An American Welder Thrives: Randy Bock’s craftsmanship can be seen across the West

The welding industry is not for everyone – it is a physically demanding and challenging occupation, but it’s an essential skill to fabricate various products and infrastructures.

However Randy Bock, owner of An American Welder, LLC in Newcastle, has been up for the challenge, manufacturing high-quality products for over 35 years and playing a critical role in the agricultural industry.

Randy supports ranchers across multiple states with a variety of ag products but specializes in creating overhead cake bins.

How it all started

Randy is no stranger to Weston County, as he grew up in Newcastle, and today he and his family live only three miles from where he was born. 

“It all began back in 1988,” Randy states. “I had two cousins who were much older than me and they were welders, which piqued my interest.”

He notes, “I attended Northwest Community College in Powell and competed on their wrestling team, while obtaining an applied science degree in welding technology at the same time.”

“I broke out into the welding industry when I was working on oil rig derricks during the day and welding all night for a company out of Canada called Co Rod,” he explains. “They called me and said they needed my business name to pay me for my welding services, but at the time, I did not have one.” 

“Our coveralls had a Canadian flag on one shoulder and an American flag on the other, so I told them to make the check to An American Welder, LLC and it stuck,” he adds. 

An American Welder, LLC was established, and since then, Randy has been doing numerous side jobs where he designed and crafted a variety of products over the years.

He comments, “I worked for the local coal mine for over 33 years, but I left at the end of last year. I am welding full time now, and I enjoy building good-quality products to help individuals, making their lives easier and being able to do it faster is what I enjoy the most.”

An American Welder, LLC also creates artwork with a plasma cutter and can custom build steel ranch signs. 

Overhead cow bins

Randy has been crafting overhead cow cake bins since 1992, when local rancher Dennis Patton, who has since passed, came to his shop and inquired about getting a bin built.

“Patton asked me if it was possible to make a cow cake bin for him locally or he would have to travel to Nebraska to get one. So, I went to work building one for him, and two weeks later, it was delivered,” Randy chuckles. “It was my first one. I learned from it and have been building them ever since.”

“I have had help over the years in the shop building bins. My son Nick has been helping me since he was 10 years old,” he adds. “Nick is now a certified welder and went on to become a mechanical engineer after graduating from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He now lives in Texas.”

An American Welder, LLC creates standard overhead cow cake bins out of 10-gauge steel but can be customized for customers.

Randy points out his customers have the choice to select a color for the bins but he recommends tan, covert green or white, as the paint adheres better with these colors. Customers also have the choice to have the Wyoming bucking horse logo placed on them as well.

Today, Randy can craft an overhead cow cake bin in about four to five days, depending on the weather, and he does 90 percent of deliveries. 

“We have delivered cow cake bins all over Wyoming and even into Colorado, Montana and South Dakota,” he adds. “Since I opened the doors of An American Welder, LLC, we have crafted 672 bins.”

Randy’s passion for welding can be seen in the quality of his work, and he expresses welding has been really good to him and his family. 

“We would like to thank everyone who has purchased from us, and we look forward to serving new customers,” Randy says.

Randy has been married to his wife Jamie for 33 years, a teacher at the Newcastle Elementary School, and they also have a daughter, Kellar, who lives in Sheridan and is studying to be a registered nurse. 

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.