Why Lee Rain is more than just another Irrigation Company!
Being that we have been in the irrigation business for over 75 years now, irrigation is still our core and always will be but we have grown to be so much more. I consider myself lucky being that my brother and I have grown up in this business and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to become the third generation family members to own and operate this company that our Grandparents started.
Since we have all these years of history and experience of being around agriculture all of our life’s it is no wonder why the agriculture industry has become a passion for us. At a young age, 13 and 11 we even had our own “neighborhood” landscape irrigation business where we would design, sell and install lawn sprinkler systems. I guess this is where our desire to be diverse started from.
Being involved in the design and sales side of the business I quickly saw that we needed to provide more than just selling good products at a reasonable price while also servicing what we sell. I wanted to really be able to help make difference to our customers operations. This meant that we need to take on more of a “trusted advisor” role. We needed to understand how what we sell actually helps our customers in improve their business.
Once I had this mentality it really changed my outlook of our business. I found myself doing more research on our customers and really discussing with them their pain points. Surprisingly to me, the conversations were very common. We now began taking on more of a role in presenting possible “solutions” to these issues. This also meant that we had to expand our offering.
Lee Rain has somewhat always offered more than just irrigation goods. Things like Sprayers, Fertilizer Injection systems, Transplanters to name a few. But this new concept of “supplying solutions” meant we really needed to expand. I will be explaining these solutions and outcomes over the next communications/blogs and hope they resonate and help others learn the possibilities of what is out there and how that they may help their operations become more efficient and/or profitable.
Lee Rain, Inc. Starts 2018 Strong with Trade Show Presence
Starting the new year strong, Lee Rain will be on the road this January and February, participating in agricultural trade shows and conventions across the Mid-Atlantic region. Having already exhibited at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (January 10-12) and the Long Island Agricultural Forum (January 10-11), you will see Lee Rain at these upcoming shows:
- Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention (Hershey, PA)
- NJ Professional Landscape & Nursery Trade Show (Edison, NJ)
- NJ Agricultural Convention & Trade Show (Atlantic City, NJ)
Those attending these shows should plan to visit the Lee Rain booth to register for Lee Rain’s new online store (www.ShopLeeRain.com) and receive a show-specific coupon code for additional savings on the already discounted pricing.
Lee Rain Releases Drip Irrigation Catalog
Lee Rain released its Drip Irrigation Catalog this week. Products include clamps, drip fittings, fertilizer injection pumps, filters, insert fittings, layflat hose, pressure regulator valves and PVC fittings, making Lee Rain “Your Drip Irrigation Solution.”
Lee Rain is also introducing the NEW! Bio360 Biodegradable & Compostable Mulch Film. Made of Mater-Bi®, Bio360 completely disappears without a trace and without leaving any toxic residues in the soil. It is an environmentally efficient alternative to traditional plastic mulch films. At the end of the season, the Bio360 does not need to be removed—the temperature, humidity, and microorganisms in the ground turn the Bio360 into water and carbon dioxide. The Bio360 has the same properties and benefits as plastic mulch films, but with no negative impacts on the environment and no removal, recycling or landfill costs.
In the Drip Irrigation Catalog, Lee Rain customers will find special pricing that keeps their bottom line in mind. The same pricing can be found at Lee Rain’s new online store, www.ShopLeeRain.com.
Lee Rain Opens Online Store
Lee Rain has launched its very own Online Store, providing yet another resource for our valued customers to conveniently order their irrigation parts and equipment.
When touring the Lee Rain Online Store, you will see products from the brands you know, including but not limited to Wade Rain, Travis/Rainway, Bermad, Amiad, and Rainbird, all available to you by the company you have grown to trust.
The Lee Rain Online Store will be updated regularly—based on our inventory, the time of year, current trends, and of course, customer demand. As an incentive to shop the Lee Rain Online Store, we are offering a discount on orders of $250 or more. Visit our store today.
SPRING EQUIPMENT SALE: Save On Previously Owned Hard Hoses
Check out our Spring Equipment Sale on Previously-Owned Hard Hoses. Inventory includes OCMIS, RAINSTORM, REEL RAIN and more. Save now while the inventory lasts. Financing available. Contact your Lee Rain Representative for more details.
