Giving back to the community is an important part of who we are at A&D Equipment. Through our Community Outreach Plan, we strive not only to support meaningful projects in our community, but also to come together as a team and contribute our time, skills, and resources to make a difference.

On Saturday, August 22, members of Team A&D joined Austin LaFata, members of Troop 472, their families, and other volunteers at the North Guilford Fire Department to help bring Austin’s Eagle Scout project to life.

The project transformed an area at the firehouse into a new outdoor seating and picnic space. Volunteers worked throughout the day on a variety of improvements, including building four picnic tables, preparing the site, moving dirt with excavators, extending the sidewalk, and installing a concrete pad. A drivable access area was also created using asphalt millings, allowing a plow to more easily reach the fuel tank.

The completed picnic area includes a loose-stone seating space surrounded by the new retaining wall and four picnic tables, creating a welcoming outdoor area for members of the North Guilford Fire Department and the community to enjoy.

This project was truly a community effort. The North Guilford Fire Department generously agreed to pay for half of the picnic tables, matching the funds Austin raised through his car wash events. Even better, any money remaining from the fundraising efforts will be kept in a separate account to help support future Eagle Scout projects for Troop 472.

We are proud of Austin for his leadership and commitment to completing such a meaningful project, and we are equally proud of the members of Team A&D who volunteered their time and equipment to help make it happen. Working alongside fellow Scouts, parents, and community members was a wonderful reminder of what can be accomplished when people come together for a common purpose.

At A&D Equipment, our work extends beyond the equipment and attachments we provide. Our Community Outreach Plan is about giving back, strengthening the communities around us, and creating opportunities for our team to work together outside of the office and job site. Austin’s Eagle Scout project was a perfect example of that commitment in action.

As the owner of A&D Equipment, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that business is about much more than the products we sell. It is about the relationships we build along the way.

When a customer calls A&D Equipment, we never want them to feel like they are simply placing an order. We want to understand their business, the challenges they face, the work they are doing, and what they need to be successful. Every contractor, landscaper, trail builder, and equipment owner we work with has different goals, and taking the time to listen is an important part of helping them find the right solution.

For us, supporting our clients does not end once a piece of equipment leaves our shop or gets delivered. We believe in being available to answer questions, troubleshoot challenges, provide service and parts, and celebrate our customers’ successes. When our clients grow their businesses, complete projects more efficiently, or discover new ways to use their equipment, we are proud to have played a small role in that success.

Building strong relationships also means being honest. Sometimes the best solution is not the most expensive one, and sometimes a particular attachment may not be the right fit for a customer’s needs. Our goal has always been to provide knowledgeable guidance and help our customers make decisions that will benefit their businesses in the long run.

Over the years, many of our customers have become more than clients, they have become part of the A&D Equipment community.

At A&D Equipment, we believe that some of the best opportunities in our industry happen when contractors, equipment manufacturers, and industry professionals come together to share ideas, test new technology, and learn from one another. That was exactly the spirit behind the Mulder Outdoors Open House and Engcon USA Demo Day, held on Saturday, July 25, at Mulder Outdoors’ new facility in Crown Point, Indiana.

A&D Equipment was proud to be part of the excitement.

The A&D Equipment team was on-site showcasing the Rotastar Screening Bucket and the MB Crusher Bucket through live material-processing demonstrations. Attendees were able to see firsthand how Rotastar & MB can screen and process materials such as topsoil, compost, and aggregates right on-site.

But the demonstrations were about more than simply showing what a piece of equipment can do. They created an opportunity for meaningful conversations with contractors about their individual businesses, the challenges they face, and how attachments can help improve efficiency and maximize the value of materials already on their jobsites.

Throughout the day, our team spoke with attendees about equipment specifications, jobsite applications, and ways contractors can get more from the machines and materials they already have.

But our involvement did not end when the Demo Day was wrapped up.

Following the event, Donna and Anthony joined Andy Mulder on The Mulder Life Podcast to continue the conversation about equipment, efficiency, and material processing.

During the podcast, the discussion focused on how contractors can use screening and crushing buckets to rethink the materials already sitting on their jobsites. Instead of automatically hauling away spoil piles and bringing in new material, contractors can process and reuse material on-site, reducing trucking costs, saving time, and turning what was once considered waste into valuable material for the project.

The conversation was a natural extension of what took place during the Demo Day: seeing the equipment in action is important but understanding how it can impact a contractor’s bottom line is where the real value begins.

For A&D Equipment, opportunities like the Mulder Outdoors Demo Day and The Mulder Life Podcast allow us to do more than demonstrate attachments. They allow us to build relationships, share knowledge, and help contractors explore new ways to work smarter and get more value from every job site.

Listen to the episodes:

Ep 172. Maximizing Profit Through Advanced Excavation Attachments

Ep 179. Transform Your Spoil Pile into High Value Base Material

When people hear that we’ll ship a Rotastar screening bucket to your job site, anywhere in the United States and let you use it for a week at no cost to you, the first question is usually: why would you do that?

The honest answer is that it was the only way I could figure out how to solve a very specific problem.

