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Merger
on the plains
Farm implement dealerships join
forces, change names
[DEC.
21, 2000] Schmidt-Marcotte
Inc. of Atlanta and Pekin and George H. Dunn Inc. of Clinton and
Farmer City are joining forces. As of Jan. 1 they will be known as
Central Illinois Ag. Both dealerships are family-based businesses
that are well established in their communities. This merger is the
result of a changing agriculture base. The combined businesses will
meet the needs of their customers by providing more equipment
choices and better parts and service coverage while allowing for
technology enhancements. Central Illinois Ag will have 70 employees,
many of them with over 20 years experience.
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The
management team — Steve Schmidt, Dave Evans, Bill Marcotte, Tim Reeser, Mike
McCartney — will remain the same. Service and parts managers will also remain
the same at the four locations: Pekin, Atlanta, Clinton and Farmer City.
![](../images/ads/L-Cycle-Cen.gif)
Central
Illinois Ag will be a full-service dealership offering their customers
assistance in sales, service and parts for both new and used equipment.
Customers will continue to be served out of all four locations. The customer
base is primarily agricultural with some light construction and lawn and garden
equipment. Major lines are Case and New Holland. Other lines include Kinze, New
Idea, Bushhog, Woods, Land Pride, Landoll, DMI, M & W, Glencoe, Great
Plains, Brent, J & M, Hardi, Yetter, Cub Cadet, Dixon, Dixie Chopper,
Steiner, Grasshopper, Toro and Echo.
Background:
George H. Dunn, Inc.
George
H. Dunn is a family-owned Case IH dealership. It originated on May 15, 1947,
when George Dunn purchased the small International Harvester dealership from
Robert T. Cord. This dealership is located on the northwest corner of the square
in downtown Farmer City. The dealership has expanded over the years to include
several adjacent land parcels.
![](../images/122100pics/ciaowners_small.jpg)
In
1973, the company incorporated. Tim Reeser and Mike McCartney, sons-in-law of
the founder, became part owners with Dunn. In 1977, they acquired another
dealership from John McFetters in Clinton, in DeWitt County. Tim Reeser became
the manager of the Clinton location, leaving Mike McCartney in charge of the
Farmer City branch. In 1983, a newer and larger building with an additional 10
acres on Clinton’s east side was purchased by the corporation. This greatly
enhanced their ability to serve their customer base.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Background:
Schmidt-Marcotte, Inc.
Schmidt-Marcotte
marks five generations of the Schmidt family in the farm business and 102 years
of continuous service to the farming community. It is the oldest dealership in
Logan County. The business has changed from a one-man blacksmith shop in 1898 to
a multi-line dealership with $18 million in wholegoods sales and 35 employees.
Steady
growth of the business can be attributed to mergers and consolidations beginning
in 1984, when Case purchased International Harvester to become Case IH. Joining
forces with Bill Marcotte of Marcotte International in Lincoln in 1987 and Dave
Evans of Evans Implement in Lawndale in 1992 significantly broadened the service
and lines offered to their customers. "If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em"
could describe the Schmidt-Marcotte strategy. Acquiring the former Watson
dealership in Pekin in 1999 added lawn and garden equipment to the lineup.
Schmidt-Marcotte’s secret to success has been the ability to change with the
times yet maintain century-old values of customer service, quality employees and
hard work.
![](../images/ads/Eckerts.gif)
Central
Illinois Ag brings a rich heritage of service and experience to the agriculture
community. Central Illinois Ag is a one-stop shop for agricultural and lawn and
garden needs. Locations include Atlanta, 200 Sharon St., 1-800-762-2325; Pekin,
14646 Watson Road, 309-925-5550; Clinton, Route 10 east, 1-800-362-3866; and
Farmer City, 103-105 Main, 1-800-334-8942. Their website is at www.CENTRALILAG.com.
[Central
Illinois Ag news release]
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Top
Illinois award goes to Lincoln man
Illinois
Department of Agriculture recognizes Alan Gulso
[DEC.
19, 2000] The
founder of Save Our Illinois Soils (SOILS), the Illinois Department
of Agriculture’s new conservation tillage demonstration project,
was among the employees honored recently at the department’s 22nd
annual employee awards ceremony. Alan Gulso of Lincoln received the
Director’s Achievement Award, the department’s highest honor,
for creating SOILS.
