Local Highlight: All Valley Sprinkler and Irrigation

As many of you know, Barreto Manufacturing operates a second manufacturing facility out of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. One of our very own founders, Chris Barreto, was driving by a local longhorn cattle ranch when she spotted a Barreto RTK Track Trencher being put to work in a pasture beside the road. She promptly pulled over for an introduction and had the fantastic luck to meet Aaron Thatcher with All Valley Sprinkler and Irrigation. We circled up with Aaron to learn more about his company and the work he was performing that day.

“I was trenching about 1,700 feet or so in order to supply water to 35 new trees just planted around the exterior perimeter of the pastures,” said Aaron. “I see this lady pulling over alongside the pasture, and she hops out and starts walking toward the fence looking for a way to come say hi,” he said.

If you have met Chris, it’s no surprise that she quickly (and we say *quickly* because Chris doesn’t waste time driving anywhere) pulled over to excitedly descend on Aaron. When Greg and Chris Barreto started Barreto Manufacturing over 40 years ago, they never imagined that business would grow out of their garage and into multiple facilities nationwide. From scribbling the first equipment orders on scraps of paper at trade shows to now seeing their equipment out in the wild, Chris takes pride in Barreto and all the progress the company has made. She snapped these pictures and connected us with Aaron at the time.

Aaron lives and works in the Treasure Valley for over 15 years now. He specializes in sprinkler and irrigation work, and he has a background in landscape design. He uses Barreto trenchers often through the years as needed for projects of this scope. “We had a family-owned business called The Boise Lawn Company for 13 years, but with COVID-19 challenges and staffing difficulties, we decided to dissolve that company,” said Aaron. “My son recently started his own landscaping business, but right now I’m a one man crew, and I like it that way. It’s just simple.”

At the time of this writing, Aaron was the acting President for the Idaho Nursery and Landscaping Association, and he remains very active in the industry. He was on the board for five years, and at their annual show in January of 2024 he transitioned to Past President where he spent one more year in an advisory position.

He is used to being a Swiss Army knife of skill sets, saying it’s a requirement to be in this industry year-round. “Installation jobs either on new construction or rehabs on properties are the most lucrative - they sure keep you busy. Then in the spring you have sprinkler start ups and repairs, and in fall you’re busy with blow-outs. During winter you start hanging Christmas lights, plowing snow, and then you have some ice contracts,” he said.

When asked about how he likes the RTK, he said, “The ability to stand on it is amazing, and it handles everything I’ve had to do with it so far.” Aaron rents from local rental shop Tates Rents, who continue to be great partners with Barreto in the Treasure Valley.

If you live in the area, you may see Aaron in a field surrounded by curious cattle, or you may spot him and his son collaborating on upcoming Christmas light installations. You can find All Valley Sprinkler and Irrigation on Facebook or Instagram for any job inquiries.

A huge thank you to Aaron for taking the time to visit with us when the busy holiday season was approaching. “I got 1700 ft done that day. Shoulders were definitely sore,” he said. 

This post was originally published in November 2023, and has been refreshed and updated.