The legacy of the Traeger family stretches back across the centuries to the Tauber River Valley of rural Germany, where Friederich Traeger and his family immigrated to the United States settling in South Dakota. As the Traegers became settled in their new homeland they tried their hand at farming, blacksmithing, and operating a tavern, (responsible for the family's passion for good German beer).

During the Great Depression of the 1930's Joe Traeger, Sr. journeyed to Oregon, where he fell in love with the bountiful land of the Willamette Valley. Writing to the family in South Dakota, he convinced them to move to Oregon. The rest of the Traeger family joined Joe, Sr. in Mt. Angel, Oregon.

In 1939, Joe Traeger, Sr. and his brother Tony opened a business called "Traeger Brothers", a combination blacksmith metal fab shop, trailer building facility and cabinet making operation. (In fact, the original foundry building, which housed Traeger Bros., is still being used to this day.)

Joe Sr., and Tony worked hard and along with their perspiration came inspiration in the form of new inventions, including the "stake setter", "pole bean stringer", and "screw-in-the-ground-anchor". Tragically, Tony would pass away in 1953, with Joe Sr. passing away the following year.

In 1959, Joe Traeger Jr., began working in his cousin Leo's heating business located in Mt. Angel. Three years later, Joe bought out his cousin's interest and took over the business, which supported his growing family of nine children. Sons Randy, Mark, Greg, and eventually Brian Traeger would join their father in this growing enterprise.

Joe Jr., like his father developed a knack for inventing. In 1978, he developed the Elf Wood Furnace. The following year, Joe incorporated as EWF Corporation and began production of wood-fired furnaces. The Elf line would grow to a dozen different models.

Fate In A Bucket

In 1982 an old farmer walked into Traeger Heating with a tin bucket full of wood pellets that he had picked up somewhere (most likely from the original Woodex Pellet Mill in Brownsville), and asked Joe if he thought he could figure out a way of burning them. Joe threw them in an old wood fired boiler. They didn't burn well, so he added a blower and it burned a little better. He then made a little firepot, it burned even better, etc., etc. The first Pellet Fired Furnaces and Stoves were installed in the local area in 1982. The business experienced strong growth and the stove line was eventually sold to Earth Stove in 1987.

Traeger licensed their Central Heating Products line of commercial and residential furnaces and boilers to Even Temp Company in 1992. Both product lines continue to be manufactured and sold today.

Traeger Industries continues its business with Pellet Fired Grills, Outdoor Products and new product development. Their remarkable success is due to the innovative spirit of the Traeger family and ingenuity of Joe Traeger who continually tinkers with new ideas.

Company History

• 1939 - Joe Traeger Sr. and brother Tony open blacksmith shop.
• 1959 - Joe Traeger Jr. learns metal trade.
• 1962 - Traeger Heating founded as HVAC contracting company.
• 1978 - Invention and manufacture of first wood furnace.
• 1979 - EWF Corp. formed to mfg. and market wood furnaces.
• 1980 - Elf furnace licensed to Earth Stove and EWF dissolved.
• 1981 - Company incorporated for mfg. of Elf and 400 series furnaces.
• 1982 - New 300 series wood furnace and development of pellet stove begins. First stoves and furnaces sold locally.
• 1983 - Omega model developed, new technology leader, wood fueled.
• 1984 - Line of pellet furnaces and stoves expanded.
• 1985 - Sales of pellet furnaces and stoves doubles. BBQ invented.
• 1986 - Sales again double, manufacturing expanded to accommodate, move to Abbey property.
• 1987 - Pellet Stove line licensed to Earth Stove. BBQ developed.
• 1988 - Continued mfg. of pellet furnace and BBQ grills. Traeger Heating sold.
• 1989 - Development of Pellet fired camp stove. National Distribution begins.
• 1990 - Outdoor line continues to grow, cook stove added.
• 1991 - Outdoor line sales doubles, TFP and THT added.
• 1992 - Pellet Furnace licensed to Even Temp. Boiler developed.
• 1993 - BBQ Sales increase, Canada opened, Commercial line expansion.
• 1994 - Diversification of residential grill line, commercial sales growth.
• 1995 - Constructed and opened Mt. Angel Brewing Company, food service operation and brewery.
• 1996 - Direct Sales program initiated, Sales growth, diversification.
• 1997 - Beverage business launched. Direct sales stabilize, general growth. Commercial research expansion.
• 1998 - Revamped commercial product line.
• 1999 - Reintroduced central heating furnaces.
• 2000 - Auto-start and grease drainage systems added as standard features.
• 2002 - Introduced Model 060 and variable thermostat control; introduced Smokeman line for mass market.
• 2003 - Introduced re-vamped BBQ101 and expanded pellet and accessory line.
• 2004 - New BBQ125 added, re-birth of BBQ100, Chimney caps, and Gloss finish.
• 2005 - Introduction of BBQ124, Smith & Wesson product line, and Cold Smoker.
• 2006 - Traeger partners with the Barish Fund. Company sales double.
• 2007 - National distribution, new state of the art manufacturing plant added.

 

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