The Fiocchi Family and Lee Rain, Inc. Receive Distinguished Service Award
On
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, the Fiocchi Family was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for their dedication and support of New Jersey’s agriculture and for the contributions of Lee Rain, Inc. to improving the life of Atlantic County residents. This award was presented by Dennis Levinson, County Executive and Jerome Irick, President of the Atlantic County Board of Agriculture at their annual Board meeting.
The Fiocchi Family, with Lee “Butch” Fiocchi, Jr., Lee Fiocchi, III, and Todd
Fiocchi and their families in attendance, was recognized for its long history in
agriculture. Having established Lee Rain, Inc. in 1946, they continue their commitment to service, three generations later, by helping customers achieve their goals and realize a new vision of how our growing world can thrive—now and far into the future.
“Receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Atlantic County Board of Agriculture is truly an honor,” states Lee Fiocchi III, President of Lee Rain. “The Fiocchi Family and Lee Rain, Inc. take great pride in our South Jersey location, being able to provide our customers in the region and beyond with the service and support they need to succeed.”
Lee Rain Congratulates 2017 NJ Agricultural Convention Award Winners
Congratulations to all the award recipients at the New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show Dinner held on Wednesday, February 8th, especially the following Lee Rain customers and associates:
* Tom Pontano and Son Farm, of Vineland, won the Patrick Mullen Quality Grading award.
* Scott Ellis, of Ellis Farms, Mercer County, was one of the Distinguished Service award winners
* Dr. Andrew Wyenandt, Rutgers Cooperative Extension specialist, also received a Distinguished Service award
* Oakcrest Farms, which is owned and operated by the Merlino family in Hammonton, was awarded the Blueberry Grower of the Year
* The Russo family, of Tabernacle, accepted the Vegetable Grower of the Year award, for the late Tony Russo
Click here for pictures from the NJ Department of Agriculture
Lee Rain Hosts Irrigation Optimization Workshop
Uncovering the Advantages of Using Irrigation as a Profit Tool
You’ll learn how:
• Irrigation is the missing link for influencing critical production inputs
• Underutilizing your irrigation as an optimization tool has hidden costs
• Focusing on the real-time needs of your crop impacts the bottom line
• Managing production efficiencies and reducing resource use are essential to long-term growth and economic prosperity
Thursday, February 23, 2017
11:30am – 1:30pm
Grotto Pizza, 22925 Sussex Highway, Seaford, DE 19973
For more information, contact:
Billy Seitzer, Lee Rain Customer Relationship Manager
302-593-9740 | 1-877-533-7878 | billys@leerain.com
Lee Rain Customer Featured in T-L Irrigation View
In the Fall 2016 issue of T-L Irrigation View (page 11), we found an interesting article about one of Lee Rain’s very own customers, Cassaday Farms located in Monroeville, New Jersey.
Titled “Vegetables From A to Z”, the article explains how Cassaday Farms has grown from 70 acres to an enterprise that markets 40 different vegetables—from asparagus to zucchini—on approximately 2,500 acres, thanks in part to T-L Irrigation.
Cassaday Farms is a long-time customer of Lee Rain, going back to the first generation of Fiocchi’s. This strong business relationship was the basis for George Cassaday Jr. choosing to be one of the first of Lee Rain’s customers to take advantage of our AgManagement Strategies, utilizing Plant-Triggered Irrigation.
Regarding the seven T-L center pivots Cassaday Farms had at the time of publication, George Jr. states, “We’ve had very little trouble with T-L units and even if we do have a problem, Lee Rain, which is our dealer in Vineland, New Jersey, has come out right away and taken care of it.” Recently, Lee Rain installed two more T-L center pivots at Cassaday Farms.
Lee Rain Receives Gold Award
T-L Irrigation Company Recognizes Lee Rain, Inc.
for Outstanding Sales Achievement in 2016
Lee Rain, Inc., one of the largest irrigation solutions providers on the East Coast, recently received the Gold Award for 2016 from the T-L Irrigation Company, the exclusive manufacturer of hydrostatically powered, continuous-move center pivot irrigation systems.
