Business offers automotive, agricultural mechanic, welding services

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

Down an unassuming gravel road just south of Bluffton, sits a nearly full-service automotive and agricultural mechanic and welding shop. Ament Repair and Welding, now in its fourth year of operation, fills the needs of local drivers, farmers and anyone in need of some welding work.

Seth Ament, owner and operator, spends much of his time working on tractors and heavy equipment alongside his three employees: Brandon Wegscheid, Aaron Wegscheid and Dan Shingledecker.

Ament decided to build the shop as a way to stay closer to home and spend some more time with his wife and two sons as his work-life balance was just too busy for his liking. At first he worked full-time alone in his shop, working on trucks, tractors and heavy equipment repairs. In the past few years, Ament has been able to hire his three employees and expand his business.

“We added another 40×72 (addition) on,” said Ament. “These guys wanted to work, Brandon was part-time in the winter and he stayed full-time, we just needed more room to be more efficient, get stuff in and out a little better. Plus our tire business was growing and that was taking up a lot of the shop.”

“It’s been great,” said Brandon. “It helps a lot in the automotive side because we only had one stall before.”

“We put in another hoist too,” said Ament. “So now we have two hoists and another stall.”

With the new equipment and addition that was constructed last fall, the Ament Repair team is able to handle just about anything. With the exception of alignments and small engines, the shop is pretty much full service and able to handle your everyday needs.

“I do overhauls and clutches, tire work, pretty much everything,” said Ament. “I wanted it to be a one-stop shop for farmers, they can get whatever they want here, ag. and automotive.”

Each member of the team has appreciated having the extra space to work and equipment to work on repairs throughout the week. Working for a locally-owned small business comes with its own benefits and Ament’s team don’t take them for granted.

“For me, part of it is being closer to home,” said Brandon Wegscheid, automotive mechanic. “I was working in the cities before. Plus we all get along and joke around.”

“It’s fun and flexible,” said Aaron Wegscheid, who works with tires and oil sales. “Seth is pretty easy to work for and with these guys around it’s easy coming to work, I actually quite enjoy coming out here.”

“I’d probably say having broken stuff in and coming in and having the satisfaction of it being fixed, when you actually find the problem” laughed Dan Shingledecker, tractor mechanic. “Every job is different, that’s nice too.”

Along with the perks of working with a small team close to home, comes the loyal customer base in the area. With only a two mile drive south of Bluffton, five miles west of Wadena, and 10 miles southeast of NY Mills, the local clientele come from many different backgrounds and have a variety of needs.

Ament is also able to provide custom welding and fabrication projects as well. With a CNC table for fabrication and plenty of creativity, everything from customized fire rings to heavy duty snow pushers can be made right at the shop.

“We’re here to help people with what they need,” said Ament. “If we can’t help you, we’ll usually point you in the right direction anyway.”

As a retired member of the United States Air Force, Ament Repair and Welding is a veteran owned and locally operated one-stop shop for all of your mechanical and welding needs and is also an Auto Value Certified Service Center.

Anyone looking to have their car, truck, tractor, or heavy equipment repaired, those buying tires and oil, or wanting something fabricated can call Ament at (218) 639-6918, email him at sethament95@gmail.com or by visiting the shop at 60792 335th Street, Wadena.