The Citizen, 1996-07-19, Page 10Congratulations
on your successful
implication in the
agricultural community.
May our flourishing
relationship continue for
many years to come.
Sincerely,
from all of us at
Mark Andre Pelledier
Ontario Representative
Luc Choiniere
President
Gabriel Choiniere
Vice President
George Choiniere
Marketing Director
KONGSKILDE 231 Thames Rd. E., Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S3
Tel: (519) 235-0840 / Fax: (519) 235-2931
Manufacturers of
Kongskilde Plows - CLEAR RESIDUE AND
REDUCE SECONDARY TILLAGE PASSES
Now ... the best of both worlds
Soil Conservation and ... Higher Yields
• Preserves Moisture • Greater Residue Clearance
• More Complete Germination • Conserves Top Soil
For years, more bean, corn, cotton and sugar beet farmers chose a Kongskilde
Triple K Cultivator to create an ideal seedbed. The result is better germination
and higher yields!
Today, changing tillage practices towards less field trips and more surface
residue creates a greater need for a good inner seedbed structure, providing for
good soil to seed contact, depth accuracy and moisture retention.
The New Kongskilde "5 Bar" 3500 Cultivator concept with unique vibrating
Conser-Tine design provides just that!
The Kongskilde plow was designed with performance features that fit
reduced secondary tillage practices.
CLEARS RESIDUE
Kongskilde plows have adjustable furrow widths from 12" to 22". The
trips and coulters are readily adjustable to allow good "tunnel" clearance
for heavy "corn stalk" residue.
UNIFORM LEVELNESS
The new "XL Body" mouldboard and frog design moves soil evenly for
distribution of the furrow slice. This provides for good soil structure and
organic matter integration in heavy soils. This also maintains a level
surface and reduces secondary tillage passes.
Kongskilde products are used by leading farmers In over 60 countries of the world!
CONGRATULATIONS on your Grand Opening and 60 years of service to the Agricultural Business
SALUTE TO McGAVIN'SIJULY 1996 PAGE 11.
Business outgrew farm shop by1950
Continued from page 10
activity as farmers came to buy, to have
machinery repaired and to chat about local
affairs. Mrs. McGavin (Florence) always
had a bountiful table for those who
lingered until mealtime.
Many young people were given a
chance to work in the shop.
Given Gordon's interest in plowing, it
was natural that among his first lines were
Oliver plows, which he helped publicize at
the plowing matches he won. He also sold
cultivators, manure spreaders and
Cockshutt tractors.
By 1950, the business had outgrown the
farm, so Gordon moved the operation to
an old building at the corner of Huron
County Rds. 25 and 12, the main corner of
Walton. The office was a converted
chicken house at the back corner of the
shop. It contained a table, desk and radio
to hear the company's advertisement.
In 1952 an ad on CKNX cost $1 — "a
doller and a holler", — Doc Cruickshank,
Gordon's friend and CNX founder, used to
say.
Gordon ran into a problem in 1958, that
has been repeated time and again
throughout the company history. He had
been a dealer with Cockshutt Co.
equipment for over 20 years, The
company, however, was unhappy that he
sold equipment from other short-line
manufacturers as well, companies such as
New Holland and the new imported
Nuffield tractors. Cockshutt issued an
ultimatum; stop selling Nuffield tractors
or they'd take away the dealership. Gordon
refused and Cockshutt pulled out.
Eventually the official who made that
decision, was fired and Cockshutt asked
Gordon to reconsider. However, in the
meantime he struck out on a policy that
made McGavins a popular supplier 14
farmers; rather than carry the products of
only one company, they specialized in
short lines from dozens of suppliers.
Gordon found it much easier to deal with
small companies than big ones and wanted
no part of returning to the former
arrangement.
The wisdom of the decision was proven
when Cockshutt disappeared from the
farm machinery map while McGavin's
continued to grow.
Customer service became the key to
Gordon's success. This meant long hours:
8 a.m. to 10 p.m., six days a week. As
business thrived, a series of events in 1963
led to a move for the place of business. In
1962, the Walton community decided to
build a new school. However, the
provincial government slapped a freeze on
school construction. They would allow it
only if a school board had started
construction or bought the land.
Gordon purchased the property on
which the school was to be built, then
traded the school board for the old
building and overnight the school
qualified to proceed.
Arca students continued attending
classes in the old school, which is located
on the west side of County Road 12, in
Morris Twp, until the new one across the
Continued on page 12