Grinnell's Van Wall Equipment recognized with the 2023 Ag Business of the Year Award

     Brian Van Roekel, right, location manager of Van Wall Equipment in Grinnell, is joined by Chad Latcham and Sierra Kaufman along with Grinnell Lions Club members at the presentation of the Ag Business of the Year at Grinnell Ag Appreciation Day on Thursday, Aug. 31.

By J.O. Parker
 
       Van Wall Equipment of Grinnell has a proud history as a John Deere dealer dating back to 1944 when the first dealership, known as Wall Implement, was opened on Main Street in Woodward.
       Since that time, Van Wall Equipment has grown into one of the largest John Deere dealership groups in the country with more than 600 employees and 31 John Deere locations spanning four states in the Midwest, including Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska.
       Van Wall is proud to sell and service a wide range of John Deere equipment including products specialized for agriculture, golf and turf, light construction, commercial and lawn and garden applications. Additionally, the company’s precision agriculture and solar energy teams deliver a breadth of complementary products and services to improve the profitability and competitiveness of its customers.
    The company’s diversified dealership group also includes three additional locations that, together with some of the company’s John Deere locations, provide the foundation for the Van Wall Powersports division. Van Wall Powersports provides sales and service across a wide range of brands including Polaris, Honda, Yamaha, Indian Motorcycles and BMW Motorcycles.
      Van Wall Equipment purchased the Grinnell location in 2014, becoming the seventh John Deere dealership to be in Grinnell. There are approximately 25 employees at the Grinnell location. Currently, the Grinnell location has grown to a $30-million annual business.
     As a family-owned business, Van Wall Equipment supports the core values of honesty, integrity, courtesy, respect and safety to exceed their customer’s expectations while supporting the community the business serves. The company strives to provide the products and services that will consistently make Van Wall Equipment the clear first choice.
    This commitment to selling good products, providing service, meeting customer’s expectations and supporting the Grinnell community, has led to Van Wall Equipment being recognized as the 2023 Ag Business of the Year. Company representatives were presented a plaque at the Grinnell Lions Ag Appreciation Day on Thursday, Aug. 31.
     “We can’t get to where we are today without loyal customers and excellent employees,” said Brian Van Roekel, location manager. “Our employees put a lot of time in behind the scenes.