The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Business marks 90 years of service
A long line of tractors have rumbled through town each year. Wellington Implement Co. Inc. has been in business for 90 years. And now, every year on Feb. 5 will be known as Wellington Implement Day in Wellington in celebration of the nearly century-old family business. Wellington Mayor Hans Schneider issued an official proclamation Feb. 5 during the company’s 90th anniversary and Customer Appreciation Day celebration. The third and fourth generation family-owned business, which supplies new and used farm equipment, invited their customers, farmers and others to help them celebrate since first coming to town in 1929. Patti Young, co-owner of Wellington Implement, said for the last 75 years, the company has appreciated support from its customers and decided to host a day of food with chili or sauerkraut hot dogs and ice cream, and coming together. Guests filled the Wellington Implement facility, 625 S. Main St., for the dual celebration while looking at the latest Case IH farm, lawn care and gardening equipment. Young said she’s been with the company for over 20 years after being asked to work alongside her family business. Her grandfather Willard Young was the founder, but his wife, Eva Young, took over the business after he died more than five years later when he was hit by a train off of state route 58, Patti Young said. Her father, Robert Young, was her grandparents’ eldest son who worked daily in the business, serving many farmers. She recalled the business growing over the last 90 years serving the farming population in Wellington, students at Lorain County Joint Vocational School, participants of Lorain County Fair and those in 4H clubs. Wellington Implement moved to its current location from the original downtown facility about 18 years ago to have a new and larger building suitable for materials and customers. “One location for about 89 years, and to now have two, is a big deal,” Young said. “Lorain County has always been important to our family.”
Expansion
Wellington Implement is undergoing an expansion. The company is opening a new facility in Ashland in early 2018 and is planning to open another location in March at 6080 Norwalk Road in Medina, she said. The Ashland location was previously an Ashland Implement farming business located at 1145 Cleveland Ave., and now is similar in products to the Wellington location. The Medina facility will cater to more lawn care and gardening equipment rather than Case IH tractor and farming supplies, according to Tom Stannard, general manager of Wellington Implement and great-grandson to Eva Young. It’s special to be a part of a family business that has been around nearly a century, Stannard said. He said it’s not only the customer support that has helped the business grow, but the staff that has made the business successful. “With our expansion, it says a lot about our team,” Stannard said. The employees are trustworthy and ready to help provide the best service to their customers, he said. John Myers, a farmer from west of Toledo, attended the celebration. Myers said he does business with Wellington Implement because the staff reminds him of how business was done in the past with his hometown dealer. “They treat you how they should and give you great service,” he said. “It’s the people you deal with. “I can see why they’ve done so great because it’s great people here. Being around for 90 years, it all tells a story.” Myers added he brought his friend Sammy Thompson, of Blissfield, Mich., along to get a look at a good dealer with employees who treat you more than just a customer. Thompson, also a farmer, said it was his first time at Wellington Implement. He said he enjoyed looking at the equipment and feeling welcome.