Built From the Ground Up. Still a Family Business at Heart.
What started with one tractor, a beat-up brush hog and a rototiller has grown into a West Michigan excavation and land services company built around family, friendship and pride in the work.
It Started With a Tractor. Not a Grand Plan.
Ten years ago, Ryan Groat couldn't have imagined everything R&H Tractor Services would become.
The business started with a tractor, a beat-up brush hog and a TSC rototiller. There wasn't a fleet of equipment, a large crew or a detailed plan for expansion. Ryan simply got to work.
That original tractor helped shape countless driveways and lawns. Over time, it also helped shape Ryan's life and the direction of the company.
As the years passed, R&H added equipment, expanded its capabilities, launched new businesses, moved to a new location and grew a dedicated team.
Today, the company tackles everything from land clearing and driveway construction to major excavation, septic systems, retaining walls and challenging site preparation projects.
Same Work Ethic. Much Bigger Equipment.
R&H has grown well beyond the small tractor jobs that started it all. The projects are bigger, the equipment is more capable and the crew has expanded. But the company is still built around the people doing the work.
From brush hogging and driveways to clearing large trees, excavating foundations and preparing complete construction sites, the work has evolved without losing sight of where it all began.
Meet Ryan Groat.
Founder • R&H Tractor ServicesFor Ryan, growing R&H has never been just about owning more equipment or taking on larger projects.
It's about the people who have become part of the company, the work they've accomplished together and the opportunity to keep building something meaningful.
As the business has grown, so has the crew, the range of services and the ability to take on demanding excavation and land improvement projects throughout West Michigan.
Ryan has spoken openly about his gratitude for the path God has laid out for him — a path he couldn't have imagined when he first climbed onto that tractor.
My hope is that one day, I won’t just be working alongside men I consider my best friends, but alongside my kids, too.— Ryan Groat
Building a Business. Thinking About the Next Generation.
R&H is a family business in more ways than one.
Ryan and Holly's family is an important part of the story behind the company. As Ryan looks toward the next decade, one of the things that excites him most is the possibility of someday working alongside his own children.
Seeing Bradley in the seat of the original tractor brought that hope into focus. The machine that helped launch R&H might one day help introduce another generation to the work.
Nobody knows exactly what the next ten years will bring. But the idea of building something that can be shared with family makes the future worth working toward.
Good Equipment Matters. Good People Matter More.
Over the years, R&H has grown from a one-tractor operation into a business with a dedicated crew and equipment capable of handling more complex projects.
Ryan describes the men he works alongside as some of his best friends. That says a lot about the kind of company he wants R&H to be.
The crew works on everything from residential property improvements to demanding excavation, clearing, drainage and shoreline projects.
People First
A growing team built around working relationships, trust and shared effort.
Respect for the Work
Understanding each property's challenges and approaching the work with care.
Built to Do More
Investing in equipment and capabilities that allow the crew to take on larger jobs.
Always Growing
Looking ahead to new opportunities without forgetting how it all began.
From a Small Tractor Job to Complete Sitework.
R&H Tractor Services helps homeowners, property owners and builders improve, prepare and transform land throughout Hastings and surrounding West Michigan.
Excavation & Site Preparation
Foundation excavation, building pads and complete new construction sitework.
Explore ServiceLand & Lot Clearing
Clearing wooded and overgrown properties for construction and improvements.
Explore ServiceGravel Driveways
New driveway installation, access roads and gravel surface improvements.
Explore ServiceSeptic Systems
Septic installation and related excavation for properties and new builds.
Explore ServiceBoulder Retaining Walls
Natural stone retaining walls and lakefront shoreline projects.
Explore ServiceDemolition & Site Cleanup
Structure removal, debris clearing and preparing sites for what's next.
Explore ServiceHastings Is Home.
R&H Tractor Services is based in Hastings, Michigan. The business has grown over the years, but its roots remain here in West Michigan.
Our work takes us to residential properties, wooded lots, construction sites, lakefront homes and rural properties throughout the region.
From Hastings and Middleville to Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and surrounding communities, we're always interested in hearing about the next project.
The First Ten Years Were Just the Beginning.
From that original tractor to the equipment and team we have today, R&H has come a long way. There's plenty more work to do, more people to meet and more opportunities ahead.
Whatever the next chapter looks like, we're grateful for the people who have helped us get here — our family, our crew and the customers who've trusted us with their properties.