Our Story

Phil was born and raised in southwestern Missouri on his family’s farm and helping in his dad’s construction business. After relocating to Illinois, Phil worked many years managing the operations and maintenance departments for a large trucking company. He built his first portable building in 1998 and continues to enjoy the challenge by striving to manufacture the highest quality portable buildings on the market. Phil has been married for over 20 years and has been blessed with eight children and three grandchildren. A family man, he thoroughly enjoys working with several of his children and many wonderful co-laborers. “At Countryside Barns, we have been blessed with quality employees and feel like one big family. I love to eat, so employee lunches are also a favorite of mine.” Most important to Phil is his Faith in God and then his church and family. He loves to serve people and witnessing the joy in a happy, elated customer. Honesty, integrity and strong work ethic are core values in the way he wants to do business. It is important to him to try to pass these values on to his children. Phil also enjoys spending time as a family, camping, family vacations, volunteering at his children’s private school and being a purple martin landlord.

Lyndon joined Countryside Barns shortly after its inception. He works in the shop framing buildings and also helps with roofing and painting. Lyndon, a lifelong Illinois resident, has spent his career doing what he loves – working with wood. When he’s not working, Lyndon enjoys songwriting, flying model airplanes, and stargazing. His passions include singing and serving the Lord in his life, as well as being of service to others with the help of the Lord. Lyndon is thankful for what Jesus Christ has done on the cross and strives to live his life fully for Him. His favorite foods include Indian Curry, BBQ meat, pizza, ice cream, and coffee. At Countryside Barns, Lyndon enjoys working with teammates who share his love for and service to the Lord. While he enjoys all the projects, his favorites include making peg boards for Braker’s Market, working on Lucas Young on-sites, and acquiring items from Walmart for Braker’s Market. His favorite Countryside Barns product is the Lean-to Side Porch Cabin.

Daniel spends a majority of his time in the office making sure we are fully stocked with all the necessary materials to build each individual shed. He has also been able to spend time delivering buildings locally which helps out tremendously! He still oversees the rental equipment division of Countryside Barns. Being the oldest of 6 boys, Daniel has always had a younger brother tagging along trying to learn from him. He finds a lot of enjoyment in spending time with his church friends, family, taking vacations, canoeing, playing the piano, and singing. He is grateful for his wife Erin and daughter Aylin, who bring him immense joy. His favorite building from Countryside Barns is hands down the Lofted Side Porch Cabin.

We stay well stocked with quality trusses and doors that Wayne spends his time building. He is a hands-on worker – preferring practical work over office settings. When he isn’t building trusses or roofs, you can likely find him installing the flooring in the fully finished cabins. Eureka, IL, has always been home to Wayne and he has a work background in flooring installation, construction, and concrete. He is grateful for his wife Mary and their three children, Robert, Stephen, and Susanna, as well as their seven grandchildren. When he’s not working, Wayne enjoys gardening, particularly tending to perennials, and reading when he can find spare time. He also enjoys sharing a cup of coffee with his wife. His passions revolve around his church, fellowshipping with others, singing, and appreciating good music. Wayne strives to be a better person, treating everyone with kindness and respect. His favorite foods are ribeye steak and pizza. At Countryside Barns, Wayne cherishes the opportunity to be around people and is thankful for his part-time job. His favorite Countryside Barns products are rafters and 3′ doors.

Ernie, our skilled head delivery professional, brings a wealth of experience in delivering thousands of portable sheds and cabins. His expertise extends to mechanics and customizing our equipment, making him an invaluable asset to the team. Ernie’s journey in construction began while working for his father, setting him on a path of growth and learning. For Ernie, his relationship with the Lord holds utmost importance, as faith, family, and friends are integral to his life. He strives to reflect the love and mercy that God has shown him in all aspects of his life. Happily married to Miriam, he finds joy in various hobbies such as beekeeping, gardening, and savoring delicious dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, roast beef, peaches, and most of all, a bowl of homemade ice cream. Ernie is grateful for the incredible people he works with at Countryside Barns, who make each day enjoyable. One of his memorable projects was working on Ron’s chicken coops. He also takes great delight in witnessing the completion of finished out cabins.

Jacob was born in Peoria and has had one employer thus far: Countryside Barns. He loves working here because he works with family and a “great team of co-workers.” With a passion for hunting, fishing, and renovating, Jacob brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to his work. Family and church hold great importance in Jacob’s life, shaping his values and guiding his decisions. Jacob has been known to enjoy a big steak or some good Mexican food. His favorite project has been working on a custom finished-out falcon shed. Among the exceptional products at Countryside Barns, Jacob’s top picks are the Lofted Side Porch Cabin and Alpine Pavilion.