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[click
here for information on seminars about SOILS project results]
The
project, which just completed its first year, is testing an alternative method
of producing corn, called strip-till, that preliminary research suggests
combines the erosion-reduction benefit of no-till with the high yields of
conventional tillage. If the project confirms the preliminary findings, Gulso
will use the results to encourage additional corn growers to adopt conservation
tillage practices.
![](../images/121900pics/Alan_Gulso.jpg)
[Alan Gulso]
"Alan
is a problem-solver," Illinois Agriculture Director Joe Hampton said while
presenting the award. "His innovative solutions not only have made the
Bureau of Land and Water Resources more effective, but also have ensured that
action is taken to preserve our natural resources for future generations of
Illinoisans."
Leonard
Jann, manager of the chemistry lab, and Brad Beaver of the Bureau of
Environmental Programs were runners-up for the award. Both are from Springfield.
Jann, a 39-year department veteran, was recognized for his efforts to improve
staff development and lab operations; Beaver was honored for his helpful
demeanor and job dedication, which co-workers say raise morale and motivate
them. Each was presented a certificate of recognition.
The
awards ceremony recognized employees for outstanding job performance and for
decades of dedicated service.
"These
people are true public servants," Hampton said. "The agriculture
department and the state of Illinois have benefited from their hard work,
enthusiasm and achievements."
The
Assistant Director’s Fellowship Award was presented to Sandi Cellini of
Springfield, an employee in the personnel office. The award honors an employee
who brings energy, enthusiasm and goodwill to the workplace.
Cheryl
Bluhm of the Division of Food Safety and Animal Protection and Nancy Daugherty
of the Bureau of Meat and Poultry were co-recipients of the Ron King Award for
Efficiency. Both were cited for their attention to detail, good work ethic and
professionalism. Bluhm lives in Riverton; Daugherty is a resident of
Springfield.
Ellen
Storment of Salem, supervisor of bacteriology for the Centralia Animal Disease
Lab, was presented the Ag Ambassador Award for her tireless effort and
enthusiasm. Storment, who is regarded as an authority in her field, juggles a
demanding schedule that includes speaking engagements with government health
agencies and agricultural associations, and she often works weekends and
holidays to make sure lab work gets done.
And,
Norm Thompson of the Bureau of County Fairs and Horseracing was given the
Commitment to Quality Award. Thompson, of Jacksonville, serves as a liaison
between the department and horse owners, and his fairness and professionalism
are credited with making the making the programs a success.
Another
84 employees, including a Mason City woman, were honored for 10, 20, 25 or 30
years of service. A complete list follows:
30 years
Walter
Black, Sherman
Paul
Honer, Cypress
Elizabeth
Jackson, Williamsville
Thomas
McKemie, Gilson
John
Norris, Auburn
Rae
Staskiewicz, Galesburg
25 years
Larry
Aldag, Springfield
Russell
Benjamin, Payson
Donna
Cloyd, Taylorville
Gilbert
Frier, Springfield
Herman
Jansen, Damiansville
Dennis
Kane, Springfield
Dannie
McKinney, Fairfield
Rosalie
Morgan, Springfield
Danny
Wright, Kansas
Constance
Zmrhalm, Springfield
[to top of second column in
this article]
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20 years
Vonnie
Beard, Springfield
Brenda
Buckles, Mechanicsburg
Steven
Chard, Springfield
Cheryle
Downs, Sherman
Karen
Fawns, Athens
Randy
Grove, Good Hope
Lori
Harmening, Athens
Angela
Kazakevicius, Carbondale
Margaret
Lowder, Petersburg
Marcella
Mitchell, Springfield
Kristy
Morrison, Dawson
Daniel
Nelson Jr., Fulton
Carol
Nolder, Springfield
Ronald
Okerson, Golconda
Phillip
Perry, Meredosia
Marilyn
Raney, Springfield
Glenn
Savage, Springfield
James
Stedelin, Centralia
C.
