In The Yard

Matt Study started Sapphire Construction in 2018 after working across heavy civil, highway and general contracting. What started with a mini excavator and a desire to build a business of his own has now grown into a dirt work business with 15 pieces of equipment and a roughly 10 person crew.

Matt joined us In The Yard to share what he's learned about growing a business from from hiring the right people and accurately bidding work to managing equipment costs and cash flow. He also talks about Sapphire’s approach to Cat equipment, grade control technology and becoming a recognizable company in Montana’s Flathead Valley.

What role do minerals and mining play in Idaho’s future? In this episode, we're joined In The Yard by Katherine Himes, director of the McClure Center for Public Policy Research to talk about Idaho’s mineral resources, critical minerals and the importance of putting clear, nonpartisan information into the hands of communities.

What keeps construction leaders up at night? According to Caterpillar's Vice President of Technology, Kristin Gaskill, it’s rarely the machine itself. It’s people, process, safety, and finding ways to do more with less.

In this episode of In The Yard, Tyler Simmons sits down with Kristin to talk through how Caterpillar is helping customers tackle their toughest challenges through technology.

Mining benefits much more than most people realize! Ryan Sistad of Better In Our Backyard joined us In The Yard to talk about responsible resource development, critical minerals, and why local conversations matter when it comes to mining the future.

As president of the Idaho AGC and a fourth-generation leader at Guho Corp, Anthony Guho has a front-row seat to Idaho's construction industry. Anthony joined us In The Yard to discuss developing the next generation of construction professionals and how technologies like Cat Grade and VisionLink are helping contractors do more with their workforce.

Benoit Gaillard, AI Product Management Team Lead at Caterpillar, and Justin Bailey, Chief Information Officer at Western States Cat, joined us In The Yard to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of our industry. From practical applications of the Cat AI Assistant to the broader opportunities AI creates across the business, Benoit and Justin share their perspective on using technology to amplify the work people do every day while keeping the focus on people, experience, and results.

For families facing childhood cancer, Camp Rainbow Gold at Hidden Paradise is a summer camp unlike any other. Camp Rainbow Gold gives kids the chance to experience the great outdoors in a safe, adaptive space designed to meet their physical and medical needs. The Camp Rainbow Gold team joined us on In The Yard to talk about the impact the camp has on so many families in the community, and how companies like Western States can help support their mission.

With more than a decade of hands‑on experience in the Cat dealer network, Mike Bettencourt has seen heavy equipment evolve from purely mechanical machines to today’s technology‑driven jobsite solutions. Mike now serves as an Application Specialist at Western States Cat where his day-to day involves helping customers unlock the full value of Onboard Technology and operator coaching systems built into next‑generation Cat equipment.

In this episode, Mike breaks down how features like 2D grading, payload, dig assist, and operator coaching are changing the way operators learn and use machines. From commissioning new excavators and wheel loaders to training construction professionals, Mike shares how onboard technology shortens learning curves, and delivers measurable performance gains.

In this episode of In The Yard, Tyler sits down with Brennan Gruhn to break down all the new machines and technology Cat unveiled at CONEXPO. They discuss VisionLink upgrades, the brand-new TUL100 track utility loader, the 319 excavator, and next‑gen motor graders. From diving into Grade Assist and on‑machine tech, to what these updates actually mean on the jobsite, Brennan and Tyler break down what's new and how it makes a difference on the worksite.

Tristram is an engineer, entrepreneur, and self-professed Horse Girl living and working in Montana. She joined us to talk about everything from winter weekends spent skijoring to launching her own engineering consultancy, to how a small skid steer made a big difference on her ranch. Through it all, she's never afraid to take the reins!