Van Wall Equipment earned top honors as Farm Equipment’s 2016 Dealership of the Year.

Despite the downturn in the ag economy, the independent judging panel once again had an impressive pool of candidates to choose in naming as this year’s Dealership of the Year recipient. Commenting on the pool of nominees the judges say, “We feel all nominees have done a very good job in profitability in view of the ‘down’ year in agriculture.”

After comparing all of the nominees, the judges made their choice and Farm Equipment’s 2016 Dealership of the Year is Van Wall Equipment, a John Deere dealership based in Perry, Iowa, with 16 ag locations. In addition to its ag equipment stores, Van Wall also boasts 2 power sports stores, 2 material handling, 3 Golf & Turf and 2 CCE stores.

In total, fellow dealers, employees, farmers, Dealership of the Year alumni and equipment suppliers nominated several dozen North American dealerships this year. Tom Rosztoczy, president/CEO of Stotz Equipment, a Dealership of the Year alum, says “Van Wall is a great choice for Dealership of the Year. They will bring honor to the honor. Don Van Houweling might be the smartest John Deere dealer there is.”

In addition to the Dealership of the Year, the judges also named two “Best-in-Class” dealers for 2016. This year’s “Best-in-Class” dealers are H&R Agri-Power of Hopkinsville, Ky., and Agri-Service of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Comparing Numbers

Combined, these 3 dealers accounted for $659,550,790 of total revenue in 2015. Revenue per employee came in just shy of $740,236 for the group. Together, they also produced an average parts and service absorption rate of 80.3% for the year. Return on assets for these top dealers averaged 5.3%.

As for the 2016 Dealership of the Year, Van Wall produced a ROA of 12% and an absorption rate of 105%, both the highest of all nominated dealers.

A Continuing Tradition

Farm Equipment’s Dealership of the Year program was established in 2005 “to elevate farm equipment dealerships that are leading the industry in best practices, operations management and customer care.”

Since that time, 24 dealerships from the U.S. and Canada have been honored as Dealerships of the Year. They are joined by 37 dealers who have been recognized as Best-in-Class dealerships. Together, these dealerships make up Farm Equipment’s Dealership of the Year alumni group and are instrumental in nominating their fellow dealers for recognition.

Words from Past Winners

“We were honored to receive the Dealership of the Year honor and humbled that we would be selected from so many fine dealerships. The award affirmed the efforts of our team to grow our business and care for our customers. It was a pleasure presenting the award to them. We also received congratulations from many of our long-time customers and suppliers who shared in the enjoyment of recognizing how hard everyone has worked to be a top class organization with which to do business.”

— Brian Carpenter, general manager,
Champlain Valley Equipment, Middlebury, Vt.
(2006 Dealership of the Year)

“Being named Dealership of the Year brought a great sense of pride to the entire dealership and has only increased my appreciation for the team working at Salem Farm Supply and for the significance of good human capital at a dealership. Dealerships of the Year are built on good ideas and good people. I am grateful that Salem Farm Supply has both.”

— Carole Lewis, General Manager,
Salem Farm Supply, Salem, N.Y.,
(2015 Dealership of the Year)

Class of 2016: Van Wall Equipment, Perry Iowa

READ ABOUT THIS YEAR'S WINNER DEALERSHIP OF THE YEAR ALUMNI GROUP

Nominate a dealer for 2017 Dealership of the Year

July/August 2016 Issue Contents