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-n J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR Arnold and Gail Kerry have spent the past 25 years working and building their John Deere dealership into one of the most successful farm implement dealerships in the area. The company Is celebrating its anniversary this year and Is in the process of expanding to Omemee. a EE ----~ toe I --_-- _---- Congratulations Utica Farm! 4a Kathy, Art, Peter, John & Mark 1610 McEwen Drive, Unit 9, 10, 11 Whitby ¢ 436-3030 Toronto Line 427-3053 Acklands « Limited or Fax: 436-3475 OULD LIKE TO EXTEND THEIR SINCEREST REGARDS TO UTICA FARM ON A SUCCESSFUL 25 YEARS. CONGRATULATIONS & CONTINUED SUCCESS, » R R. 4 Elmira, Ontario * (519) 664-3752 AY ER LD $= / he ca By Julia Dempsey Port Perry Star Utica Farm Equipment is cel- ebrating 25 years of service to Scugog Township and sur- rounding area. When the John Deere dealer- ship opened for business in 1967, Arnold Kerry and his partner and father-in-law Char- lie Cottyn took their entire in- ventory of two tractors and two plows to the Port Perry Fair. The display may sound small by today's standards, but it was a thrilling beginning for the new entrepreneurs. "We thought Wow'," recalls Arnold's wife Gail, referring to the magnitude and excitement of the venture. Today with their large inven- tory at the Utica dealership, the secret of their success has been their constant effort to meet the changing needs of their custom- ers and providing top quality parts and service. * kk kk How did those years goby. That's a question Gail Kerry wonders about, for it seems like only yesterday her husband Ar- nold, a licensed mechanic, and her father Charlie, a welder, opened the dealership and re- pairshop. Like most new business ven- tures the whole family got in- volved, working long hours to ensure its success. There's no better motivator than having one's own life sav- ings invested and no better teacher than experience itself, the Kerrys say. The dealership first operated out of a 40" by 70" quansit-style building. In 1971, a 560" by 80' service shop was added to meet the growing needs in that de- partment. A second expansion was added in 1979 making the dealership 14,000 square feet in size. The addition included a showroom, a small engine shop, complete parts area and offices. Arnold and Gail became the sole proprietors of Utica Farm Equipment in 1974 when they purchased the Cottyn"s interest inthe company. Although Arnold had worked at an area Massey Ferguson dealership for eight years be- fore opening the John Deere franchise, there was still a lot of learning involved in operating one'sown dealership. The Kerrys say they are fortu- nate to be part ofthe John Deere family, saying the main compa- ny provides all kinds of parts and service training programs and ongoing business manage- ment courses to keep dealers current with todays technolo zy Thiscommitment by the head office has made the Kerrys feel like part of a family since the very beginning. In turn, the Kerrys have passed that family feeling on to their own employ- ees. Utica Farm Equipment cur- rently employs about 20 people, many of whom have been with the dealership for many years. <9 years service A | farming community [P< FEU IF IVIEN"T LX I. \ d. NC Salesman Bruce Smith and ser- vice manager John Vanstrien have been with the company for 23 and 20 years respectively. The eight employees working in the repair shop have a combined total of 79 years at Utica Farm Equipment. Because of the low staff turn- over, the entire staff has become one big family, sharing in the good times, and helping out in the bad times. Gail jokes that if a guy brings the same girl to two successive Christmas parties, the staff knows it's a serious relation- ship. "We've watched them get married, have children, and watched those children grow up," Gail says. The Kerrys give their staff full marks. "This place is the od staff. We couldn't do it without them." The community is also very important to the Kerrys. "We feel the community has been good to us and we owe a great debt to them," Arnold says. "We must support itin any way we can." And they do so by providing the use of their tractors and oth- er equipment at functions such as the Santa Claus Parade, Port Perry Fair and the Tractor Pull. Being involved in the commu- nity just comes naturally for the family. As well as serving as president of the Ontario Retail Farm Equipment Dealers Asso- ciation in 1987, Arnold has also served on the local agricultural societies in numerous capaci- ties. Gail has been a 4-H leader Turnto Page 19 Arnold and Gail Kerry, owners of Utica Farm Equipment, pic- tured in 1979 during the opening of their large new showroom, small engine shop, complete parts area, and offices. CLR ERLE RRR RARER RER RELL EERE REE LEER RRR RE Congratulations to Utica Farm 15 Broadway St., Hawkesville, Ont. (519) 699-4545 SUL ns 220000000000 000000000000 000000000808 000008000000000000890000000008 00800 an En nnmmmm = ILLES a WA 8 a AEE