Construction, Cattle and Commitment
November 15, 2024
Written By Adam Buckallew
Lawrence “Junior” Eichler, founder of Do-Rite Construction and Excavating in Lincoln, Mo., built his business from the ground up, quite literally. Since 1982, Do-Rite has grown from humble beginnings into a key player in infrastructure projects across central Missouri.
Getting started wasn’t easy.
“The first five years were tough,” Junior recalls. “I had to make a name for myself. I had to demonstrate dependability and earn people’s trust.”
Starting with an old backhoe and a dump truck, Junior slowly built his reputation. Word of mouth spread, and soon, he was landing more jobs. A strong track record and a solid work ethic helped Eichler grow Do-Rite into a trusted name in mid-Missouri.
Today, Do-Rite has 20 employees and offers various services, including grading, excavating, hauling, concrete, underground utilities and general contracting. Recent projects include upgrading the rural wastewater facilities for the City of Lincoln, as well as site and utility work for the new Center for Advanced Agricultural & Transportation Technology at State Fair Community College. The company also has a contract to work on the Missouri State Fairgrounds’ new indoor arena, which will be named after Gov. Mike Parson.
Filling a Need
As Do-Rite has expanded, so has the scale and complexity of the jobs the company tackles—moving from residential and small-scale agricultural projects to more extensive public contracts.
“There was a need in our area for a public sector contractor,” Eichler says. “There’s so much infrastructure work to be done. We have helped fill that void.”
A prime example is a water utility project that was out for bid in Urich, Mo. In the Do-Rite office, Eichler has a detailed map of the city spread across a table, outlining the 29,000 feet of new water lines required for the job. The project, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), involves a complete replacement of the city’s aging water infrastructure.
In such a project, Do-Rite’s role would be comprehensive. They would handle every aspect of the Urich job, from digging out the old water lines and laying new pipes to backfilling the trenches, installing new water meters and connecting the updated system to homes. Do-Rite has built its reputation through similar projects, helping meet the increasing need for updated infrastructure across central Missouri.
Agricultural Roots
Though Eichler built a successful career in construction, his agricultural roots run deep. He was raised on a farm, and one of his earliest jobs was working for a rancher, where he developed a passion for working with cattle.
In 2017, Eichler returned to agriculture after decades of growing his construction and excavating business. He handed over management of Do-Rite’s day-to-day operations to his sons, Kyle and Bryan, and shifted his focus back to raising cattle. Today, he runs a cow-calf and hay operation and has served as an MFA Oil delegate for the Cole Camp bulk plant for the last four years.
Eichler and his sons rely on the cooperative’s bulk fuel and oil deliveries to keep the farm and their business ventures running efficiently.
“We buy lots of bulk fuel,” Eichler says. “Our projects are big enough that we will have a couple of 1,000-gallon bulk tanks set, and MFA Oil will come and refill them daily. That’s in addition to the bulk fuel and oil tanks outside our equipment shop. We see an MFA Oil truck here at least twice a week.”
Eichler’s connection to MFA Oil extends beyond fuel and lubricant purchases. Do-Rite Construction has completed several projects for the cooperative, including dirt work, plumbing and concrete pads for several Petro-Card 24 locations.
With Do-Rite’s day-to-day operations in the capable hands of his sons and his wife, Debra, managing the company’s finances, Eichler has more time to spend working cattle and representing his community as an MFA Oil delegate. He wouldn’t have it any other way.