Whirlygig has a rich history rooted in innovation and family entrepreneurship. Established by Vern and Hanni Hinkle in the mid-1990’s, the company made its first sale in 1998 and was officially incorporated in 2004.
Vern and Hanni’s personal and then professional partnership began when they met at Caterpillar Equipment Company in Geneva, Switzerland. A career with Caterpillar took them to the Middle East, the US West coast and eventually to Caldwell, Idaho.
After Caterpillar, they founded Idaho Sand & Gravel in 1972. Through hard work and determination, they built the company into a successful sand and gravel and asphalt paving business, which they later sold in 1988.
Following the sale of Idaho Sand & Gravel, Vern attempted retirement. However, it proved to be less personally fulfilling than expected and Vern realized that his true passion lay in entrepreneurial ventures.
This realization led to the inception of the Whirlygig Riser/Collar system. The genesis of the concept behind Whirlygig started with a poorly installed manhole on Vern’s way to town and his irritation led to investigating why it was such a challenge to install a manhole that is flush with the adjacent road surface.
In the early years the concept underwent numerous iterations, with extensive prototyping and field testing. Tim Tyler of Professional Construction Services (Nampa, ID) played a key role in supporting the development process. Early adopters who recognized the ingenuity of the new system were also instrumental in building the momentum that Whirlygig enjoys to this day.
After Vern’s passing in 2003 Hanni and Terry Hinkle carried the torch continuing to build on the company’s core value of customer service, establishing relationships that remain strong to this day. Their hard work, dedication and perseverance cannot be underestimated.
In 2024, Derek and Brenda Hinkle took on management of Whirlygig, carrying forward the values and commitment established by Vern, Hanni and Terry. Like their predecessors, Derek and Brenda are deeply committed to serving customers and building on the company’s legacy of providing the industry’s best-in-class Riser/Collar solution.
Sincerely,
Derek and Brenda Hinkle