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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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]

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 22^nd annual employee awards ceremony. Alan Gulso of Lincoln received the Director’s Achievement Award, the department’s highest honor, for creating SOILS.

[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.

[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

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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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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.

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.

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.

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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]

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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