It all started with a truck and some cow manure...
Today in Chino California, O.F. Wolfinbarger stands as a pillar of excellence in the landscaping and soil mixing industry, renowned for providing top-quality products and exceptional service. With the fourth generation, David, Steven, and Dustin, leading the way, this family-owned business continues to meet the evolving needs of homeowners, landscapers, contractors, and nurseries. The company prides itself on its custom soil mixes, decorative rock, bark, sand, gravel, woodchips, and a wide variety of other landscape materials, shipping hundreds of yards weekly to commercial and residential customers alike.
A Humble Beginning
The legend of Olin Wolfinbarger’s journey to California is as remarkable as the company's origins. Riding on the front fender of a Model T and armed with a .22 rifle for picking off squirrels, Olin made his way from Arkansas to California. The yard, which would become the heart of the Wolfinbarger enterprise, started as a home and a working farm.
Olin had a knack for working on dairies, milking cows, until a dairyman's simple request changed his life's trajectory. The dairyman needed someone to clear out manure from his cow paddocks and suggested Olin could make a business of it—if he had a truck. Determined, Olin secured a $350 loan from the local bank to buy a truck, and thus, he began his entrepreneurial journey. He spent his days cleaning cow paddocks and transporting manure to the orange groves in the foothills of what are now Ontario, Chino, Upland, and Cucamonga. This marked the birth of O.F. Wolfinbarger.
Growing the Family Business
Olin and his wife Jessie had seven children who all worked together on the farm. As the second generation took-over Jack, Jerry, and James spearheaded the efforts, continuing in their father's footsteps and pivoting when San Bernardino County approached the family about hauling topsoil from flood control basins.
As they accumulated a stockpile of soil, local dairymen sought their services once more—this time to fill paddocks with topsoil and decomposed granite. Concurrently, the expanding communities in the valley needed quality planting soil for their new foothill homes. With raw materials, tractors for mixing, and trucks for hauling, the Wolfinbarger family seized the opportunity to pursue a new line of business - soil mixing.
Innovating for the Future
The third generation, consisting of Jerry Junior, Randy, and Bobby, grew up under the tutelage of grandpa Olin and their father Jerry. They learned every facet of the business and were well-prepared to continue the family's legacy. As times changed, so did the needs of their customers. Homeowners, landscapers, contractors, and nurseries required more specialized products.
Custom soil mixing became the hallmark of O.F. Wolfinbarger. The company distinguished itself by designing soil mixes tailored to specific needs, from lightweight mixes for rooftop gardens and parking structures to specialized blends for seedlings, cacti, bio media, and vegetable gardens. Randy recalls having up to ten different nursery mixes on the mixing pad simultaneously. To complement their custom mixes, the company expanded its product range to include decorative rock, bark, sand, gravel, and other landscape materials.
Continuing the Legacy
Today, the fourth generation—David, Steven, and Dustin—works diligently to uphold the values and standards set by their predecessors. They strive to provide quality products and unparalleled service, ensuring that O.F. Wolfinbarger remains a trusted name in the industry for the next 94 years and beyond. They are committed to providing the best prices on high-quality landscaping materials in Chino. Their bulk materials ensure that customers save money without compromising on quality. With a large variety of sand, soil, woodchips, and gravel in stock, they cater to a wide range of project needs, offering exceptional value to their customers.
As the company looks to the future, it remains committed to innovation and customer satisfaction, continuing to build on a legacy of hard work, adaptability, and a passion for excellence. Visit O.F. Wolfinbarger today and discover how their products and expertise can help you achieve your landscaping goals.
Comments