Lee Rain has been a T-L Irrigation Company dealer since 1982, when Dave Thom, Co-Owner and Vice President of T-L, convinced Lee Rain to return to the pivot business. After previously working with three other traditional electric center pivot companies that did not meet Lee Rain’s standards for service and value, Lee Rain agreed to find out what made T-L different. Even water distribution, low maintenance costs, and operator safety made the decision easy. Lee Rain has sold only T-L ever since.
“T-L is without a doubt the most precise center pivot on the market,” states Todd Fiocchi, Vice President of Operations at Lee Rain. “Because of its continuous move, instead of the traditional start and stop, it offers the most efficient way of applying water by a center pivot. T-L is truly ‘Like No Other’.”
In recognizing sales performance, T-L’s top performing dealers could reach three award levels: gold, silver or bronze, depending on their achievement throughout the year. Lee Rain is honored to accept the Gold Award for 2016, having proudly achieved numerous Bronze and Silver Awards since 2005.
“This Gold Award is a true reflection of our business philosophy at Lee Rain,” explains Lee Fiocchi, President of Lee Rain. “At Lee Rain, we focus on building relationships with our customers by working with them to determine their needs and offering solutions that allow for long lasting partnerships and create overall value. When a T-L center pivot from Lee Rain is part of the solution, our customers benefit from a reliable experience, all while achieving the best return on their investment.”
Order Early. Bundle More. Save Green.
When it comes to being prepared, early planning can make a good season a great season. The same is true for your budget. The Lee Rain Early Order Drip Bundle Program provides an all-inclusive offering to help you maximize your budget and get a jump start for next year.
Deadline is January 15, 2017.
Ask your Lee Rain Customer Relationship Manager for more information.
Lee Rain Strengthens Resources, Adds Three New Employees
The Irrigation Industry Leader Expands Team at Vineland Headquarters
Lee Rain, one of the largest irrigation solutions providers on the East Coast, is pleased to announce the addition of three new employees as the company strengthens its resources to meet growing customer demand. Joining the Lee Rain team are Nicholas J. Bergamo and Paul Lipscomb, as Customer Relationship Managers; and William Schultz, as Parts Counter Salesman.
Bergamo and Lipscomb join Billy Seizter on Lee Rain’s Customer Relationship Team to assist in advancing the company’s commitment to providing customized solutions for the specialized needs of clients in the agricultural, nursery, greenhouse, turf, and municipal markets.
“Strong customer relationships have always been a cornerstone of our business,” explains Lee Fiocchi, President of Lee Rain. “As we expand our reach in the marketplace, we want to maintain the same levels of responsiveness and personalized attention that our long-time clients have come to depend upon.”
Nicholas Bergamo, Customer Relationship Manager
Nicholas brings to Lee Rain nearly a decade of experience as a Quality Control and Operations Manager in the agricultural industry, having worked at D’Ottavio Produce Inc. and Bergamo Bros. Farms LLC. A graduate of Philadelphia University, he currently lives in Vineland, NJ. “It feels good to be part of a company that is such a respected leader in the irrigation and agronomic industry,” says Bergamo, citing the breadth and depth of expertise of the Lee Rain team as one of the company’s chief assets. “Everyone here is all extremely knowledgeable in their respective fields.”
Paul Lipscomb, Customer Relationship Manager
Paul rounds out Lee Rain’s Customer Relationship Team. Lipscomb credits some of his affinity for serving the irrigation needs of growers to his close ties to his hometown of Hammonton, NJ. Growing up in the “Blueberry Capital of the World” made Lipscomb especially conscious of farmers’ connections to the land and the communities they serve. “I am glad to be in a position to help customers further their knowledge of irrigation and guide them while designing a new project,” he says. In his free time, Lipscomb coaches the Hammonton Hawks Football Team, and Little League Baseball.
