Built Oklahoma strong

What started as a simple cedar-cutting attachment turned into a global Oklahoma-based company.

When Patrick Dougherty built his first piece of equipment more than 20 years ago, he wasn’t thinking about starting a company. He just wanted to help his grandfather.

“My grandfather was a doctor and a hobby farmer,” Dougherty said. “He had a cedar tree problem, and he asked if I could build something for his tractor to take care of it.”

That small request set Dougherty on a path that would eventually lead to the creation of Dougherty Forestry Manufacturing, better known today as DFM. What started as a simple cedar-cutting attachment turned into a growing Oklahoma company that designs and builds innovative vegetation management equipment used around the world.

“I was just a 24-year-old kid with no money, but there were a lot of people in this state who helped me get started.”

Dougherty had help from the local vo-tech and Oklahoma State University for patents. Then, after selling his first Turbo Saw at the Oklahoma State Fair in the Made in Oklahoma building, Dougherty slowly expanded operations. His company outgrew its original setup in Hinton and eventually relocated to El Reno in 2023, a move that required both grit and faith.

“When I went to finance the new building, it was right as the commercial banking industry collapsed,” Dougherty said. “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any. But adversity makes you stronger.”

Today, DFM is an influential player in a highly specialized industry. Its flagship products — the Turbo Saw and Mastadon Mulcher — help landowners and commercial operators manage trees and brush efficiently and safely. Dougherty has earned multiple patents for his designs, including innovations that disrupted a multimillion-dollar market.

“I’ve always been a family company,” he said. “I try to build products that family or friends can operate easily and safely. We’re a small company, but we’re an innovative one.”

A strong foundation for a fresh start

When it came time to construct DFM’s new facility in El Reno, Dougherty once again turned to local partners, including Indaco Metals, an Oklahoma-based company that has supplied metal buildings for three decades.

“This was the fifth building I’ve bought from them,” Dougherty said. “They were extremely flexible. The structure we needed was unique, and they helped engineer it perfectly.”

The finished building is a reflection of how he believes manufacturing should look and feel.

“One of my pet projects is to make manufacturing more accessible,” he said. “These are craftsmen. Acoustic safety was a big deal to me, and we designed it so departments are isolated with no cross noise. It’s climate-controlled with big windows. It’s a great place to work.”

For Indaco Metals, helping build DFM’s facility was more than a business transaction. It was a chance to support another Oklahoma manufacturer.

“Dougherty Manufacturing came to us with a great plan that made it easy to fine-tune and make the process simple,” Aaron Williams, Indaco business development manager said. “Working with a fellow manufacturer makes for a smooth transfer of ideas, with shared ideals and language.”

Indaco’s team also took pride in the building’s design.

“This building is unique because it has such curb appeal for a facility focused on manufacturing,” Williams said. “Being able to blend functionality and aesthetics is always a plus. It’s a building we’re proud of, and we hope they feel the same for a long time.”

Growing where you’re planted

For Dougherty, being based in Oklahoma is part of his identity.

“I was born in Hinton. I’m an Okie boy,” he said. “People ask why I’m here when this industry exists all over the world. But Oklahoma has good soil, and trees love to invade it. We’re here, we understand our customers’ problems, and our values fit.”

That local connection means something to DFM’s customers, too.

“People come to our facility and breathe a sigh of relief that they don’t have to buy from another country,” he said. “They get to buy local, from someone who understands their needs.”

After two decades in business, Dougherty still approaches his work with the same curiosity and persistence that led him to build that first saw.

“All good businesses can adapt,” he said. “When you hit that moment where the business is alive, it’s a lot of fun. I’m still having fun with it.”

To learn more about these Oklahoma companies, visit www.dfmattachments.com and www.indacometals.com.