The World’s Coolest Ditch-Digging Job Is Up For Grabs
Humans have been digging ditches for thousands of years.
Don Pemberton digs them just a bit quicker.
Instead of using hands and shovels, he climbs into a souped-up, hot-rodded, 850-horsepower machine that digs trenches at 100 feet a minute, five times as fast as a normal machine used by utilities and excavators.
The 67-year-old is the sole operator of the Super Witch, a one-of-a-kind trenching machine that looks and sounds like a large chain saw on wheels. Equipment maker Ditch Witch uses it as a marketing and promotional tool to sell more-practical versions of the machine.
The Super Witch makes appearances at industry trade shows, dealership openings, parades and factory tours. When it roars, spectators come running with their phones out to see it do wheelies and rip-up dirt.
“It would deafen you if you don’t have hearing protection on,” said Pemberton.
Ditch Witch Midwest was lucky enough to have Don at our 50 year Open House celebration. When he fired it up to drive off the trailer, all the neighbors came out to see what was happening. We got our own personal show for the guys in the morning, then in the afternoon all our guest got to see Don in action. You can see a clip of Don tearing up the field here: SUPER WITCH IN WEST CHICAGO
Pemberton is getting ready to hand over the controls. His coming retirement is causing a lot of stress for Ditch Witch executives. They are having a hard time solving a big hiring problem: how to replace its most famous ditch digger.
Will the Wienermobile of trenching equipment have to be mothballed?
Ed Malzahn developed the original Ditch Witch trencher in the 1940s at his family’s machine shop in Perry, Okla., to help construction workers lay water, electric, gas and sewer lines to single-family homes.
The Super Witch was developed by rogue employees during their off hours, according to company lore. The original made its debut in the late1970s and has been upgraded multiple times, with the Super Witch VII starting service in 2013.
Pemberton himself started at the company in 1978, and has been driving the Super Witch for nearly 40 years. His day job is maintaining the company’s fleet of trucks and cars that are used for delivering products and visiting customers. But it’s the Super Witch gig that has made him a trenching celebrity—and a face of the company’s brand. Pemberton accompanies the Super Witch wherever it goes and people call him directly to schedule shows.
He has missed many family gatherings, especially in the busy spring and fall seasons. “My wife always enjoys it,” he joked. One year, Pemberton arrived at a location about 20 hours away from home, only to discover that his son’s high school graduation was imminent. He ditched the Witch and hopped onto a plane, making it back about 30 minutes before the ceremony.
Executives are trying to figure out how to formalize a job that grew over the decades based on the experience and tendencies of one star employee. Is it a full-time job or just 20% of someone’s time? Should there be two operators? Who can take a few weeks off to perform at trade shows and dealership openings around the country?
Potential candidates have taken the Super Witch for test rides around the company’s Perry campus. Many have struggled to learn how to run the oversize machine, which can be dangerous to spectators if the operator loses control.
“It was like a bucking bronco,” said Jeff Smith, a 51-year-old contender for the job.
Don’s own 36-year-old son, who was being groomed for the role, turned down the position.
“I had planned on him taking over,” said Pemberton. “He’s not going to do it. I’d have to babysit and run his cows.”
In addition to its succession planning, Ditch Witch is trying to come up with more ways of spreading Super Witch lore beyond Perry, where kids have been known to dress up as Super Witch operators for Halloween and a model-toy version made years ago has become a collectors’ item. One possibility is to have a colorful trailer that both transports the Super Witch and then converts into a storefront with swag, just like at Nascar races.
“Everyone within 50 miles of this place knows about this,” said Sean Hubbard, the marketing communications manager.
“We are trying to get it on a bigger scale, think Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
Pemberton was wistful about turning over the keys to somebody else, admitting, “It’s just hard to let go.”