Most people know Rusty Burgardt as a senior welder mechanic at Sunflower’s Holcomb plant, where he spent the last 19 years helping keep equipment running. What many may not know is his creativity extends well beyond the maintenance shop.
Despite creating several public metal sculptures throughout Garden City, including a recently installed piece at Holcomb, Burgardt is quick to set the record straight. "I'm not an artist," he said with a laugh. "I've never taken an art class."
His creativity started long before he ever picked up a welding torch. Growing up in the country with two brothers and a sister, Burgardt spent countless hours building things from the log pile, taking apart bicycles and lawnmowers, and assembling model cars. Instead of following the instructions, he enjoyed customizing and making them his own. Those experiences sparked a lifelong passion for creating things with his hands.
In 2002, Burgardt started his own welding business to build hot rods and restore classic cars and trucks. That passion unexpectedly led him into the world of public art.
An Unexpected Artist
A local woman involved with Garden City’s downtown development approached him about creating a stainless steel sculpture because they wanted a local artist. Although he had never built artwork before, Burgardt decided to give it a try. "I just dove into it," he said. "I didn't know what the heck I was doing."
That first sculpture opened the door for several more projects around Garden City. Over the years, Burgardt created a life-sized buffalo, copper wheat sculptures for a local brewery, a human spine and pelvis, and the most challenging: a hand-formed skull made from scrap metal for a chiropractor's office.
Each project gave him the chance to learn something new, but one thing remains constant. "Nothing is more boring than building something twice," Burgardt said. He has never duplicated one of his sculptures. Every piece is one of a kind.
After several years away from artistic projects, Burgardt was approached about creating the sculpture for the Holcomb maintenance shop. Fellow employee Adam Brungardt sketched the original concept, and Rusty used the drawing to create the finished piece.
Breathing New Life into Old Classics
While many people recognize him for his sculptures, Burgardt says restoring classic vehicles has always been his real calling. "My passion is to keep older cars and trucks on the road," he said.
Today, he spends his days off working in his shop with his son, Kolton. Restoration projects often take years to complete, but that is part of what he enjoys most.
Rather than focusing on the entire project, Burgardt sets daily goals and works through each challenge one step at a time. Rust, mechanical issues, and unexpected problems are all part of the process.
"It's not just a car or a truck," Burgardt said. "It's like a time capsule back to a great memory." Many of the vehicles he restores belonged to a customer's parent or grandparent. Others remind owners of learning to drive or growing up with their family. Helping preserve those memories is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.
One of his favorite projects is a 1969 GMC pickup he found sitting next to the crusher in a salvage yard. He bought the truck for $500, installed a new engine and brakes, and still uses it today as his welding truck. Instead of restoring every inch of the truck, he intentionally left many of its dents and weathered surfaces untouched. "It tells its story, like tattoos on a person," Burgardt said. “I pulled it from its grave and gave it a new life.”
Burgardt also enjoys sharing his passion with his son. Together, they spent nearly seven years restoring a 1968 El Camino after beginning the project when Kolton was around seven or eight years old. For Burgardt, one of the best moments comes after years of work, when the project is finally finished and ready for its first drive.
“Seeing the look on his face when the project is finally finished and ready for its first drive is one of the best parts of the whole process,” he said. “After years of work, that moment makes all the time, patience, and problem-solving worthwhile.”
Creating Something That Lasts
That passion for creating also carries over to his work at Sunflower. Burgardt enjoys working alongside the younger members of his crew and believes work should be enjoyable. Whether they are tackling a large project or a routine job, he likes to bring a speaker, turn up the music, and keep everyone motivated.
Whether he is welding at Sunflower, creating a custom sculpture, or restoring a decades-old pickup, Burgardt approaches every project with patience, craftsmanship, and a genuine love for creating something meaningful.
For him, it has never been about being an artist. It has always been about building something that lasts.