The Weight of Work, The Strength of Legacy

Monty Eyler | Hands of the Homeland

Monty Eyler wearing the men’s Lafayette work boots in light brown, working on a drilling rig. Monty Eyler wearing the men’s Lafayette work boots in light brown, working on a drilling rig.

Some people are drawn to the oil patch by necessity. Others, like Monty Eyler, were born with mud in their veins and a wrench in their hand.

From the time he was a boy tagging along with his dad, Dean Eyler, out on production sites, Monty knew the oilfield wasn’t just where people worked. It was where they lived.

Three men wearing hard hats and working on an oil rig. Three men wearing hard hats and working on an oil rig.

It was where lessons were passed down, where hands met steel, and where character was carved into the bones of men who weren’t afraid of hard days or honest labor.

“I’ve always been kind of enamored with the oilfield,” Monty says. “I think my dad thought he could work it out of me, but I just liked it even more.”

Raised by a man he still calls his hero, Monty was instilled early with two values that would shape his future: work ethic and integrity.

A close-up angle of the men’s Lafayette work boots in light brown worn by a worker on a drilling rig. A close-up angle of the men’s Lafayette work boots in light brown worn by a worker on a drilling rig.

In 2003, after years of absorbing knowledge and swinging a hammer alongside his dad, the two founded Eyler Drilling. With a sputter rig and the guts to go all in, the father-son duo took a leap of faith during a time when oil prices were at rock bottom.

For nearly two decades, Monty kept that business alive through the unpredictable highs and devastating lows that define the oil industry. “The hardest part of this business,” he says, “is the uncertainty. It's cyclical, and it’s tough to plan for a future when the ground you’re standing on is always shifting.”

Through it all, volatile markets, long days, and adversity, Monty kept showing up.

In 2023, after selling the business, Monty took on a new chapter as a Tool Pusher for Bison Creek Drilling. It’s a leadership role that feels less like a job and more like a calling. At Bison Creek, he’s not just managing operations; he’s mentoring the next generation of oilfield hands.

Several workers in hard hats and jackets operating heavy machinery outdoors at sunrise or sunset. One worker is handling a large industrial hook, while others assist nearby in a fenced grassy area. Several workers in hard hats and jackets operating heavy machinery outdoors at sunrise or sunset. One worker is handling a large industrial hook, while others assist nearby in a fenced grassy area.

“The most rewarding part now is watching these young guys grow up, get their footing, and start building a life. Bison Creek believes in second chances. We’ve seen guys turn things around here. And I get to be a part of that.”

Monty’s a humble man. Quick to credit others, and slow to talk about himself. But there’s no denying the impact he’s made. He’s the kind of leader who doesn’t just tell you how to do the job; he shows you why it matters.

Whether it’s helping a hand earn his CDL or just teaching someone to take pride in doing things right, Monty leads with quiet strength and lived-in wisdom.

A man wearing cuffed jeans and brown Homeland boots standing on a metal grate platform, with industrial chains and equipment visible in the background. A man wearing cuffed jeans and brown Homeland boots standing on a metal grate platform, with industrial chains and equipment visible in the background.

“My dad gave me a lot, but what I’m most thankful for is the education in the oilfield and a good work ethic,” Monty says. “That’s what I’m trying to pass down to my daughters now.”

Married for nearly three decades and a proud father of two girls, Monty knows what it means to do hard things for the right reasons. “The oilfield’s hard on marriage,” he admits, “but my wife is tougher than I am. She holds the fort down. She’s the reason I can do what I do.”

When it comes to boots, Monty’s standards are just as clear as they are in life: “Durability first. Then comfort. Out here, conditions are rough. But those Homeland boots, they’re lightweight, they meet safety standards, and they’re just plain comfortable.”

From the cab of a rig to the shop floor, Monty Eyler has built a legacy not with a spotlight but with his hands. With every calloused palm and long day, he’s shown what it really means to wear the boots of the homeland to build something that lasts, lead with humility, and leave the world a little stronger than you found it.

These are the Hands of the homeland.

Group of workers in safety gear and casual clothing standing and smiling near an oil pumpjack on a worksite, with one person holding a phone to capture the moment. Group of workers in safety gear and casual clothing standing and smiling near an oil pumpjack on a worksite, with one person holding a phone to capture the moment.