Thriving in the America’s Rural Heartland

In the Heartland, rural entrepreneurs don’t simply weather challenges—they rise to meet them. And few stories capture that spirit better than the journey of K & K Dirtworks in Evanston.

The company’s roots stretch back to 2004, when founder Robin Knepper followed her young son’s fascination with heavy equipment and turned it into a fledgling excavating and tree‑services business. What started as a mother supporting her child’s passion soon grew into something larger. By 2008, every member of the Knepper family had stepped in, each bringing their own skills and grit, shaping K & K into a full family enterprise built on perseverance, pride, and commitment to doing things right.

With the steady guidance of Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) business advisor Doug Claybourne, K & K didn’t rush its growth—it built it. Over two decades, the company expanded from a garage‑based operation into a multi‑division business providing a full range of land and construction services across the region. Then, in 2014, they took another thoughtful leap forward. They launched Evanston Valley Enterprise, a commercial composting facility that transforms wood chips and other organic byproducts from their tree division into humus compost, amended topsoil, and fill dirt. It was an innovation that not only advanced their business but also strengthened agricultural, landscaping, and commercial operations throughout the area.

But the heart of K & K has never been measured only in business milestones. It has always shown up in how the family serves others. Even in the company’s early days—before stability, before security—they stepped away from daily operations to help with Hurricane Katrina cleanup. Robin and her son Matt continue that legacy today as active members of the Lutheran Early Response Team, supporting communities recovering from natural disasters. The family’s involvement extends into their churches, local government, and charitable causes—even their competitive streak has purpose. Matt and Dan’s victories in the Tell City Schweizerfest pie‑eating contest have helped raise hundreds of dollars for the United Way.

K & K Dirtworks embodies the very best of America’s rural communities — resilience, innovation, generosity, and a steadfast commitment to lifting others up. That spirit carried them to the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards, where they first earned a state-level win in a new category, then went on to be named the SBA Great Lakes Rural Small Business of the Year — recognized as the top rural small business across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

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