Whether it’s giving to the local school district athletic programs or getting involved in FFA and 4-H groups, Reynolds Farm Equipment, Atlanta, Ind., makes it a point to give back to the community on a regular basis.

“If you look at our calendar, it would be very rare that there’s a month there’s not something going on,” says Gary Reynolds, owner of Reynolds Farm Equipment, the 2018 Farm Equipment Dealership of the Year. Click here for the full article
Reynolds says the dealership is very visible in the community as a result. Take 4-H for instance.

“We’re probably one of the strongest dealers by far in the state of Indiana in 4-H. We’re very visible at the livestock auctions and things,” he says.
Some of the community events the dealership involves itself with allow it to show of its equipment. For instance, Reynolds regularly hosts “touch-a-truck” events, a free event that allows children to see large vehicles up close. This includes not only farm equipment, such as combines and tractors, but also things like concrete mixers, heavy-hauling semis and first-responder units from local police and fire departments.
Still other endeavors aren’t related to the dealership or farm equipment at all. Reynolds says the company sponsors a hot-air balloon at the Conner Prairie outdoor museum in Fishers, Ind.

“You would think, ‘what has that got for us?’ But those are wholesome things,” says Reynolds.

The executive team points out the dealership receives no sort of tangible financial benefit from doing these things. But that isn’t what matters, they say.
“We were out with a community garden just a couple weeks ago … that is working on feeding the hungry [by] growing tomatoes and vegetables to actually put fresh produce into food pantries. So, one of our guys gave up half of his day and a little bit of time on a machine and tilled their garden,” says Mitch Frazier, CEO of Reynolds Farm Equipment. “O.K., it’s 4 acres, it’s half a day. It’s not a lot of work. But the fact that hundreds of people will be able to eat fresh produce who may not have had the opportunity to eat fresh produce, how do you account for that on an income statement or a balance sheet? You don’t.”
Reynolds Farm Equipment may best be known by many for its annual massive display of Christmas lights at its Fishers location.

Starting about 20 years ago, employees began hanging Christmas lights at the front of the store. At first, they hung lights around farm equipment, but now the employees have gotten more involved by making the frames being illuminated by the lights. The displays have featured sports figures, an Indy Car vignette and plenty more.

Reynolds says the display, which costs a good chunk of change, is for the enjoyment of the community and serves no marketing purpose.
“Now, with the Christmas lights, we don’t put out any press on that because that’s not the intention,” he says. “It’s been expensive at times — it usually is. But at the end of the day, we feel good about it. I feel good about it.”