard!). Marc told us about the pride he feels in watching his son succeed and follow in his footsteps as a heavy equipment tech. Happy Fat...

Starting a business from scratch is never easy, and Mountain West Excavation owner Travis sat down with us to share his experiences being a contractor in the Treasure Valley. From looking for the best employees to watching his work contribute to the growth of his community, Travis talked about the highs, lows, and many in-betweens of excavation entrepreneurship.

With nearly 30 years at Western States, Dean Lynn has had an incredible journey to his current position as a Lead in the Component Rebuild Center. Join us "In The Yard" as Dean talks about leading by example, technical challenges, and the satisfaction of solving problems. From managing stores to mastering pumps and valves, Dean's story is a testament to dedication and constant learning.