At Outland Design, we specialize in solving a wide range of agricultural challenges. Our team offers expert agricultural design, oversees construction projects, manages permitting processes, and conducts wetland delineations to ensure your agricultural endeavors succeed. In celebration of June being National Dairy Month, get to know the team of experts at Outland Design!
Jesse Ray | Agricultural Sector Practice Lead
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I grew up on a small dairy farm in Crawford County, Wisconsin, and have been doing Agricultural Engineering since 2004.
how do you help farms?
We provide expert engineering and consulting services for farms looking to grow their businesses. We help farms obtain the permits required before construction, along with providing advice on the design and layout for our clients’ farm expansion projects.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy meeting with our clients, getting to know them, and becoming a part of their team.
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
We recently undertook a project where a previous consultant had planned a waste storage facility in a location that would have eliminated approximately 5 acres of prime crop land. This placement would have necessitated double pumping to fill it and the construction of an additional farm access driveway. We saw an opportunity to site the waste storage facility in a place that allowed the 600-cow barn expansion and feed storage runoff to gravity flow into the storage facility. This saved our client hundreds of thousands of dollars over the project and life of the facility.
Jonathan Ardelt | Project Engineer
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I have been involved in Agricultural Engineering for 18 years.
how do you help farms?
I design waste transfer systems, waste storage facilities, feed storage areas, runoff control systems for feed storage areas, erosion control, and storm water management plans for agricultural construction projects. I also prepare permit applications for County, State, and Federal review agencies. I create design reports for all the different types of projects mentioned above. Additionally, I perform construction observation and record documentation reports and plans. This is accompanied by a steady stream of communication with clients and contractors.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is seeing a project go from paper to reality, and ultimately the client’s satisfaction.
Ryan Nehls | Project Engineer
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I have worked for 13 years as an engineer, but I have been involved in agriculture my entire life.
How do you help farms?
I help with design and permitting for farms. I also conduct field work and groundwater monitoring for large CAFOs.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I most enjoy finding out-of-the-box solutions for complex problems. I also like getting outside on job sites, especially when the weather is nice!
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
Recently, I had the opportunity to retrofit an existing feed storage area runoff control system to operate completely by gravity.
Clark Fox, P.E. | Senior Engineer
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I have been in the Agricultural Engineering field for 12 years.
How do you help farms?
My job responsibilities include reviewing plans and reports to make sure they meet the required standards and specifications. I also help with site layouts to ensure farms can continue to operate efficiently.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy helping farms continue to grow to meet the demands for their products while doing so in a way that protects our environment.
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
We recently provided a clean water diversion system to allow for the construction of a new feed pad while not having to increase storage capacity on the site.
Juliana Brustolin | Project Engineer
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
Since May 2022. This is my first engineering job since graduating college.
How do you help farms?
Recently, I have been managing communications with counties and DNR reviewers, handling submittals, overseeing permit checks, and performing all engineering tasks, including report writing and site visits.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy my project management responsibilities. I like to keep everyone organized and productive by creating and improving our workflows, templates, and guides.
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
My role and responsibilities have changed quite a bit in the past year. This helped me refine my existing skills, learn new ones, and take on numerous new responsibilities within the team while continuing to do engineering work. It was challenging to adapt but I’m enjoying the outcome and am satisfied with how the team pushed through.
Theran Stautz, PWS | Senior Ecologist
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I have worked with the team on wetland delineations for 14 years.
How do you help farms?
I perform wetland delineations, soil profiling, and permitting. I also work in conjunction with the team by siting facilities to avoid wetlands and other environmental concerns.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love being able to get outside and travel to different facilities around the state.
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
Recently, one of our clients that I work with was selected for a DNR grant program that fully funded the mitigation bank on their farm. I helped them put together the application and submit the necessary information to the DNR. There were only a handful of farms in the state that were selected for this competitive program and ours was one.
Kris Alvarado | Project Engineer
How long have you been in the agricultural engineering field?
I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and started with Outland Design in April of this year. In school, I studied Civil Engineering with a minor in International Engineering. It has been a very exciting and interesting experience applying my civil-based knowledge to agricultural projects.
How do you help farms?
I help by generating project startups, design reports, permit applications, soil investigations, and other behind-the-scenes work. I look forward to assisting with engineering evaluations and inspections in the future.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Becoming more knowledgeable about Wisconsin farmland and connecting with the vast number of farmers throughout it has been a pleasure. It feels very rewarding to learn and work with those who contribute to the state’s famous “America’s Dairyland.”
What is a recent challenge You OVERCAME?
On my first day with Outland Design, I was tasked with communicating with a powerline company to confirm the feasibility of construction underneath it. Being my first day, I quickly learned proper communication procedures, appropriate terminology, and the general process with the help of my superiors and peers. This resulted in a successful compromise for the easement.