facility where they designed and built trenching equipment for Ford, John Deere, International Harvester and others. In 1956 AMW had around 40 employees.

The company was bought by John Skaggs in 1976 where he changed the name to Auburn Consolidated Industries Inc. In that same year Mr Skaggs formed a partnership with the Kubota Corporation. John Skaggs died in September, 1998 leaving ownership to the Skaggs family and Kubota Corporation. In 2005 the Skaggs family purchased all the shares that Kubota owned giving the Skaggs family full ownership of the company. Donna Skaggs was the president of the company at this time, and she carried on with the same leadership that the company was founded on.

The company soon expanded to a 165,000 square foot manufacturing facility. ACI also modernized the company installing robotics, laser cutting tool and powder painting processes.

ACI soon earned many top awards like the prestigious New Holland Qualitas Award and John Deere top “Partner” status. The company also worked hard to maintain a safe working environment for all its employees. There safety record was recognized by the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program for 20 consecutive years of excellence. This award is given by the Department of Labor and ACI is the first and only company to receive this award.

ACI purchased Great Dane Mowers in September, 2005 moving the production of Great Dane Mowers and John Deere Quick-Trak mower line to its Auburn Nebraska facility. At this time is when ACI added the stand-on line of mowers.

In November, 2007 the Ariens Company purchased the assets of Auburn Consolidated Industries and opened the doors as Ariens Company — Auburn Operations. The Ariens Company will continue to make the EverRide and Great Dane product lines at the facility in Auburn, Nebraska. The Ariens Company is a family owned business out of Brillion, Wisconsin. Dan Ariens, fourth generation president, plans to continue with the same value system as set by the Skaggs family.