Born in Detroit, Eugene spent the majority of his childhood in Canada. Before coming to Countryside Barns, Eugene proved himself to be a master of many trades, including building forklifts, operating a press at a stamping plant, mixing chemicals, working as a plastic welder, and rebuilding wrecked semis. In 1988, Eugene married his Hungarian-born wife. They have been blessed with five children. Eugene loves to take an occasional fishing trip when he’s not at home grilling or barbecuing. The things most important to Eugene are his family, his church, and his siblings. He is committed to serving God and to doing the right thing at all times, as well as teaching his children the difference between right and wrong. He’s a man of conviction. Eugene loves the work environment at Countryside Barns and the lack of stress or tension. He enjoys the fact that he gets to do a variety of jobs and there’s not a single project that he hasn’t enjoyed working on.

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Jesse has lived in the Midwest for most of his life. He enjoys the variety of seasons and the friendliness of Midwest residents. Before joining Countryside Barns, Jesse worked in hog farming, automobile bodywork, and was employed by a large modular home builder for several years. At Countryside Barns, you’ll likely find Jesse arriving to work early in the morning and finishing his day by mid-afternoon. He spends most of his time in the shop painting buildings. Jesse enjoys the single life, and when he’s not enjoying his work at Countryside Barns, you’ll find him keeping busy with horticulture. Jesse loves working at Countryside Barns and is a valued member of the team.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Jessica moved to several different cities as a child but has happily called the Eureka area home for over 15 years. Her professional background before coming to Countryside Barns was in childcare, cleaning services, and working at a bulk food store.

Jessica’s faith, family, and friends are the most important things in her life. In addition to her passion for family time, she enjoys traveling with friends and re-decorating. She loves Italian cuisine, enjoying most any type of pasta, as well as her favorite: sweet-pizza. Mac n’ Cheese and various soups are also dishes she enjoys.

Jessica loves coming to work every day at Countryside Barns, and any project that makes a customer happy is her favorite.

Although born in California, Reuben has spent most of his life in Illinois. Prior to joining Countryside Barns, he worked at Rick Wiegand’s hog farm. Hunting and fishing are among Reuben’s cherished hobbies, with a special passion for hunting. Family holds great importance to him. Reuben finds enjoyment in savoring the flavors of burgers, pizza, and steak. At Countryside Barns, Reuben is grateful for his coworkers who help make the atmosphere an enjoyable place. Among the many projects he has worked on, Brian Oestrich’s cabin stands out in his mind. His favorite product at Countryside Barns is the finished cabins.

After working at Rick Wiegand’s hog farm, Joshua came to Countryside Barns to work in the shop. Joshua finds joy in various hobbies, including camping, hunting, and fishing. However, his true passion lies in hunting. Family has a significant place in his life, influencing the development of his values and shaping his priorities. When it comes to food, he enjoys burgers, pizza, and eggs. At Countryside Barns, Joshua enjoys the wonderful group of coworkers he interacts with. One of his favorite projects was working on Brian Oestrich’s cabin. The front porch cabins are Joshua’s preferred product at Countryside Barns.

Coming to Countryside Barns with a background of serving and groundskeeping, Kaleb has taken a change of pace in his career. Outside of work, he enjoys biking and hiking as hobbies. He places great value on his family and considers them to be of utmost importance in his life. Kaleb takes pleasure in savoring the flavors of pizza and chicken. The freedom that comes with the job and finishing out cabins are Kaleb’s favorite aspects of working at Countryside Barns. He greatly enjoyed working on Brian Oestreich’s cabin.

Since previously working at Blunier Builders, Austin has come to Countryside Barns with construction knowledge. As a twin, he shares a special bond with his sibling. Austin’s hobbies revolve around anything hands-on and construction-related, allowing him to express his passion for building. He also enjoys traveling and engaging in conversations with others. Austin finds immense value in the presence of his church community, cherished family, and close friends, as they all hold great significance in his life. He thoroughly enjoys the delicious tastes of steak and pizza. At Countryside Barns, Austin’s favorite aspect is the people and the positive work environment they create. One of his standout projects involved delivering Brian Oestrich’s cabin alongside Phil, Ernie, and Caleb. Among the wide array of products offered by Countryside Barns, Austin’s favorite is their beautifully finished out cabins.

Having worked at Vermeer Midwest for 30 years, Amy has a strong background in accounting. Outside of work, Amy enjoys traveling and shopping as her hobbies. The pillars of her life revolve around her faith, church community, cherished family, and dear friends, all of which hold profound significance to her. When it comes to food, Amy prefers Italian cuisine. At Countryside Barns, Amy particularly loves the atmosphere and her coworkers. While she doesn’t have a specific favorite project, she enjoys organizing the books. Her favorite Countryside Barns product is the Poly Furniture.