Explorer: OPE Across America – July 2022
Check out the following news from outdoor power equipment dealerships around the country in the past few weeks:
Janestown, Wisconsin – Johnson Tractor (www.johnsontractor.com) has acquired Value Implement, which will add four new Wisconsin locations to the company’s existing roster; founded in 1992, Value Implement provides a range of consumer, construction and ag equipment, primarily representing the Case IH, New Holland and Kubota lines. Johnson Tractor will now have a total of nine locations – three in Illinois and six in Wisconsin. Eric Reuterskiold, CEO and president of Johnson Tractor, says: “This acquisition will allow us expand the ‘Land to Lawn’ customer-centric values to the employees and customers in west central Wisconsin. As the Johnson Tractor family grows so does our ability to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s consumer, construction and agriculture partners at the highest level possible.”
Johnstown, Pennsylvania – Pristow’s Outdoor Power Equipment (pristows.com) has acquired Bobcat of Martinsburg. Established in 1969, the company operates two Pristow’s locations in Pennsylvania; this marks its second Bobcat location (and it’s constructing a third). “Bobcat of Martinsburg has a longstanding history as the leading dealer for Bobcat equipment in Blair County. It made sense to take on this location and make our family of dealerships even stronger, and to continue to provide our customers with the best service and products in west-central Pennsylvania,” says Boyd Wingard, president of Pristow’s Equipment Group. Pristow’s will now sell Bad Boy Mowers in addition to the Bobcat brand of tractors, loaders, excavators and mowers.
Hicksville, New York – Chief Equipment (chiefequip.com) has been acquired by United Ag & Turf, which has more than 50 locations across the Northeast and offers a complete lineup of John Deere products. Locally owned and operated since 1995, Chief has locations in Hicksville and Calverton, New York. On its website, it notes that it is one of the largest suppliers of outdoor power equipment and parts to New York City, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Leacock Twp, Pennsylvania – Hoober Inc. (hoober.com) has been approved for a loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA), which will allow the company to construct a 22,400-square-foot freestanding building directly adjacent to its existing facility in Lancaster County. The project will include upgrades and site improvements to the existing building and will add a connection between the two structures, resulting in a new entrance, offices, restrooms and a meeting room. The company has committed to retaining 86 jobs within three years, reports the state.
West Palm Beach, Florida – Florida Coast Equipment (floridacoasteq.com) has partnered with Trackhouse Racing and the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, driven by Ross Chastain. As a result, the dealership notes, “We will have a significant presence at the NASCAR Cup Series races in Daytona on August 27th and Homestead on October 23rd. Chastain is a native of Alva, Florida, and an 8th-generation watermelon farmer!” Chastain, quoted on the company’s Linkedin page, says: “Florida Coast equipment has great equipment and a great reputation, and we can’t wait for them to help us out on the farm.”
Buckhannon, West Virginia – Middletown Tractor Sales (middletowntractor.com) had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Buckhannon store in July, officially introducing the dealership to the Buckhannon community. The event, sponsored by the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce, included an antique tractor show, a Stihl equipment giveaway and a free lunch for all attendees. Middletown Tractor has dealerships in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Jackson, Georgia — Central Georgia EMC (cgemc.com), an electric utility cooperative, is now using a fleet of 16 Husqvarna Automowers to tend to its 75-acre campus. On Earth Day, the utility partnered with Husqvarna to host a lunch-and-learn demo to emphasize the benefits of robotic mowing. “Part of our business is selling kilowatt-hours,” said CGEMC COO Ben Thomason in an article posted to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s website. “As folks transition from gasoline combustion to battery-powered devices, they’ve got to charge them.”
