Calumet Industries, Inc – A History

Calumet Industries Inc. was founded in 1951 by Mr. Leslie D. Todd. L.D. Was farming the “old home place” and living in the house where he was born when he decided he needed something to supplement his farm income. He purchased a truck load of black creosote fence posts and was successful merchandising them to his neighbors. Encouraged by this venture, he next moved the car out of the garage and became the first retailer of agricultural fertilizer in Western Canadian County, Oklahoma. Rounding out his first year, he started a hail insurance agency for local grain producers.

To apply for a sales tax permit for his new enterprise, L.D. needed a name for his business. It became known as the Calumet “Y” Farm Store. Initially his business focused on agriculturally based products and grain receiving and marketing. Little did he know at the time that his small business would grow into a nationally known corporation. Customers would include not only local farmers and ranchers, but a varied clientele including national and international construction, mining, environmental and oil exploration companies. To add to the list, various United States and foreign government agencies became clientele.

The second year of operation, green bugs were bad, so insecticides were added. L.D. built a 16′ by 40′ warehouse to store his growing inventory. The third year a grain receiving station was built with the capacity to hold 3,000 bushels. This was to expand many times in the following years, eventually reaching a capacity to hold 3,000,000 bushels and four locations.

Only a few years later, the company expanded into government surplus. L.D. had a unique talent for finding new uses for government surplus products. Aircraft engine containers became liquid storage for water and fuel. Split in half, these containers became troughs for livestock. Missal shipping containers became durable and economical feeders for livestock. Many government shipping containers have become useful to other manufacturers at a fraction of the price of new counterparts.

The PSP military landing mats were originally acquired by Calumet Industries for agricultural use in the installation of corrals and loadings areas for livestock. During the 1960′s, landing mats began to be utilized by the underground mining industry for roof support systems. In 1965, some of L.D.’s competitors came up with a type of fabricated material which replaced landing mats as mine tunnel roof supports when landing mats were in short supply. Calumet Industries followed suit and became involved in steel fabrication, by manufacturing a roof plate mat and washers used in conjunction with mine roof bolts as shoring in underground mines and tunnels. Over the course of a few years, United Nuclear, Kerr McGee, Homestake Mining, Chevron Resources and Ingersoll-Rand became valued clients.

In 1969, a second agricultural location was added. The Calumet Farm Service Center was added in the city of Calumet, which was five miles north of the home base to allow access to railroad transportation. A bulk dry fertilizer plant and blender was added for custom fertilizer blends. Liquid fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia were added to both locations as well.

In the 1970′s The Calumet Y Farm Store was incorporated and became known as Calumet Industries Inc. The 1970′s continued as a time of expansion in agri-business, government surplus and steel fabrication. In January 1974, a third agricultural location was acquired in Geary, Oklahoma. Named Todd’s of Geary, this location entered a new era for Calumet Industries and the older facility was soon upgraded with new offices, warehouses and more storage to offer the best of agricultural services.

The 1980′s saw the launching of Todd’s Fertilizer Distribution Plant, located in Geary, Oklahoma, which operated in conjunction with Todd’s of Geary. The plant manufactured custom suspension fertilizers for dealers and local customers. The superior quality and diversified products offered by our company led to Calumet Industries Inc. being named one of the top 100 dealers in the United States by Farm Chemical Magazine in 1990.

In May 1991, Calumet Industries Inc. acquired an additional agricultural facility with the purchase of former Generals Mills Grain Elevator & Mills in El Reno, Oklahoma. Ready for harvest in June 1991, we captured 40% of the grain market against 2 local elevators our first season. This elevator was utilized as a satellite office and opened only during grain season.

In 2001 after 50 years in the agricultural business, Calumet Industries Inc. sold all of our retail and wholesale agricultural facilities, with the exception of the original Calumet Y Farm Store located on the family’s home place. Calumet Industries Inc. now focuses on government surplus, steel sales, scrap metal and fabrication. We are still family owned and operated. L.D. still actively plays a role in the daily business.

Our specialities are landing mats, ammunition containers and shipping & storage containers. We appreciate all inquiries, both retail and wholesale.