William Schultz, Parts Counter Salesman
William joins Lee Rain’s retail division as Parts Counter Salesman at the company’s Vineland headquarters. A resident of Port Norris, NJ, Schultz has 14 years of experience in parts sales and management for the automotive and construction industries. He praises Lee Rain for being a corporation that has retained its family atmosphere and values the importance of strong relationships with its customers.
Schedule Your Winterization Now!
BEAT THE FREEZE!
With cold weather being right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about winter maintenance. Schedule your winterization with Lee Rain by November 15th and you can receive valuable savings on Hard Hose, Center Pivots/Linears, and Underground Pipe Systems! Contact your Customer Relationship Manager today!
USDA-NRCS Application Day
Please join us at our Vineland, NJ location on Thursday, September 15th, and Tuesday, October 4th from 10AM-2PM as we partner with the USDA-NRCS to host an Application Day where farmers can learn about the various financial assistance programs available and complete applications on the spot! Light fare will be provided.
Earth Day 2016 at Lee Rain
Shown here, Co- Owners Lee & Todd Fiocchi, Gina Fiocchi of our social media team, Kathy Fiocchi in Accounts Receivable, Barbara Carrita in Accounts Payable, Mary Ennis in Accounts Receivable, and Amanda Smith, Administrative Assistant.
(April 2016) Earth Day’s Global 2016 Theme was “Trees for the Earth”, a plan to plant 7.8 billion trees (one tree for every person on the planet) by Earth Day 2020, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.
This “Trees for the Earth” initiative will make a significant and measurable impact on the Earth and will serve as the foundation of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for all.Lee Rain Inc. joined the cause by planting a Japanese Pieris tree, provided by L. D’Ottavio Nurseries, at its corporate headquarters in Vineland.
By using Lee Rain’s customized Ag Management Strategies, L. D’Ottavio Nurseries gave back to the community about 100 gallons of water per Japanese Pieris when compared to data from the USDA Census of Agriculture. This is enough water to do about 4 loads of laundry in a newer model washing machine.
If you would like to know more about Lee Rain’s Ag Management Strategies and how we are helping our growers conserve water and give back to their communities, call 877-533-7878.
Lee Rain Welcomes Three New Employees to Its Team
The Irrigation Industry Leader Expands Team at Vineland Headquarters
Lee Rain, the largest supplier of irrigation equipment and solutions on the Eastern Seaboard, is pleased to announce the addition of three new employees to meet the growing demand at their Vineland, NJ headquarters. Joining the Lee Rain team are Mary Ennis, as Accounts Receivable Manager; Frank Charles Lupperger, as Customer Relationship Manager; and Amanda Smith, as Administrative Assistant.
Mary Ennis comes to Lee Rain with 12 years of experience in accounting positions, including serving Vineland Construction as Property Accountant and Comcast as an accounting supervisor. Ennis praises the collaborative team culture at Lee Rain, saying, “It’s great to be working for a company that values their employees and their opinions.” Ennis’ responsibilities as Accounts Receivable Manager will include the processing of sales and service orders and management of collection activities. A graduate of Shepherd University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, she currently lives in Buena, NJ with her husband and two sons.
Frank Charles Lupperger steps into the role of Customer Relationship Manager to maintain and extend the Lee Rain reputation for exceptional client care. His duties include servicing current accounts, building new client relationships, and forging strong, productive partnerships between Lee Rain and growers. Lupperger has a deep appreciation for the needs, concerns, aspirations, and contributions of farmers, both locally and across the country. A resident of Buena, he lives on a 5-acre property where he raises chickens and goats. Lupperger has an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.
Amanda Smith joins Lee Rain as an Administrative Assistant, providing office support and handling a variety of clerical and customer service duties. Smith has 9 years of experience in administrative positions in both the law and medical and worked as a Business Development Specialist at Seabrook House, Inc. prior to joining Lee Rain. She expresses enthusiasm about working with the Lee Rain family, saying, she’s “very grateful to be part of such a wonderful company and an even more wonderful team.” A graduate of Wilmington University, Smith has Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. A lifelong resident of Vineland, Smith’s family has a long history as small business owners in area; her grandparents owned Casey’s Market, a fixture of downtown Vineland, and her father operates United Lawn of Millville.
