Our Story

Where Quality Matters

Countryside Barns is a family owned and operated business that serves the Midwest region from our headquarters in Illinois. Since 2009, we’ve been cementing our reputation as the regional leader when it comes to portable and customizable shed design. Our family of shed builders is committed to delivering the best service and best products to our customers. By consistently being “as good as our word,” we have been able to maintain the trust of our customers while expanding our business to include more products and an ever-widening service area.

 

Our pledge to you

We endeavor to always be kind and fair and to treat every customer with integrity.

Our purpose

at Countryside Barns is to be a reflection of the hand of God with high quality and utmost integrity in all of our work. We strive to be a light of Christ by being humble, fair and honest in our interactions each day. Being a good steward of His resources is part of our purpose.

The vision

we have at Countryside Barns is to help all that come to us by being the most trusted portable building manufacturer in the market. We are striving to accomplish this by always looking for ways to improve our quality and efficiency with new, green, efficient building materials so we can have the most well-constructed, well designed structures available.

Countryside Barns’ mission

is to treat everyone with respect, helping customers make the best choice for their individual needs, and always treating others with fairness and honesty. By treating others the way we wish to be treated and “being as good as our word”, our goal is to exceed the expectations of every customer.

We believe

that God has called us to serve. It is our sincere desire to do this each day with joy and gratitude in our hearts.

Our goal: A better customer experience

At Countryside Barns, we remain refreshingly old-fashioned when it comes to our values: honesty, integrity, and trust. Whether you live down the road from us or across the state, we will provide you with a superior level of customer care and treat you just as we would hope to be treated. Our receptionists, customer service, sales, designers, shed builders, and delivery personnel bring experience to every interaction. More than that, our business is one big family of caring, hardworking professionals who enjoy great satisfaction in surpassing our customers’ expectations.

Why we are different

When you choose Countryside Barns for your custom portable shed, you can count on us to oversee the entire process, which includes design, delivery, manufacturing, and installation. We are devoted to providing quality checks every step of the way. Our level of outstanding craftsmanship is unsurpassed because we build every shed just as we would build it for ourselves. We wouldn’t dream of cutting corners. We wouldn’t know how to leave our customers with an inferior product.

Our Team

Phil Braker

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 Christner

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 Braker

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.

Wayne Getz

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.

Chris Christner

Chris is a well-rounded Countryside Barns employee with experience in all parts of the building and delivering process. He previously spent most of his time in the truck – delivering many portable buildings to their new homes. Since Chris has gotten married to Christina and now has a little boy Silas, he spends most of his time in the shop doing construction. Construction and woodworking is what Chris has spent most of his life doing. In his spare time, he enjoys coffee roasting. Chris’s passions revolve around providing for his family and living for the Lord, honoring Him in all aspects of life, including work. Church, family, and friends hold great importance to Chris. When it comes to food, he enjoys steak, lettuce, spinach salads, and coffee. At Countryside Barns, Chris particularly loves the Christian atmosphere and finds joy in roofing, framing, and working on finished out cabins and office buildings. While he doesn’t have a specific favorite project, the Kauffman cabin stands out in his mind. The Countryside Barns product he loves most is the Side Porch Cabins.

Ernie Christner

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.

Levon Hostetler

Marc Helmuth

Jacob Braker

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.

Eugene Krizan

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.

Jesse Krizan

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.

Jessica Rocke

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.

Reuben Carr

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.

Joshua Vierling

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.

Tyler Hillman

A resident of Eureka, IL, Tyler’s previous work experience was at Braker’s Market and the Secor Fire Department. When not working, Tyler enjoys taking classes as a hobby. His true passion lies in firefighting and EMS. Family holds great importance in Tyler’s life. His favorite foods include burgers and steak. At Countryside Barns, Tyler greatly appreciates his coworkers. One of his favorite projects was working on finished cabins. Of all the Countryside Barns’ products, Tyler likes the 5’ glider best.

Kaleb Williams

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.

Austin Kupferschmid

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.

Amy Kupferschmid

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.

Countryside Barns will deliver personalized service and high-quality workmanship to every job. We invite you to get to know our team of experienced designers and builders. We look forward to helping you design your portable shed, cabin, garage, chicken coop, or other portable structure. Contact us to get started.