MENDOTA, Ill. – Holland & Sons Inc. and Kelly Sauder Rupiper Equipment LLC, two family owned and operated John Deere dealerships deeply rooted in North Central Illinois, plan to merge effective late January 2021. The combination of these companies will enhance each entity’s ability to maximize service to homeowners, landscapers and farmers – together.

The new organization will operate as Prairie State Tractor LLC and employ over 200 people. Prairie State Tractor will be the responsible John Deere dealer for the territory as far west as the Mississippi River, extending up to the Wisconsin border, and down into Central Illinois. Dealership locations will continue to operate out of Dixon, Freeport, Geneseo, Lacon, Mendota, Pontiac, Princeton and Streator. The Mendota location will serve as the corporate headquarters.

“Expanding our reach in today’s agricultural world is essential,” says Todd Holland, Board Chairman and inventory manager for Prairie State Tractor. “By combining our resources, we can offer a more expansive equipment selection and product offerings. Customers in our area are blessed with some of the best agricultural land in the world, and we are excited to grow with them.”

“This new partnership greatly expands our ability to better serve you as a customer,” says Chris Rupiper, chief executive officer for Prairie State Tractor. “You’ll continue to see the same faces you’ve worked with for years but will now benefit from access to more focused specialists.”

“We have like-minded owners and operations; it made perfect sense to take the next step and come together as a dealer group,” adds Rupiper. “We may be operating under a different name, but our reputation for strong customer service remains the same. We remain committed to ensuring our customers continue to receive the same support and service they have become accustomed to for generations.”

Prairie State Tractor will build on this rich tradition to bring the same high level of customer service along with new offerings that are made possible by expanded talent and geographic area. Management and employees look forward to the many benefits provided by this new partnership.

New company leadership will consist of many familiar faces. In addition to Chris Rupiper and Todd Holland, the leadership team will include Tony Morrow (Chief Financial Officer), Zack Sauder (Eastern Region Sales Manager), Ty Holland (Western

Region Sales Manager), Matt Aeschleman (Used Equipment Manager), Paul Kelly (Human Resources Manager), Matt Holland (Marketing Manager), Klint Rice (Small Tractor/Turf Manager), Brett Dewey (Aftermarket Manager), and Jonathan Koch (Integrated Solutions Manager).

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