One of the most visible farm equipment dealers in the High Plains will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020.
American Implement, a John Deere dealer based in Garden City, Kansas, was established in 1970 when Duane and Kathy Koster purchased American Tractor and Implement Company and changed the name to the iconic American Implement. From a single store in Garden City with four employees, American Implement has grown to 15 locations in Kansas and one in Walsh, Colorado, and now has 400 employees.
“What makes American Implement succeed is our wonderful customers and our dedicated employees who are the difference makers,” said Chad Koster, American Implement’s CEO and the son of Duane and Kathy Koster, noting the firm’s motto has been the basis of its success for nearly half a century. “We are passionately committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products, most innovative solutions and services delivered with integrity and professionalism.”
Two of Chad’s sons, Brad and Jared, are involved in the dealership’s operation and Duane Koster remains active, too. Other significant owners in the organization include Bill, Deborah Wall and Mike Wall. Mike is a store manager in Montezuma.
Over the past 50 years the company, like the customers it serves, has seen many changes, according to Chad Koster and Director of Sales Nick Ortner.
“Technology has been one of the most significant changes with e-commerce. Business is transacted through the internet and online,” Ortner said. “Hosting services provide customers with a larger array of options that were not available in the past. The market is as competitive as it has ever been because of that. It has been good for the customers and they are more knowledgeable than ever because of information available from manufacturers and dealers.”
The industry itself has seen many changes that have included consolidation in customer base and dealer organizations, Koster said. American Implement’s success has been focused on building relationships with each customer, regardless of size of operation.
“Every customer and producer is important,” he said. “There are fewer farmers today. It is critical that we pay attention to their ever changing needs.”
American Implement has had to grow to be able to provide the products, services and support its customers need to be successful, the CEO said.
The company has a support team that includes people to help provide support to store managers in the local communities. They include Director of Sales Nick Ortner, Director of Parts Scott Kells, Director of Service Robert Webb, Assistant Director of Sales Bradley Koster, Director of Precision Ag and Technology Rustin Ardery, Irrigation Manager Chase Nickell and Chief Financial Officer Emmett Averitt.
It is at each American Implement store the core values shine, Chad Koster and Ortner say.
Even with 16 stores, American Implement’s philosophy is to treat each store as an independent operation intertwined in the community to serve farmers and ranchers. Each store has an overall manager plus a parts and a service manager and they can make local decisions knowing that the support team in Garden City is there to assist them.
“We want that team to be the face of that organization and in the community,” Koster said.
“We know they like to work with customer(s) and make decision(s) at the local level,” Ortner said. “We have empowered people to manage at the local level.”
Plus, the support team can help when called upon, which in the end that helps the customer, Ortner said.
“There is a customer behind everything we do,” Koster said, adding it fits into a slogan he likes to share. “We detail, service and the technician completes an inspection on most all of our trade-in equipment. It will always be priced competitively in the market.”
Future plans
American Implement’s current plans include focusing on taking care of customers and making good strategic decisions, Koster said. “If we don’t do that we won’t have a business.”
Important in the strategy is recruiting, retaining and training employees, which Koster said are all necessary in serving customers in rural communities.
“We want to bring in good employees and provide the best training and coaching that we can,” he said.
Optimism
Although agriculture is facing a tougher economic climate with lower commodity prices, Koster said he enjoys being with a company that helps High Plains farmers and ranchers who have taken on the admirable task of feeding the world.
The world’s population will grow to 9 billion people by 2050, which means about 83 million people are added each year to the planet.
“There is tremendous need for what we produce,” he said. “Obviously to meet that need we will need to continually get our productivity and efficiency improved.”
While the agriculture and farm equipment industries facing a cyclical economy that experiences good and bad times, he said, “It is still an awesome business and an awesome industry. We know we work in an industry with great people and no one can do it better than the American farmer and rancher.”
“The resiliency of our customers, their work ethic and what they put in the business is unmatched,” Ortner said. “We know our future is good if we add value to what they do.”
Koster noted that in many of the communities American Implement serves there has been a growth in the dairy industry and beef production over the years.
The CEO also said it was appropriate to recognize the long-time tie it has with John Deere, the world’s No. 1 producer of farm machinery.
“We represent the best manufacturer in the world,” he said. “Since 1837, John Deere has delivered produts and services to support those linked to the land. John Deere is stable and solid. Just like American Implement, we are stable and solid.”
Relationship with HPJ
High Plains Journal has enjoyed a successful relationship with American Implement. Koster and Ortner said American Implement’s customers read each edition and they know they are checking classifieds and advertising as well as reading stories to keep them informed about what is going on in their industry.
“The opportunity to be in there and showcase what products are available is important and hopefully a customer sees that and picks up the phone or goes to the website and we have an opportunity to get another customer to build a relationship with,” Ortner said. “It truly has been a good partnership with American Implement.”
Chad said his father Duane always believed in what HPJ did for American Implement.
“I joined American Implement in 1992 and every year we have been a big advertiser,” he said. “I know others have dropped their ad size or dropped out completely but we can see the value.”
Like their customers, the relationship with High Plains Journal was cultivated with caring employees who wanted to serve their clients. One of those advertising representatives was the late Mike Jones.
“We were so fond of the people who have worked with us but in particular Mike who took great care of us and he made sure our ads were accurate and hand delivered every Friday and that meant a ton to Duane and all of us at American Implement.”
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
