Outlaw Manufacturing
Owner: Eli Long
Location: Ozark, Mo.
Business History: Eli Long, owner of Outlaw Mfg., in Ozark, Mo., in Christian County, has always had a lifelong love of welding. “I grew up on a farm,” he said. “Welding was easy for me; I had a knack for it.” Eli welded all through school, making small products to sell to MFA stores all around Missouri. “I’ve worked all over the agricultural scene,” he said. After school, Eli landed a job working for a company in Springfield, Mo. He made invaluable connections and resources and in June of 2011, Eli started his own business, Outlaw Mfg.
Products and Services: Outlaw Mfg., creates and carries a wide range of products: they make trailers and have a full line of trailer parts (plus installation for all trailer parts sold). Tornado shelters are another product, and the company has a line of roping dummies. Eli has a crew of six men and a portable trailer – they offer a corral building service, as well as, fence repair on old fences that need fixing up. Eli and his crew do a bit of construction work on things such as barns and sheds. Everyone on the crew is a good hand and knows how to operate a torch. Back at the shop, Eli also does custom welding jobs and repairs.
Future Plans: Eli plans to continue growing his business, and to create a lot of distinct new products that “have a lot faster turnaround time,” while quickly generating more capitol, with fewer hours involved in creating the product.
Story and Photo by Klaire Bruce
