Fifty years after becoming the first authorized John Deere dealer in Fresno County, Calif., Fresno Equipment Company put on a celebration to thank its decades of loyal customers and partners.

With locations in Fresno and Five Points, the company supplies customer's throughout Fresno and Madera counties with agricultural and landscape vehicles and equipment, including brands like John Deere, KCI, Stihl and many others.

The company was incorporated in 1961 by Mark Vucovich when John Deere was looking for a Central California presence in which to sell its line of tractors and other harvesting equipment. The company now employs 63 in the Central Valley selling everything from harvesters, sprayers and scrapers to skid steers, mowers and utility vehicles.

Aside from hundreds of customers and suppliers that showed up, representatives from John Deere also made an appearance, presenting Fresno Equipment Company with a plaque honoring its 50 years in of dedicated sales.

In addition to winning the 2010 Ag Business of the Year Award from CPA firm Baker, Peterson & Franklin and several prestigious John Deere awards, Fresno Equipment is also a proud supporter of ag education, most notably in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at California State University, Fresno. 

"We're a full service John Deere dealership, meaning we have sales, parts and services in both locations," said owner Marsha Vucovich, who took over the company with her father's passing in 1980. "We have field salesmen, field technicians. We have the latest in John Deere business systems that manage our inventory and all of our administrative moves. We have a very close, strong relationship with John Deere."