A family-owned agricultural machinery company acquired three John Deere dealerships in South Carolina earlier this month.

The Times and Democrat reports Blanchard Equipment of Columbia bought Guess Farm Equipment's three John Deere dealerships. The deal for the stores in St. Matthews, Orangeburg and Hampton closed March 1.

"The addition of these three stores will allow us to expand our opportunity to provide quality John Deere products and proves our commitment to expand and improve services to our customers," Betsy McMahon, Blanchard Equipment human resource manager, told the news publication.

Blanchard stores now operates eight stores in South Carolina and Georgia. The company sells John Deere lawn, garden and agricultural equipment. Some of that equipment includes John Deere sprayers, John Deere mowers and John Deere 4WD tractors.

The acquisition is expected to create at minimum two new jobs. The Orangeburg site will need a salesperson while the St. Matthews office will need a truck driver

"We are sure this will be a positive change for our new customers and hope to pass on the benefits to them," the human resources manager said.