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Holt Agribusiness Expands Into The Midsouth
TERRY SIMMONS
JONESBORO, ARK.
“My family knows agriculture!” Peter Holt, CEO and Owner of Holt Agribusiness exclaimed at the recent Grand Opening of their newest full service dealership. Located in Jonesboro, the new Northeast Arkansas facility is but the latest step in Holt’s march down the Mississippi Delta. With a dealership already operational in Sikeston, Missouri, and a site picked out for a Stuttgart, Arkansas location, Holt plans to make sure there are a lot more “yellow” tractors and combines working in delta fields.
Peter Holt is the great-grandson of Benjamin Holt, inventor of the “caterpillar,” which was the first functional continuous track tractor. Holt said that his family grew the tractor business in California before expanding to Texas and establishing a Caterpillar dealership in Corpus Christi. “We came to the Delta area because this is where the productivity is,” said Holt. “This is where there are farmers and the farm industry that really understands not only the past but the future.”
The Grand opening commenced with U.S. Army SSGT. Dana Bowman (Retired) parachuting a huge American flag into the ceremony while patriotic music played in the background. Sergeant Bowman was a member of the Army’s elite Golden Knights demonstration parachute team until he lost both legs after colliding with another member of the team mid-air. The other jumper, Army Sergeant Jose Aguillon, was killed in the collision.
According to Allyn Archer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Holt Agribusiness, the new Jonesboro facility is a demonstration of Holt’s growing commitment to the delta region. “We’re here to stay,” Archer said. “We’re here to support you and provide the best equipment in the world to help your production and your farm. Thank you for being here, thank you for being a part of this and for your business.”
The new Jonesboro dealership includes a 15,000-square-foot sales and parts building for tractors, combines, and attachments from Challenger, Fendt, Massey-Ferguson and Claas/Lexion. A separate, 10,000-square-foot building contains the service department. The facility represents a $4,000,000 investment by Holt.
“Holt’s new facility in Jonesboro will offer rice, corn, cotton and peanut producers and other ag businesses the finest products and services in the industry, backed with experience from professionals totally committed to their success,” said J.K. Baxter, Holt Agribusiness General Manager. ”We are here to do whatever it takes to help our customers in this region stay on track.” ∆
TERRY SIMMONS: Contributing Editor/Farm Director at Ag Watch Network
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