About Us

With over 45 employees, Braun Electric, Inc.—Total Farm Systems is the second largest employer in St. Nazianz—and still growing.

Though the family-owned company began in 1964 as a residential electrical contractor, it has since expanded its operations to include not only electrical service but all aspects of farm service as well. Among its customers are farms that vary in size and milk between 40 and 1,000 cows or more. No matter what size, however, Braun Electric, Inc.—Total Farm Systems can take care of all aspects of a farm’s business.

Besides barn equipment, ventilation and sprinkler systems, their turn-key installations include manure systems, feeding systems, and nutrient management systems. Having their own concrete crew and excavation equipment, they can handle the entire job from start to finish without hiring sub-contractors. The concrete crew can do any flat work as well as pour small walls. And besides doing more common excavating jobs, the 60’ excavator can also clean manure pits and dig or clean ponds.

When a farm project is undertaken, one of four salesmen go right to the site to answer questions and give advice on what design would work best for that farm’s operation. But even after the contract is signed, the salesman is there during construction to oversee the work, making sure that the project ends up exactly according to plan.

This year, customers can take advantage of rebates through Focus on Energy and W. E. Energies. One program involves one large fan up to 24’ in diameter manufactured by Big Ass Fans, which circulates as much air as 16 barn fans measuring 48” each. These are great energy savers and will pay for themselves. Call Braun Electric, Inc.—Total Farm Systems for more information.

Employee R. C. Ludke, hailed the “manure guru” in Manure Manager Magazine, designed and installed the manure systems for Lake Breeze Dairy, Cottonwood Dairy and the new sand lane system at Soaring Eagle Dairy to name a few. Because each farm comes with its own set of needs, R. C. is on hand to design systems individual to each customer, systems that include separators, manure pumps, and the JOZ alley scrapers. This new log chain style alley scraper is capable of cleaning a 400’ alley with one blade and withstands sand bedding. Many farmers are looking at the cost effectiveness of switching to sand bedding, which Braun Electric Inc. has been influential in developing.

They also have a couple of new tricks up their sleeves – a portable manure separator mounted trailer system that can be driven to sites for demonstrations or temporary separation if a stationary separator needs to be repaired. Also, a new truck mounted manure pump with a 57’ boom to pump out slurry stores with maximum agitation capabilities.

A new and exciting product that Braun Electric Inc has been instrumental in bringing to dairy farmers nationwide has been the addition of an organic polymer to their separation units. This allows the separators to function at a much higher standard, separating the manure solids from liquids clean enough to go back into the dairy farms’ water supply.

Braun Electric Inc.—Total Farm Systems does custom manure hauling but accommodates farmers who want to do it themselves, too. They have rental equipment and also sell new and used spreaders and tankers, pumps and agitators.

And when repairs are involved, the cows can’t wait for business hours, so the company is available night and day, seven days a week. At the service counter, Braun Electric, Inc.—Total Farm Systems sells parts for the farmer who prefers to do his own repairs including plumbing, electrical, feeding, milking or manure system repairs.

At the same time, the company continues its residential, farm and commercial electrical projects. Recently, they worked as the electrical contractors for the new Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Kiel and are currently involved in a large expansion project at Heritage Aluminum and Brass Foundry. They are W.P.S. and W.E. Energies certified for farm rewiring programs.

Over the 40 years since the company has been operating, it has built up an impressive list of achievements and awards. Not content to merely maintain the services they offer, however, Braun Electric, Inc.—Total Farm Systems plans to further expand, helping farms in any way they can. The motto “All you have to do is ask” seems a very fitting slogan for this progressive company.