(Aggregate Resource Industries is used to drill and blast rock from Spring Butte’s quarry | Photo courtesy of Spring Butte Rock)
“Kelli Fischer and Al Shirk have always been great with us, up front and honest, while their pricing is the lowest in La Pine. Plus, they’re both really nice people.” This accolade from Emily Eckhardt, owner of Cascade Bark and Landscape Supply, shows that while Spring Butte Rock may be relatively new to the industry, and relatively small, it is attracting an increasing number of residential and commercial customers — so much so that “we have almost doubled the quantity of product delivered in the past year alone,” according to Fischer.
“Although existing quarries were still producing, land was running out, and was not at a level to keep up with growth in La Pine and surrounding areas,” she said. “We saw a need for a local rock and aggregate supplier, and decided to start our own company. We wanted to be self-employed — the harder we work, the more money we make — and enjoy the freedom and joy of working with our team.”
Combining their entrepreneurial spirit with two-plus decades of professional construction and business expertise — including ownership of several excavation companies — Fischer and Shirk set up Spring Butte Rock as a woman- and family-owned operation. They utilize the services of a third party, Aggregate Resource Industries, to drill and blast rock from their quarry south of La Pine and crush it to the specifications provided.
“We offer the advantage of being a small business that can move quickly to satisfy customer needs,” said Fischer. These range from small landscaping projects to building sites, from driveways to solar panel installations, and from satellite systems to subdivisions.
“Just as Spring Butte is delivering more rock each year, we’re also continually expanding the variety of products available to our customers,” Fischer said. Sold by the ton, but loaded per yard if requested, current rock and aggregate options include: ¾” commercial, ¾” minus state spec, 1 ½” minus, 1 ½” open, and boulders and screen fill dirt. Future plans include offering additional products such as 3” and amended topsoil that is enriched for landscaping projects.
All deliveries — in either 10- or 12-yard loads — are done by Get-R-Dumped, a wholly-owned, sand and gravel supplier that has been servicing the local area for almost 20 years. (The couple purchased the company four years ago.) A You-Haul option is also available.
Government certified, Spring Butte Rock is valued, in Fischer’s words, “for our responsiveness, excellent customer communications and service — over and above the quality and affordability of our products. We’re proud of being a local, woman-owned business, and of growing alongside the communities we serve.”
