Company History

The visionary John F. Younglove founded his own company, specializing in building grain elevators.

With over 100 employees, Younglove had established a stellar reputation, completing numerous elevator and mill projects across Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri.

As business flourished, Younglove separated from his partner and continued to brand himself as the "Iowa Elevator Builder." Embracing innovation, Younglove Construction Co. was among the pioneers in modern slipform construction techniques, constructing two concrete grain elevators in Morris, Illinois, and one in Archer, Iowa. 

The company saw the next generation join its ranks when Younglove’s sons, Clyde and Carl, came on board. Clyde, known as the "concrete specialist," played a crucial role. Younglove Construction also became a wholly owned subsidiary of W.A. Klinger, Inc.

Clyde’s son Roger joined the company, eventually taking over management.

Younglove Construction continued in the concrete grain elevator business. Clyde Younglove made the prudent business decision to lease the latest slipform equipment, which utilized a hydraulic jack. While hydraulic slipform equipment is now the standard in the elevator construction business, Younglove Construction was among the first companies in the country to use it. The introduction of hydraulic slipform construction equipment in the 1950s revolutionized the industry. Younglove Construction Co. led the pack in this innovation, allowing us to build elevators faster and more efficiently — and often become the subject of articles in local papers.

Under the leadership of Mike Rueckert, the company expanded its engineering expertise and pursued larger, more complex projects, and began attending the Southeast Poultry tradeshow pursuing large poultry feed mills.

By the late 20th century, Younglove Construction Co. had established a national presence, working with top companies on cutting-edge projects.

Continued expansion led to several port facility projects including a major expansion for United Grain Corporation in Vancouver, Washington.

In 2019, over a century after building our first flour mills, we constructed the largest flour mill in the United States for ADM in Mendota, Illinois. Capable of producing three million pounds of flour per day.

Today, Younglove Construction Co. continues to build state-of-the-art facilities, including mega mills with advanced receiving, mixing, production, storage, and loadout capabilities. Recent projects include feed mills for Tyson Foods and Koch Foods, flour mills for Ardent Mills, and pet food facility for Diamond Pet Foods.