ABOUT PIONEER MACHINERY & SUPPLY

Pioneer Machinery & Supply began in 1990 when Clovis Vandiver opened the doors in Iuka, Mississippi. What started as a small, hardworking operation laid the foundation for a business that would eventually reshape the sawmill industry across the Mid-South.

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In 1999, a young craftsman named Jeff Bobo purchased the two-man business from Clovis and his wife. Jeff brought with him years of experience in metal work, sawmill machinery, and hydraulics—skills he had developed long before stepping into ownership. His plan was simple: continue operating Pioneer as a trusted sawmill supply company, working largely on his own.

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But the more Jeff traveled from mill to mill, the more he began to see possibilities. Each visit sparked ideas, and over time he realized that he wasn’t just capable of supplying sawmills—he could build them.

 

After years of thought, planning, and hands-on learning, Jeff constructed his first sawmill under the Pioneer name in 2002. That single machine marked the beginning of a new era. What once was a small supply shop steadily grew into a full-scale manufacturer of custom sawmills, parts, and equipment. Pioneer’s reputation spread, and soon their machines were operating across ten states.

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The company reached another milestone in 2019 when Jeff’s son, Weston Bobo, joined the business as a mechanical engineer. With Weston’s technical expertise and Jeff’s decades of field experience, the pair pushed Pioneer Machinery into the future. Together with their dedicated team, they embraced PLC automation and modern engineering to design sawmills that are faster, smarter, and more efficient than ever before.

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Today, what started as a one-man operation has grown into a thriving company with 20 employees, three supply trucks, and a respected name throughout the Mid-South. Pioneer Machinery & Supply continues to build on its legacy—shaped by craftsmanship, innovation, and the belief that great machines come from great people.