It’s the hottest day of summer and your barn’s fan motor failed.
Or it’s -20 with the windchill and one of your heaters is rapidly dying.
As any farmer knows, these types of barn emergencies require quick action to protect the livestock inside. And that’s exactly why Michiana created Barnguard, a dedicated service division built on 30 years of agricultural expertise.
What Is Barnguard?
Barnguard is Michiana’s specialized farm service division, bringing responsive, knowledgeable maintenance and repair to agricultural operations. While the Barnguard name is new, the service behind it is not. Michiana has been servicing the barns it builds for three decades, developing extensive expertise in the systems that keep modern farms running.
Michiana services a variety of barns, ranging from broiler operations and layer facilities to duck barns and hog operations. Major regional integrators rely on Barnguard to keep their facilities operating at peak performance.
Why Barnguard Instead of a General Contractor?
When something breaks, why not just call a local electrician or HVAC technician? The answer comes down to specialized knowledge.
Modern barns run on a sophisticated whole-house computerized controller. The complexity of these systems requires a knowledgeable technician, and most general contractors don’t have the experience or knowledge required to set these systems up and troubleshoot them effectively.
Because Michiana installs the electrical systems and equipment in the barns it builds, its technicians know exactly how each barn is wired and configured. For barns Michiana didn’t build, its techs are well-versed in the most common controllers and systems used across the industry, so farmers get the benefit of their expertise.
Common Barn Service Calls
Barnguard technicians handle a wide range of issues throughout the year. Some of the most frequent calls include:
- Fan motor failures, especially critical in summer when ventilation is essential to animal health.
- Heater malfunctions in extreme cold, including failed gas control valves and electronic modules.
- Frozen feed augers that cut off feed delivery entirely.
- Feed line motor failures that affect feed distribution systems.
- Power loss emergencies.
Around-the-Clock Coverage for Farmers
During regular hours (7 am to 3 pm), all service calls come through the main office. Outside those hours, calls are routed to an on-call technician’s cell phone. Barnguard techs have been dispatched as late as 2 or 3 in the morning when a situation demands it.
For non-emergency issues, Barnguard works to dispatch its techs efficiently. If multiple farms in the same area need attention, technicians are routed to handle them all in a single trip. And call volume can swing dramatically! On slow days, the Barnguard dispatch team might take three or four calls, and on the busiest days, 35 to 40. Fortunately, most days fall somewhere in between.
Barn Service Area
Barnguard currently serves farms within approximately a two-hour radius of Michiana’s home base in northern Indiana, with a fleet of four to five service trucks on the road. The program is also expanding into Ohio through Michiana’s Apple Creek location, with service coverage extending about two hours from there as well.
Growing to Serve More Farmers
Michiana has big plans for Barnguard over the next few years. In addition to expanding the Ohio operation into a full-service center with local staff, the team is planning expansion toward Fort Wayne, Indiana. A Missouri presence is also in development, building on relationships with installation partners already active there.
Experienced Technicians, Every Time
Barnguard doesn’t send just anyone to a farm call. Farmers who are paying for a service call expect knowledgeable techs who can understand and fix the problem as quickly as possible. That’s why Michiana builds its technician team from within. Most techs start with barn installation and electrical work, gaining familiarity with how systems are built before moving into service roles.
Being a Barnguard tech requires flexibility and dedication. Techs have to handle late-night calls, rotating on-call shifts, and keep up with changing technologies. It’s not for everyone, but for the right people, it’s rewarding work that keeps farms and families running.
When your barn needs help, Barnguard is ready.
Contact Michiana to learn more about Barnguard service coverage and how it could help your ag operation.