


Dan's Excavating Backhoe Grand Forks/E. Grand Forks
is family-owned and locally operated by Jon and Amanda Snyder.

You may be wondering where the name Dan's Excavating comes from! You're not alone! That's probably the #1 question we're asked!
Dan's Excavating was originally owned by Dan Gonsorowski under the name Dan's Excavating and Backhoe.
In the spring of 1975, Jon's uncle Steve Snyder began working for Dan and took to this business like a duck takes to water! Although Steve was very lean, he applied that North Dakota farm boy determination and can-do attitude to mastering every aspect of the business. In 1994, Steve ended up buying the business when Dan retired.


In 2009, Steve introduced his nephew, Jon, to Dan's Excavating Inc. as a temporary employee for the Fall season.
Jon enjoyed this opportunity and knew he wanted to learn more! So he accepted a job in west-central Minnesota working for a drain tile company. During his 4 years at the company, Jon gained much-needed experience - driving semis and running backhoes and other heavy equipment - and eventually became crew chief.
In 2018, Jon rejoined Dan's Excavating. Steve took Jon under his wing for a year and then turned him loose with a crew of his own.
In 2019, Steve and Barb began the process of easing into retirement and selling the company to Jon and Amanda (Jon's wife). When Steve became ill later that year, Jon stepped in to run the business in the field with Barb's help in the office.
The Journey has been a long one and, with much excitement, Jon and Amanda signed papers on April 1, 2022 - making them the new owners of Dan's Excavating and Backhoe. The feeling of gratitude is tremendous, and we welcome the opportunity to continue offering stellar service to customers in the area.
Our Team:

Much like Steve did, Jon loves the challenge of working in the diverse soil and weather conditions typical for our area. He sees it as an opportunity to help customers like you through what might otherwise be a difficult, expensive, and messy situation.
Jon and Jeff are the equipment operators and offer you a total of 40 years of combined local experience. That experience enables them to do your job efficiently, affordably, and reliably. And it's why we can confidently offer you a 1-year guarantee* on their work.
While Jon and Jeff are running the equipment and crews, Amanda manages the office! She helps Jon answer your calls and questions, and handles all the behind-the-scenes processes to ensure your job goes off without a hitch!
Excellence Guarantee:
The business is insured, bonded, and licensed as a(n):
- Sewer and Water Contractor by the North Dakota State Plumbing Board
- General Contractor by the North Dakota State Contractor's Licensing Board
- Excavator by the City of Grand Forks
All employees (except Amanda, of course) are certified in Trenching and Excavation by the State of North Dakota.
And, to ensure you know exactly what to expect and how much it will cost - without any unpleasant surprises - we provide FREE Estimates.
YOUR satisfaction is OUR top priority!
* DAN'S EXCAVATING BACKHOE - GRAND FORKS/E GRAND FORKS warranties its work-product to be free from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one (1) year following the date of purchase, provided that the product is used in a manner consistent with its intended use. This limited warranty does not cover failures due to abuse, accidental damage, or when other installations or repairs have been made or attempted by anyone other than DAN'S EXCAVATING BACKHOE - GRAND FORKS/E GRAND FORKS. A defective product meeting the warranty conditions set forth herein will be replaced or repaired at no charge.