At Midlands Contracting, we:

• Say yes to tough, complex jobs because we know we have the knowledge, experience, equipment, and manpower to get the job done right.
• Don’t just talk about safety, but demonstrate it every day.
• Strive to keep our reputation second to none.
• Deliver excellence in every single project.
• Ask a lot of our employees, but take great pride in rewarding them for their hard work.

Midlands Contracting, Inc., was founded in November 1977 by Dwayne (Satch) Sohrweid, Al (Zum) Zumbrunnen, and Dallas Wegner. Satch and Zum also owned Nebraska Irrigation Engineering, a Kearney land conservation and dirt moving contractor. Satch, Al, and Dallas decided they wanted to combine the talents of both companies and started Midlands Contracting. In the beginning, they focused on wastewater treatment lagoon and soil conservation service work since they could complete jobs without having to hire subcontractors.

Midlands Contracting’s first project was a concrete spillway and intake system on an SCS dam in Stockville, Nebraska, for Nebraska Engineering. The next project was building the Alliance South Yard in Alliance, Nebraska, for Burlington Northern Railroad. Several more projects were built for Burlington Northern Railroad in rapid succession.

After that, Midlands Contracting’s hard-working reputation had become well-known and the company was contracted to do several jobs around Nebraska. In 1983, Dallas and his wife, Carolyn, bought out their partners. Carolyn served as secretary until 1984 when Ethel (Alexander) White was hired. Through the 80’s and 90’s, after a few lean years, the company experienced rapid growth and developed several excellent crews.

In 1999, Brad Wegner returned to Kearney and joined the family business. He now serves as Vice President of Operations and the Safety Director for Midlands. In 2000, Midlands Contracting bought Johnson Service Company, a sewer cleaning and TV inspection firm, from Osceola, Nebraska. The business was moved to Kearney and expanded into manhole rehabilitation as well. In 2006 Shane Wegner moved back to Kearney to become Vice President of Midlands Contracting, where he oversees accounting, financials, and estimating.