November Trailblazer: Meet Mark Krumvieda

3rd generation grader operator, Mark Krumvieda, otherwise known as YouTube handle, Graderman 140M, leans on his vertically placed equipment blade. *photo by Loree Gaikowski

Graderman 140M

Passing on a Legacy - There are people whose work quietly shapes the rhythm of rural life. Work most folks don’t think about until the road gets rough or the snow gets deep. On the gravel stretches of Benton, Wall Lake, Wellington and Brotherfield Townships in rural Minnehaha County, one man gives those roads his absolute best every day. His name is Mark Krumvieda — though to thousands online, he’s known as Graderman 140M. And if you’ve ever heard his calm voice, explain blade angles or demonstrate a clean pass, you know there’s something special about him.

Krumvieda is a third-generation grader operator, carrying forward a family legacy with humility and pride. He first climbed into a blade at age 14 under the guidance of his father, David. He still remembers his dad’s lesson: “The day you think you know everything is the day you should quit.” Nearly two decades later, that mindset drives everything he does. Every mile is a chance to learn, improve, and serve the people who depend on those roads.

For the past seven years, Krumvieda has also shared his skills statewide as the hands-on motor grader instructor for SDLTAP and has travelled north to teach for NDLTAP as well. Operators appreciate his patience, his clarity, and the way he teaches with the heart of someone who genuinely wants others to succeed. In a profession often passed quietly from one generation to the next, Krumvieda has widened the circle, choosing to make knowledge available to anyone who wants to learn.

That commitment is what sparked his Graderman 140M YouTube channel. What started as a simple way to share tips has grown into a respected resource for operators across the world. His steady voice and clear demonstrations have earned him recognition far beyond South Dakota. At trade shows, people approach him because they recognize the voice that taught them something. Executives from John Deere and Caterpillar follow his work, and Caterpillar even invited him to contribute to their development team. Yet through it all, Krumvieda remains grounded. Titles and attention don’t drive him — the work does.

Back home in Minnehaha County, on his township roads, his community sees that impact every day. Benton Township clerk, Jan Larson captured it beautifully in her nomination: “We want to give a shout-out to our grader operator, Mark Krumvieda… He works tirelessly in maintaining our roads so they are the best in the county in our opinion… We feel very fortunate to have him working for us and feel that he deserves recognition.” Whether he’s shaping roads in the July heat or pushing snow before sunrise, Krumvieda shows up ready to face the elements and keep rural life moving.

In township government, we talk about service, commitment, and pride in the work. Krumvieda doesn’t talk about them… he lives them. Every road he touches, every operator he trains, and every skill he shares adds to a legacy that stretches far beyond the townships he serves.

Here’s to Graderman 140M: the steady hand behind the blade, the teacher, the craftsman, and the man who not only carries a legacy, but passes it on.

find some of Mark's 'how-to' videos linked to our website

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💡 Know Someone Who Deserves Recognition?

We want to hear from you! If you know a township official, board member, grader operator, clerk, treasurer, or township advocate who goes above and beyond, nominate them for a feature in Township Trailblazers.

📧 Email your nomination (including name, township, and a few sentences about why they deserve recognition) to:legislative@sdtownships.com

Let’s celebrate the people who quietly keep South Dakota’s townships strong—one gravel road and one board meeting at a time.