Randall Throckmorton, Petersburg
Susan
Vinson, Galesburg
Maryanna
Watson, Galesburg
Emanuel
Younkins, Chicago
10 years
Thomas
Backs, Petersburg
Brian
Bearden, Taylorville
James
Beasley, Pinckneyville
Michael
Beierman, Peotone
Truman
Burge, Springfield
Wendy
Call, Springfield
Daniel
Connelly, Makanda
Melissa
Cotton, Naperville
Joseph
D’Alessandro, Springfield
Paul
Danna, Springfield
Darrell
Degraff, Lanark
Bonnie
Dunker, Mason City
Pamela
Flesher, Springfield
Melanie
Floyd, Winchester
Jerry
Freeland, Vandalia
Wallen
Good, Belleville
Kimberly
Scott Hamilton, Chatham
Mark
Hemker, Bartelso
William
Houghton, Wheaton
Mark
Jarvis, Springfield
Gerald
Kirbach, Arenzville
James
Klier, Newton
Robin
Knoepfle, Springfield
Dennis
Koelling, Bartelso
Marvin
Koldenhoven, Beecher
Richard
Lachapelle, Palatine
Gary
Longo, Chicago Heights
Adrian
Magnuson, Walnut
Robert
Marino, Chicago
Krzysztof
Mazurczak, Des Plaines
Traci
McCauley, Pleasant Plains
Linda
McQuinn, Springfield
Dennis
Morris, Springfield
Jeffrey
Norris, Lansing
Douglas
Owens, Sherman
Aldis
Rapsys, Chicago
Delayne
Reeves, Sherman
Stuart
Selinger, Springfield
Ronald
Settles, Colchester
Eric
Stone, Riverton
Robert
Sutphin, Ashland
Theodore
Tinkham, Cameron
Kyran
Wagenecht, Prophetstown
Jeffrey
Warner, Donnellson
Robert
Waters, Payson
Marilyn Wright,
Taylorville
[Illinois
Department of Agriculture news release]
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Lincoln
Ag Center
1441 State
Route 10 East
Lincoln, IL
217-732-7948
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Seminars
scheduled to release SOILS project results
[DEC.
19, 2000]
Results
from the first year of an Illinois Department of Agriculture field study that is
testing a new method of producing corn will be announced at a series of five tillage
seminars.
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Crop
yields and other data gathered at each of the 12 farms participating in Save Our
Illinois Soils (SOILS) will be presented during the seminars, which begin Jan. 4
at Rend Lake Community College and end Feb. 2 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau
in Sycamore. Other seminars are scheduled Jan. 11 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana,
Jan. 18 at the Jacksonville Inn and Feb. 1 at the Holiday Inn Brandywine in
Peoria.
![](../images/ads/Pacesetter/PaceSetter.gif)
SOILS
is studying the effectiveness of fall strip-till, an alternative production
method that, according to preliminary research, produces the same or higher
yields than conventional tillage and reduces soil erosion similar to no-till.
Each
seminar will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and include an explanation of the
SOILS project, a discussion of strip-till equipment and management basics, and
the release of the 2000 results, as well as presentations about tillage issues
that are specific to the local area.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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![](../images/ads/iga/iga.gif)
Registration
costs $10. To reserve a seat, write a check for that amount payable to the
University of Illinois Extension and mail it to the county extension office that
is hosting the seminar. A complete list follows. The registration fee includes a
lunch and is due one week before the date of the seminar.
The tillage
seminars also will feature exhibits from a variety of Illinois agribusinesses
and qualify for continuing education credit hours in soil and water conservation
for certified crop advisors. In addition to the Department of Agriculture,
sponsors include the University of Illinois Extension, U.S. Natural Resources
Conservation Service and state soil and water conservation districts.
[from
www.agr.state.il.us/newsrels/r1205001.htm]
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SOILS
tillage seminars |
Date |
Location |
Host |
Jan. 4 |
Rend Lake Community College
Rend Lake |
Franklin Extension Unit
1212 Rt. 14 West
Benton, IL 62812
(618) 439-3178 |
Jan. 11 |
Holiday Inn
Urbana |
Champaign Extension Unit
801 N. Country Fair Dr., Suite D
Champaign, IL 61821
(217) 333-7672 |
Jan. 18 |
Jacksonville Inn
Jacksonville |
Morgan Extension Unit
104 N. Westgate Avenue
Jacksonville, IL 62650
(217) 243-7424 |
Feb. 1 |
Holiday Inn Brandywine
Peoria |
Peoria Extension Unit
4810 N. Sheridan Road
Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 685-3140 |
Feb. 2 |
DeKalb County Farm Bureau
Sycamore |
DeKalb Extension Unit
1350 West Prairie Drive
Sycamore, IL 60178-3166
(815) 758-8194 |
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