Businesses of Agriculture: Chief Industries celebrates 65 years

From the Businesses of Agriculture series

Rebecca Chaney
Mar 14, 2019
Mar 14, 2019 Updated Feb 10, 2021

1 of 2

Businesses of Agriculture: Chief Industries celebrates 65 years

DJ Eihusen, right, president and CEO of Chief Industries talks with Mike Lewis, president and general manager of Chief Agri in the Chief Industries Plant.

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Rebecca Chaney

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Chief Industries Inc.

Founded:

1954 by Virgil Eihusen; Chief Agri — 1961

Current owner:

Family-owned

Current top executive and board chairman:

DJ Eihusen, Chief Industries Inc. President/CEO/Chairman of the Board; Mike Lewis, Chief Agri Division President/General Manager

Product or service:

Specializes in post-frame construction in rural America that includes custom buildings ranging from garages and general storage to multi-million dollar commercial facilities

Employees:

Nebraska, 1,150; all other states, 150; outside the U.S., 60

Locations:

Chief Industries Inc. — Kearney, Grand Island, Aurora, Hastings, Lincoln, and Lexington in Nebraska; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Rensselaer, Ind.; and in France and England.

Chief Agri — Grand Island and Kearney, Neb., France and England.

Website:

www.chiefind.com; www.agri.chiefind.com

Telephone:

308-389-7200

Mailing, physical address:

Chief Industries Inc. — 3942 W. Old Highway 30, Box 2078, Grand Island, NE 68802

Chief Agri — 4400 E. 39th St., Kearney, NE 68847