One Dealer. One State. A Nationwide Product.

A&D Equipment is based in Connecticut. We sell the Rotastar screening bucket — a product that can transform how a contractor handles soil, stone, topsoil, compost, and dozens of other materials. We know what it can do because we’ve been running one in our own excavating division for over fifteen years. But we have one location. And contractors in Texas, Colorado, Oregon, and everywhere else aren’t going to drive to Connecticut to see a bucket. I kept thinking: how do I get this product in front of people who need it, when I can’t physically be everywhere?

And eventually the answer came to me. I bring the product to them. 

How It Works

Rotastar Tour America is simple. A contractor applies, fills out the required paperwork, and we talk with them to understand their needs, what materials they’re working with, what machine they’re running, what they’re hoping the bucket can do for them. Then we ship out the appropriate model for a trial period. They use it in a real job. They see what it can do with their machine, their material, their operators. And at the end of the trial, they decide if it’s right for them. No sales pitch. No pressure. Just the product doing what it does.

“I thought I might risk people damaging the bucket. That really hasn’t happened. Yes, there’s wear and tear — that’s expected. But what I’ve gained from this program is worth far more than any repair cost.”

What I Didn’t Expect

I thought the biggest risk was damage. I was wrong. In the time we’ve been running Tour America, the bucket always comes back in working shape. Regular wear and tear, sure. But nothing we can’t handle.

What I didn’t expect was the relationships. Every contractor who goes through the trial, I’m in regular contact with. I’m calling to see how it’s going. I’m asking what materials they’re running. I am there if they have questions. By the end of the week, I know their operation and they know us. Even the contractors who decide that the Rotastar isn’t right for their current jobs tend to call us back. Because they know we’re the kind of company that lets them try before they buy. That’s not something you forget. The contractors who do buy, and the conversion rate has been excellent, come in with no hesitation. They’ve already seen what the bucket does on their machine with their materials. There is no leap of faith involved. They’ve already taken it.

A Different Way of Selling

Marcus Sheridan talks about being the most trusted voice in your industry by being willing to do what competitors won’t. Sending a $20,000–$30,000 piece of equipment to a stranger on the other side of the country is, admittedly, not a small thing. But it reflects what A&D believes: that if you put the right product in front of the right contractor and let it speak for itself; the sale takes care of itself. We’re not trying to convince anyone. We’re letting the equipment do the convincing.

If you’re a contractor who works with soil, stone, or mixed materials and you’ve wondered whether a screening bucket could change your operation, reach out. Tell us about your setup. We’ll tell you honestly whether Tour America makes sense for what you’re trying to do. That is the deal.

Visit Rotastar Tour America

In 2025, Joel brought his cousin, Luke Perry, on as a full-time business partner. Luke brings an extensive background in underground utility work, complementing Joel’s experience and helping the company continue to expand its capabilities.

Today, their company proudly operates under the name Redemption Excavating & Utilities LLC, reflecting the Christian values and faith-based foundation that are important to both partners.

Redemption Excavating & Utilities currently operates a previously owned Steelwrist X07 on a John Deere, along with a Steelwrist X18 purchased from A&D Equipment for their John Deere 120. The company also purchased an A&D Rotastar 8-14 screening bucket. For Joel, these attachments have made a significant difference in the way his small crew operates. With a smile, Joel says that his two-man crew can accomplish the work of a four-man crew because of the efficiency provided by their equipment. In fact, he proudly says, “We don’t do any hand work anymore.”

The productivity gains have allowed Redemption Excavating & Utilities to take on demanding work while keeping their operation lean and efficient. Joel already has a few items on his A&D Equipment wish list, including a smaller Rotastar screening bucket for his smaller excavator, a plate compactor for the Steelwrist X07, and an asphalt cutter.

While Joel appreciates the performance of the equipment he has purchased through A&D Equipment, what stands out most to him is the relationship and service he has received over the years. After 14 years in business, Joel says that A&D Equipment is the best vendor he has ever worked with. He describes A&D as more responsive than any other vendor he has dealt with. When he needs a part, he knows he can make a call and often have it delivered to his door the next day. When he has a question, he knows he can call Anthony LaFata and get an answer. Joel even remembers being on a video call with Anthony on a Sunday to troubleshoot a question, something he says he simply would not expect from most other vendors. Tim, A&D’s Parts and Service Supervisor, is also a valued contact for Joel. Tim traveled to Pennsylvania to install the Steelwrist X18 and, according to Joel, was great to work with throughout the process.

For Joel, it all comes down to communication and responsiveness. When something goes down, he knows A&D will work to get him what he needs as quickly as possible.

Redemption Excavating & Utilities is a great example of what can happen when hard work, the right equipment, and strong vendor relationships come together. From a pickup truck and a couple of skid steers to a growing excavation and utility operation, Joel has built his business by working hard, investing wisely, and surrounding himself with people he can trust. At A&D Equipment, we are proud to support customers like Joel and Luke and to be part of their continued growth.

Thank you to Redemption Excavating & Utilities for trusting A&D Equipment to be part of your team!