For Nick, Yanmar’s equipment isn’t just for work – it’s a tool to make life better, to bring people together, and to leave things better than he found them. It’s a philosophy that embodies Yanmar’s Hanasaka principle – supporting communities to grow and thrive. In the past, Nick and his team have helped to prepare the YMCA’s community garden, turning the soil so families can grow fresh food. And every year, in the fall, they clear brush at Mount Itasca, ensuring biathlon trails and ski jumps are ready for winter. And before the snow reclaims control, at the end of summer they repair snowmobile trails and ensure they remain in good condition, as they are an essential part of local life. Then there are the moments of pure joy, like the annual Boys and Girls Club’s Duck Drop Derby. Each year, Nick volunteers a Yanmar machine, its bucket filled with hundreds of bright yellow rubber ducks. At the countdown, he tips them into the river, sending a wave of tiny competitors bobbing toward the finish line. Each duck represents a donation, a small but crucial way to support local kids’ programs. “It’s a small thing, but it unites people,” Nick says. “And people need that. These moments – where the community just comes together for the fun of it – matter.”
Compact Equipment - Information
Hard work, heart, and helping hands: Making a difference the Minnesota way
May 19, 2025
Yanmar Compact Equipment
Nick Schrapp may work ‘in the shadows’ at Yanmar, but the difference he makes in his community is impossible to miss.
In northern Minnesota, where the Mississippi carves through dense forests and winters bite hard, community is everything. Roads vanish under drifting snow. Trees fall heavy with ice. Storms cut power, leaving neighbors to rely on each other. And in the thick of it, you’ll find Nick Schrapp. By day, he leads Yanmar CE North America’s Testing and Reliability team, ensuring every unit is built for real-world challenges. When the workday ends, he puts that same equipment to work in his community – clearing storm damage, maintaining ski trails, and lending a hand wherever it’s needed. “It’s not a complex philosophy,” he laughs. “If you can help, you do.”
Roots that run deep
Nick grew up in Montevideo, a small town in southern Minnesota shaped by long seasons and farm life. His family owned farmland and Nick even helped neighbors work the land, and so did he, learning early that resilience comes from showing up for others. "In a farming town, you lean on each other,” he says. “That’s stayed with me my whole life. And now, if I have the means to help, why wouldn’t I?” When he moved to Grand Rapids to join Yanmar Compact Equipment, he packed that same country mindset with him. Now, whether it’s providing disaster relief or supporting local non-profit organizations, he shows up – simply because ‘that’s what you do’.
A man with machines and a mission
Nick isn’t one for the spotlight. Most days, you’ll find him behind the scenes at Yanmar with his Testing and Reliability team – what he calls “the shadow men” – the unseen force behind reliable, tested equipment. In the testing process, they push machines to their limits through rigorous performance, durability, and stress testing, simulating tough job site conditions to troubleshoot weaknesses and perfect designs. But the real test comes beyond the factory walls, when those same machines are needed closer to home. When tornadoes and storms tear through the region, knocking down trees and blocking roads, Nick and his team load up their machines and head straight into the damage. Their work helps the community, while also providing something invaluable: real-world testing in the toughest conditions. “We might only spend a day or two hauling debris,” Nick says. “But for someone waking up to a tree through their roof or their car crushed, it’s everything. And for Yanmar, it’s a chance to push the machines beyond the test track, in the exact conditions they were built for.”
Hanasaka in action
The quiet power of showing up
Nick Schrapp proves that making a difference doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, all it takes is a machine, a bit of time, and the decision to show up. He lives Yanmar’s ‘Building with You’ ethos – strengthening his community through dedication, trust, and action. His story is a testament to what’s possible when people work together, building not just for today, but for the future. “There’s this idea that giving only benefits the person who needs help,” Nick says. “But honestly? You get just as much out of it yourself. And seeing someone smile because of something you did? That’s the best feeling there is.”
A testament to teamwork
Nick’s projects are built on teamwork too; with one of his proudest moments being when a local Bible camp needed a new welcome center. The project was scheduled to take six months, but with the right people and machines, Nick had a different vision. “I borrowed a page from those extreme home makeover shows,” he laughs. “We brought in the machines, rounded up volunteers, and just didn’t stop. People gave up their long holiday weekend, camped on-site, worked through the night. And we did it – in just four days.” That building still stands as a reminder of what’s possible when a community pulls together.
About Yanmar Compact Equipment
Yanmar Compact Equipment (Yanmar CE) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and support of compact equipment for a range of segments, principally construction and other earthmoving applications. Its products include extensive ranges of mini and midi excavators, wheel loaders, wheeled excavators, compact track loaders and tracked carriers. These are supported by a wide range of services designed to ensure customer success. A global company with proud Japanese heritage, Yanmar CE has manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America – and an extensive international dealer network. Renowned for its innovative approach – it was the first to market with the now-benchmark mini-excavator, and is credited with popularizing the zero-tail swing concept – Yanmar CE remains a trusted brand known for its reliability, performance and commitment to customer satisfaction. These traits are demonstrated through the company’s tagline – ‘Building with you’. For more details, please visit the official website.
Inquiries
Valeria Iervolino
Global Marketing & Communications
Yanmar Compact Equipment
valeria_iervolino@yanmar.com
+39 380 58 20 485
- Note: Information contained in the news release is valid at the time of publication and may differ from the most recently available information.