Success Story: Legacy Irrigation

Dustin Frost has been part of the Wyoming SBDC Network partner circle for many years as the director of the Big Sky Veteran’s Outreach Center but he has recently made the jump from business resource network partner to a Wyoming SBDC Network client with his newest venture, Legacy Irrigation and Construction Supply. Frost and his partner Kevin Beagle purchased Legacy Irrigation of Sheridan, WY in early 2023.

Frost and Beagle are natural business partners. They both come from a background of military service and small business experience. In addition to these similarities, they share a common goal of doing good for their communities and country as well as a strong desire to guide and serve other Veterans and their spouses as they navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

When Frost and Beagle decided they wanted to go into business together, they determined that the path to entrepreneurship that fit their lives the best was to purchase an existing business rather than try to launch a startup on their own. “Before purchasing Legacy Irrigation, we were helping veterans transition, we were helping veterans start small businesses and we both decided that we definitely had that bug of entrepreneurship that was still alive and kicking within us so we decided to partner up and see if we could come together and find a business to purchase,” said Beagle.

Being a part of the greater Wyoming Business resource network before purchasing their business gave Frost and Beagle strong connections throughout the state and the knowledge base required to help them achieve great things with their business at very early stages. For example, when they found themselves in a position where they needed financing assistance, Frost knew he could call on Wyoming SBDC Network Regional Director, P.J. Burns for advice rather than struggle through the problem on his own.

“P.J. Burns has been an excellent connection for our company. She is always readily available to answer questions and help us look for solutions. In fact, I called her on a late Friday afternoon while driving and she immediately took my call at the end of a long week. That call with P.J. resulted in our company approaching a financing need from a completely different vantage point, ultimately leading to our company receiving a line of credit that helps set us up for success.” said Frost.

In addition to connecting with their regional advisor for assistance, Frost and Beagle worked with the Wyoming APEX Accelerator team to obtain their SAM registration and get their Service Disabled Veteran Certification from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Frost and Beagle also worked with the Wyoming APEX Accelerator team to achieve their first government contract, “As a new APEX Accelerator Procurement Advisor, Legacy Irrigation was the first client I witnessed obtain their first-ever government contract. Their enthusiasm and excitement about this success were contagious and motivated me to want to help all of our clients obtain their first government contracts,” said Sarah Mikesell Growney, procurement advisor for the Wyoming APEX Accelerator.

When Frost and Beagle re-launched Legacy Irrigation, P.J. Burns and Sarah Mikesell Growney were in attendance to support their hard work and celebrate, “Dustin invited me to their ribbon cutting in August of 2023. It was a wonderful celebration of all of the hard work of purchasing this portion of their business and keeping the employees that were already employed there,” said Burns.

Learn more about Legacy Irrigation on the Wyoming SBDC Network Podcast and on their website: LegacyIrr.com