Premier equipment strengthens reach with new acquisition

Dec 18, 2024
By Denise Faguy
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Premier equipment expands with Hutchinson deal

Premier Equipment, a John Deere dealership in southwestern Ontario, has reached an agreement to acquire Hutchinson Farm Supply, effective January 31, 2025. Hutchinson, which has been in business for 60 years, has served agriculture and rural property owners in York and Durham regions.

“It has been a pleasure providing John Deere equipment and service to our customers for so many years,” said Bob Armstrong, General Manager of Hutchinson, who has been the dealership owner since purchasing it from founder Keith Hutchinson in 1986.

This acquisition marks Premier Equipment’s first since its founding in 2011, after focusing on enhancing customer support through modernized facilities, expanded parts capacity, improved service capabilities, and a focus on precision agriculture.

As part of the acquisition, Armstrong will retire, expressing gratitude for his team and the opportunity to support farmers and the community. “I am very thankful for my staff, proud of the business, and grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to support farmers and the community. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the team at Premier, and I am excited for what the future holds for our team and the customers we serve,” said Armstrong.

“We intend to build on the foundation of service and dedication that Bob and his team have established over the last 60 years,” said Allan Dueck, President of Premier Equipment. “We look forward to the opportunity to share resources and the potential for growth that being part of a larger dealership brings for staff and customers.”

Premier Equipment plans to take over operations on February 3, 2025, subject to necessary approvals and final due diligence.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.