Precision in the Field: How Taylor Made Delivers Full-Service Irrigation

From a one-man operation working out of a garage to a $15–18 million agricultural irrigation company employing roughly 25 people, Jason Dees’ journey with Taylor Made Irrigation is rooted in family, hard work and a deep connection to California agriculture.

Taylor Made Irrigation grew from Dees’ lifelong exposure to the agricultural world. His father worked in management roles for agricultural corporations and irrigation companies, and as a teenager Dees learned the business firsthand while working on a ranch in Mendota. By 19, he was immersed in the field, building the experience that would later shape his own company.

“I started by myself in 2005,” Dees said, naming the company after his 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter Taylor. “I worked out of my garage for a couple years. Then in 2007, I rented a store and yard and put together an irrigation store with my two employees at the time.”

Nearly two decades later, that small storefront remains the company’s base. What has changed is the scale. Taylor Made Irrigation now operates across California’s agricultural heartland, serving growers in row crops and permanent plantings alike. The company designs, installs and services full irrigation systems strictly for agriculture.

“We don’t do any residential or golf courses,” Dees said. “We design, install and service all types of systems—from booster pumps to filtration to pipe plumbing, trenching, drip hose, sprinklers—whatever the design calls for.”

Projects often begin with an in-depth, boots-on-the-ground assessment. Dees or a team member meets with the grower or landowner to evaluate the property, discuss the intended crop—be it tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, pistachios, walnuts or vineyards—and analyze water sources, spacing and long-term goals. From there, the team collaborates on system sizing, control zones and pump selection.

Using specialized design software, the company develops detailed irrigation plans, often requiring 10 to 20 hours of drafting time that includes everything from filtration system schematics to valve and air vent details. That level of transparency, Dees noted, benefits both the grower and the installation crew.

“We want our customers to understand exactly what our proposal entails,” he said, “And we want our installation crews to have a very clear understanding of what’s needed to implement the design.”

Once a project is approved, Taylor Made Irrigation orders materials and coordinates installation based on crop timing and weather. Unlike many competitors, the company owns its equipment, including trenchers and grading machinery, and operates a welding and fabrication shop in-house. That vertical integration allows for tighter control over timelines and costs.

But Dees believes the company’s real differentiator isn’t equipment, it’s access and accountability.

“Every customer we have, myself as the sole owner and operator, they have full access to me directly 24/7,” he said. “That sets me apart pretty heavily from most.”

He describes the company’s philosophy as “white-glove service.” Projects aren’t rushed to meet quotas, and the relationship doesn’t end once installation is complete.

“We don’t just slam a project in,” Dees said. “We answer the smallest or biggest questions before, during or after installation. We stick around after the job’s done to make sure they don’t have any operational questions.”

That hands-on, relationship-driven model proved critical during a downturn in the irrigation market several years ago. While many companies cut staff, Taylor Made Irrigation chose a different approach.

“We didn’t lay a single person off,” Dees said. “We lowered our margins to maintain sales volume instead of keeping margins the same and cutting sales. We wanted to share in the difficulties our clients were facing and make sure our employees’ jobs were safe.”

The strategy required sacrifice and long hours.

“The secret of success? It’s hard work,” Dees said. “It’s 70-, 80-, 90-hour weeks when they’re necessary. If there’s demand, you will be successful if you put the hours in and you’re honest.”

Today, the company’s workforce of about 25 includes engineering staff, sales professionals, parts counter personnel and fabrication specialists. The client list continues to grow, often through word of mouth.

“Every single month, we gain a new client,” Dees said. “Our clients have been with us since day one. We look forward to bringing new customers into our family and showing them what we’re about.”

As Taylor Made Irrigation continues on, Dees sees room for continued growth, particularly as water efficiency and infrastructure upgrades remain top priorities for California growers. Yet expansion won’t come at the expense of the principles that built the business.

“We take a lot of pride in our reputation,” he said. “Being available to our clients on an executive level at any time and being very transparent with our design. That’s who we are.”

From a garage startup inspired by his daughter’s name to a regional irrigation leader, Dees’ story mirrors the growers he serves: rooted in family, strengthened by resilience and sustained by hard work.