For Ross and Kala Moore, the journey to creating Red River Outdoor Living began with a simple lawn mowing service when Ross was just 13 years old. Little did they know that this humble venture would grow into a thriving, multi-faceted landscaping business that serves the Paris, Texas, area and beyond.
Founded officially in 1997, Red River Outdoor Living has evolved over the years, constantly adapting to meet the changing needs of its clients and the challenges posed by the environment. When a severe drought hit the area in the late 1990s, Ross and Kala realized the importance of diversifying their services. They began offering irrigation solutions, which proved to be a game-changer during the dry spell.
Expanding expertise and landscaping services
This initial success fueled their passion for expanding their landscaping expertise. The couple attended trade shows and certification courses, learning about the latest industry trends. As a result, Red River Outdoor Living now offers a wide range of landscaping services, including hardscaping, patio construction, fire pits, pergolas, fencing, artificial turf and, most recently, pool installations.
The decision to venture into pool construction in 2019 was pivotal for the company. “We had been beautifying backyards for years, but constructing pools was a new challenge,” Ross explained. “A longtime customer insisted we could handle it, and we didn’t realize then that this step would prove crucial when the COVID-19 lockdown led people to invest in upgrading their backyards.”
Empowering employees for growth
At the heart of Red River Outdoor Living’s success lies a deep commitment to empowering its employees. Ross and Kala understand that their company’s growth is directly tied to the development and well-being of their team. “People are the roots of your business,” Ross emphasized. “Hire the right people, create the conditions to nurture them, and growth will follow.”
To create an environment where their employees can thrive, Ross and Kala focus on three key aspects: space, operations and message. They strive to create a workspace that their team can be proud of, with a clean and organized shop that allows people to feel confident, start quickly, and operate professionally. Posting their core values and key messages fosters a common language and a healthy culture within the company.
Choosing the right Vermeer equipment for landscaping
As Red River Outdoor Living tackled increasingly complex landscaping projects, such as the $2 million design-build project for Texas A&M’s satellite campus in Commerce, Texas, it recognized the need for specialized landscaping equipment. This led it to invest in the Vermeer ATX850 compact articulated loader and the Vermeer CTX100 mini skid steer.
Initially, the company had been using mini skid steers from another brand but faced challenges with their performance and durability. “Honestly, we weren’t getting the anticipated hours and performance out of them. We had a tough time keeping them operational,” Ross explained.
After renting Vermeer mini skid steers for a specific project, the crew was impressed with the machines’ capabilities. They also noticed that Vermeer offered compact articulated loaders that resembled their larger loaders, which they thought would be helpful in tight spaces where larger units wouldn’t fit. “So, we decided to buy a Vermeer ATX530,” Ross said.
Despite its smaller size, the ATX530 model was handy in tight spaces. However, after testing the larger ATX850 model, the crew found it to better suit their needs and decided that model would best support their operations.
“We use the Vermeer ATX for many different tasks,” Ross said. “For example, when setting small boulders, we can extend the boom out and place them down in the beds or even boom them across sidewalks to the beds between the sidewalk and the house. It also comes in handy for loading stuff over a taller trailer or truck.”
Ross mentioned that forks and buckets are the primary attachments used on their Vermeer ATX. This is because they often need to move pallets of mulch or cut stone for sidewalk edging, and a lot of bucket work is involved in moving river rock and planting mix. Occasionally, they use a grapple to take out shrubs, which has proven to be another effective use for the machine.
The versatility of Vermeer equipment
The Vermeer ATX850 has proven to be a valuable asset for the Red River Outdoor Living team, particularly when working on established turf they want to preserve. “The articulated loader is a great fit for working on established turf you don’t want to damage,” Ross said. “We use it for landscape remodeling jobs, especially in older homes with well-established lawns. The wide turf tires on the articulated loader make it easy to move across finished lawns without tearing up the turf or needing to put down mats.”
In contrast, the Vermeer CTX100 mini skid steer is the preferred choice for sites without finished turf or when trenching is required. The two machines complement each other well on projects, with the mini skid steer handling excavation work and the ATX transporting material over longer distances.
It’s common for Red River Outdoor Living to move large volumes of material during operations on a college campus. Typically, the material is dumped on the street, then relocated between buildings, through a gate, and down a 150-yd (137-m) stretch of sidewalk all the way to a courtyard. This operation may involve several truckloads of material and can be rather time-consuming.
“Previously, we used skid steers for these tasks, but they were slow and gave a rough ride. The ATX, however, with its two-speed feature, has made things faster and smoother. The ATX850 can move about four times as fast as a skid steer,” Ross said.
Building on this, the Vermeer ATX850 and Vermeer CTX100 mini skid steer has been particularly transformative when working around installed pools, where access is usually limited.
“In such tight quarters, we often have the two machines working together,” Moore shared. “We often use the mini skid to pile up the material, and then the ATX scoops it up and transports it several hundred yards (meters) to the truck.”
Impressed with the Vermeer mini skid steer, Moore said, “The controls, the feel of the hydraulics and the one-handed control for operating the machine and handling the bucket are impressive. We thought the operator platform was pretty convenient, and the access for maintenance was well thought out.”
Strong partnerships for success
The company’s relationship with Vermeer Texas-Louisiana has been integral to their success with the new equipment. “My experience with Vermeer Texas-Louisiana has been solid,” Ross shared. “I’ve had good dealings with Jason Brannan, our sales representative, and a service manager, Craig Morgan — they’re the main folks I’ve been in contact with. The nearest location is a few hours away, but that has not been an issue because they come to me when I need help.”
Looking ahead
As Red River Outdoor Living looks to the future, they are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. With a substantial contract to provide full care for a college campus spanning around 285 ac (115 ha), the company is poised for significant expansion.
Throughout their journey, Ross and Kala Moore have remained committed to empowering their employees and providing them with the tools and landscaping equipment they need to succeed. By fostering a culture of growth, innovation and excellence, Red River Outdoor Living has become a shining example of what can be achieved when a landscaping company in Paris, Texas puts its people first and invests in quality equipment like the Vermeer ATX850 and Vermeer CTX100.
This article contains third-party observations, advice or experiences that do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Vermeer Corporation, its affiliates or its dealers. Testimonials and/or endorsements by contractors in specific circumstances may not be representative of normal circumstances experienced by all customers.
Vermeer Corporation and MultiOne SRL reserve the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Mini skid steer attachments available from Vermeer dealers may be manufactured by Vermeer Corporation or other attachment manufacturers. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications and attachments.
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