LE SILLON
A John Deere PublicationBonney Bright Sand | John Deere Construction
Summer 2025
Legacy of Loyalty
Relationships and work ethic drive the success of a Virginia company
4 MIN READ
It's just a few moments past 4 a.m. and Bonney Bright is already at his desk, coordinating the details that will guide the busy day ahead.
The world outside his office window remains still and silent, with just a subtle hint of moonlight illuminating the otherwise black landscape.
No revving engines. No banter among employees. Just a lone man and the promise of a new day.
"In the mornings, I come into the office anywhere from 4:00 and 4:30 a.m., and I work all day," Bright says, not seeming to recognize the unique nature of his schedule. "I usually don't go home 'til it's dark. It's what I'm used to doing."
Almost everyone who knows Bonney Bright marvels at the staunch work ethic and long hours. Many remark that he operates on "Bonney Time."
"It's Bonney's belief that if the sun's up, you oughta be working," says longtime employee Douglas Saunders, who has been working alongside Bright for decades. "When the boss works that hard, you feel you need to work hard too."
For Bright, there's a higher purpose that drives his long days. It's about cementing a legacy he's been building for more than a half-century. It's about setting a tone for his employees. It's about setting his customers up for success.
"We provide product for people who build homes, people who build highways, and people who are building businesses," Bright says. "We work hard because we know so many customers are depending on us."
"To me, it's always been apparent that John Deere is the cream of the crop."
SEEDS OF SUCCESS
Long before Bonney Bright Sand Co. came into existence in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the family business sprouted in the farming sector. Over more than six decades, the farm has grown everything from corn and wheat to green beans and cabbage.
Bright still lives on the picturesque piece of property, residing in a home abutting the meandering North Landing River. On the other side of the property, his parents' old home is still standing.
"My daddy and a couple other folks built this house when I was just two years old," Bright says. "We moved into it back in 1944."
As a child, the farm wasn't just Bright's home. It was his life.
"Everybody else loved playing baseball, football, and all that," Bright says, chuckling as he reflects on his youth. "I was never interested in playing ball. I just wanted to drive and be around equipment."
Bright's understanding of — and passion for — John Deere equipment began growing in the late 1980s. Around that time, the Brights purchased a plot of land for farming purposes and accidentally stumbled upon a small sand pit. Bonney Bright Sand Co. was founded in 1988 and began with just one employee. Bright methodically purchased surrounding land and expanded his workforce, which now sits at 75 employees.
The massive swath of land spans 600 acres and two states, starting in Virginia Beach and extending across the border into North Carolina. It's here that Bonney Bright Sand Co. extracts the sand, soil, and rock that helps fuel growth throughout the region.
Saunders has observed the business's ascent from small-time operation to bustling enterprise.
"There are trucks coming and going all day. It can be a lot to keep track of," he says with a wide smile. "But when you're busy, you know things are going well."
"...we're just talking about life. That's part of why our relationship is so strong."
CREAM OF THE CROP
With decades of experience in both farming and its sand-pit operation, the Bright business enterprise has evolved into a complex organization that operates across multiple sites and business sectors.
John Deere equipment is the connective tissue that binds everything together.
Within a vast shed adjacent to his fields of crops, Bright houses an expansive collection of vintage John Deere tractors and farm equipment. It's a tangible testament to a brand he has always deeply admired.
"To me, it's always been apparent that John Deere is the cream of the crop," Bright says. "Across different styles and types of machines, it's just what I have learned over the years. John Deere equipment is the best there is."
This connection is equally evident on the sand-pit site, where well over a dozen John Deere machines shape the landscape. That fleet includes multiple articulated dump trucks, wheel loaders, motor graders, dozers, and excavators. Bright has worked closely with his longtime dealer, Coastal Equipment Corp., to make sure his fleet is ready to tackle anything.
"Bonney has done an incredible job of maintaining his older machines, but also updating his fleet over the years to make sure he is keeping up with the level of production he needs," says Jeff Clay, president of Coastal Equipment.
Coastal Equipment started in 1952. Clay represents the third generation of his family to lead the way, taking the reins of a business his grandfather started.
"Coastal has been with us in the good times and the bad," Bright says. "If I live another hundred years, I'm going to be with Coastal another hundred years."
EMBRACING INNOVATION
Whether it's the unwavering work ethic or the flip phone he still uses to communicate, many things about Bright are unapologetically old-fashioned.
Even so, Bright has made a concerted effort to always keep his company ahead of the curve, not behind it. He understands that maintaining a legacy means embracing innovation — whether that means new tools that enhance precision or technology that helps him coordinate and monitor his company's fleet.
"I haven't always been a person who keeps up with all the technology. That's not who I am," Bright says with a chuckle. "But I have also come to realize how important it is to my crew. The operators love all the technology we have today. It is incredible."
Even so, Clay is quick to note that most of his conversations with Bright don't revolve around technology, or equipment, or business at all.
"Typically, when we go out to lunch, we're just talking about life," Clay emphasizes. "That's part of why our relationship is so strong."
In a business world often defined by rapid change and booming growth, humility and loyalty may be the qualities that loom largest at Bonney Bright Sand Co.
"Over a period of time, I have really met a lot of nice people," Bright says. "Where I am today and where the company is, it's not just because of me. I've depended on a lot of good folks to make it happen."
Bonney Bright Sand Co. is serviced by Coastal Equipment Corp., Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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A John Deere 744K-Tier Wheel Loader and 470G-Tier Excavator move sand into mounds for processing.
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