Sam Yoder & Son celebrates 50 years in business
In 1975, when trusses on local chicken houses began collapsing, Sam Yoder decided to build a stronger version. Fifty years later, the company that grew from that decision marked its anniversary celebration with former employees, customers, elected officials and community partners.
General Manager Lamar Yoder told the crowd how that turning point shaped the business. “The commitment to quality trusses, operating with godly principles, and investing in people and community has remained a constant goal,” he said.
The milestone is significant for a company that has weathered dramatic shifts in both the economy and the building industry. During the Great Recession of 2007-09, sales dropped sharply and the company was at risk of disappearing. In 2010, brothers Jamin and Christian Hudson purchased the business, choosing to keep the name Sam Yoder & Son, and the employees who built its reputation.
“Sam Yoder & Son has been part of the fabric of western Sussex County for 50 years,” said Jamin Hudson, co-owner. “We’ve invested in our people and in modern manufacturing so that this company can continue providing opportunity for local families.”
Sen. David Wilson, R-Lincoln, and Rep. Richard Collins, R-Millsboro, congratulated company leaders and team members for their 50 years of resilience, innovation and community impact. Together, they presented a proclamation from both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly.
The proclamation praised Sam Yoder & Son for “improving the quality of trusses in poultry houses and beyond, earning a reputation for strength and reliability, supporting the community through service and philanthropy, and modernizing operations with cutting-edge technology while maintaining a family-like workplace.”
Reading from the tribute, Collins added, “We commend Sam Yoder & Son for 50 years of success, and for its commitment to doing what is right, even when it is not easy.”
What began with wooden trusses reinforced by hand has grown into a modern manufacturing operation. Over the decades, the company expanded to include floor trusses, other engineered wood products, and crane services enhanced by precision technology, while continuing to employ generations of local families.
Today, Sam Yoder & Son employs about 70 people, some with more than 40 years of service, and serves farms, schools, homes and businesses across Delaware, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Virginia, southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Lamar Yoder noted that hundreds of families have relied on the company for steady work over the past five decades. Former employees, customers and members of the community joined the celebration to honor that legacy at the company’s facility in Staytonville.
