A Family Legacy Built on Clay, Pipe and Purpose
Nestled in the fertile ground of Union Grove, Wisconsin, George’s Grading and Son LLC has earned a reputation for quality through hands-on work and a no-shortcuts approach.
Founded by George Karczewski, a lifelong farmer and excavator, and now run alongside his son Tim, this two-man operation has carved a niche in the drainage world by combining old-school values with cutting-edge technology.
We’ve always believed in doing the job right the first time. If you can’t be proud of your name on it, you shouldn’t be doing it.
George Karczewski
From Milking Cows to Moving Earth
The story of George’s Grading begins long before GPS or plows, back in the days of clay tile. George, born in 1954, worked on farms as a boy, hauling clay tiles by hand into trenches dug through thick Wisconsin clay. By 1972, he’d purchased his first rubber-tire backhoe, a Case 680, and began offering tiling services to neighboring farmers while still milking cows.
“I bought that first backhoe just to do work on our own farm,” George recalls. “But one thing led to another. I helped one neighbor, then another and it just grew from there.”
In 1997, George left dairy farming behind for good, committing to excavation and drainage full-time. Tim joined him not long after, and the two have been working side by side ever since.
A Two-Man Crew With Big Capabilities
George and Tim are a rare breed in the industry, running large-scale jobs with only two people. It’s a model that works for them, largely because of their philosophy of perfection and their investment in technology.
“We decided early on we didn’t want to hire anyone,” Tim says. “It’s too hard to find people who care as much as we do. So instead, we invested in equipment that would let two people do the work of six.”
Everything they run, from their plows to their tractors, is GPS-integrated. And Tim, who studied civil engineering, builds and manages their site plans and mapping software in-house.
“Our excavator can stop within a half-inch of a tile main,” Tim explains. “That means one guy can make connections while the other is backfilling. No shoveling, no probing. Just precision.”
Even their farming operation, about 300 acres of cash crops, is treated as a “vacation” from the busyness of drainage. “It’s our peace of mind,” George says. “The kids ride along, it’s quiet and it’s just you and the land.”
A Relationship Rooted in Trust
A cornerstone of the business is its long-standing relationship with Fratco. After years of working with another supplier, George and Tim made the switch and haven’t looked back.
“Alan [Kruska, their Fratco rep] has been nothing short of tremendous,” George says. “Fratco’s been good to us, but to be honest, when we think of Fratco, we just think of Alan. That’s how personal the relationship is.”
For Tim, Fratco’s flexibility, patience and honesty have made them an indispensable partner. “With just the two of us, sometimes billing or ordering gets delayed, but Alan has always understood that. Never pressured us. Never made us feel like just a number.”
That trust goes beyond logistics. It’s about accountability. When they had concerns about perforation on FlexCorr in hard clay, Alan listened and acted. “We weren’t looking for a handout,” Tim says. “Just a partner that stands behind their product and is willing to improve. And Fratco did. That means a lot.”
Whether it’s finding pipe last minute, tracking down a specific size or returning a pallet that doesn’t meet their exact standards, Fratco has always shown up. “I’ve never once had to call someone else to find pipe,” Tim says. “Alan always finds a way. He’s part of our team, and Fratco has backed him every step.”
Teaching the Next Generation
Between George and Tim, there’s more than just a company, but a legacy. Tim and his wife, Becca, have six children: Magnolia (Maggie), who is 12; George, who is 10; August (Augie), who is 8; Sonny, who is 6; Harvest (Harvie), who is 4; and Ford, who was just born in October of 2025. While they’re not pressured to join the business, the door is always open.
If they don’t love it, they won’t be good at it. But if they do, we’ll teach them everything we know.
Tim Karczewski
Magnolia, or Maggie for short, has already shown an early fascination with equipment. George remembers her spotting a tractor from a window as a toddler, more excited about machinery than dolls. “She used to just stare at equipment,” he says, laughing.
And while the youngest, Ford, is still in diapers, Tim and his wife, Becca, see potential in all of them. “There’s a place for everyone if they want it,” Tim says. “The boys might be in the field. The girls might handle the office. Either way, they’ll learn what it means to take pride in
your work.”
George and Tim’s wives, Debbie and Becca, are integral to the business. From drone photography and calendar creation to simply supporting the long hours, their belief in the work has been foundational.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are. Period,” George says. “They’ve backed every decision we’ve made, trusted us through every challenge and helped us build something that lasts.”
Built to Last
The Karczewskis are proud of what they’ve built. Not the equipment or the projects, but the reputation. They operate within a 20-mile radius, and their local farmers won’t call anyone else. One client even waited two years for them to take on his project.
“We’re perfectionists,” George says. “We don’t cut corners. That’s why people
trust us.”
And despite the long days, the hard clay and the ever-changing economic landscape, both men wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“This is what we love,” George says. “If you’re not doing something you enjoy, life gets boring. This keeps us going. And it’s a blessing to be able to do it with your son.”
As George looks ahead, he knows the work won’t last forever—but the lessons will. “We’re not just laying pipe,” he says. “We’re building a way of life. And if the kids want it one day, it’ll be here waiting.”
