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Times -Advocate, January 30, 1985
Annual show Monday, Tuesday
Huron Tractor celebrates 25 years in business
Huron Tractor will be celebrating
two important anniversaries this
coming week.
Not only will Monday and Tues-
day's annual farm and industrial
show be the 10th anniversary, the
company is also celebrating 25 years
in business at the same Exeter loca-
tion on Highway 4, north of Highway
83.
The local John Deere dealership
has grown from a small two-man
operation in 1961 to today with a total
of 51 employees at three locations.
Huron Tractor has been the largest
John Deere dealership in the province
of Ontario for a dozen years and has
been the top sales producer in Canada
for seven years.
The.company was started by Jack
Van Bussel in the original 3,000
square footage building. He was join-
ed shortly afterwards by Harry
Winters. The two men met in hospital
where their wives were in the mater-
nity ward.
Of the beginning Jack Van Bussell
reflects, "It was a real interesting
time. I was the sales personnel and
Harry the mechanic and janitor. We
didn't have any parts people."
Van Bussel continued, "Our first
customer was Harold Elder of the
Hensall area. He purchased a 4010
tractor for about $5,500. Today that
machine has a better used value than
it did when new. Harold Elder is still
a customer and a good friend."
Huron Tractor is now a partnership
of five men. Joining Van Bussel and
Winters were Herb Verbeek in 1971,
Earl Long in 1973 and Bruce
Hasselback in 1976.
The Exeter facility has grown over
the years and buildings now cover
about one acre of land. The main
building has a square footage of 30,000
and the Trade Barn covers 16,000
square feet.
During the past year the Huron
Tractor facility at Blyth has been ex-
panded considerably from its
establishmentlin 1973. At Blyth Earl
Long is the manager and Kevin
Buchanan is the co-ordinator.
At Walkerton, Dashwood native
Wayne O'Rourke is in charge of the
Huron Tractor operation as owner -
manager.
Jack Van Bussel says the highlight
of the 25 years in business has been
the computerizing of the dealerships
in 1978 interconnecting the Exeter
Jack Van Bussel
Harry Winters
Herb Verbeek
Bruce Hasselback
operation with Blyth and Walkerton.
The first self propelled John Deere
combine sold by Huron Tractor went
to Louis and Stephen Dietrich of
Dashwood. Van Bussel added, "We
sold four combines in 1961 and the 95
model was the largest. In 1963 we sold highest sales in 1979. After a downturn
25 corn planters of the four row varie- through 1961 to 1983, the just conclud-
ty and the next year we mechandis- ed year of 1984 was the second best in
ed 25 John Deere 40-20 tractors. the company's history.
The company recorded temendous Van Busse! added, "Sales may
growth through the 1970's with the have been down some years, but, we
always did well according to the na-
PRESENT HURON TRACTOR FACILITY AT EXETER
JOHN [DEERE
SEVEN
tional average. 1 can credit that to our
aggressive service department."
The Trade Barn at Exeter enables
Huron Trator to merchandise used
combines and large horse power trac-
tors. It is the only one of its :mid in
Ontario.
The Farm and Industry show at
Huron Tractor will be open from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, February
4 and Tuesday, February 5.
('limb aboard for on -film field ac-
tion of new John Deere machines.
D TRA T • R — The founder of Huron Tractor Jack Van Bussel admires the gold tractors
won b the firm as top John Deere dealers in Canada.
%-%
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COM VISIT US AT OUR
10th ANNUAL
FARM INDUSTRY SHOW
Monday & Tuesday. February 4 & 5
10:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M.
Help us celebrate *25 years of serving Huron County
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CLIMB ABOARD
FIELp FOR ON -FILM
JOHN DEERE OF NEW
ERE MACHINES W
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'85 FARMING FRONTIERS OUR �I�I
Monday �
10 and Tuesdoy
a.m. p.m.
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VP or
HURON
TRAcIlrn
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Door prizes
WM MY Ole ON SERVICE_
EXETER (519) 235-1115
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SQ.FT.
THE LARGEST INDOOR DISPLAY
OF USED EQUIPMENT
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