Ag-Power Inc., the farm implement dealership in Hillsboro, has been sold to Lang Diesel Inc. based in Hays, effective July 1. The announcement was made to employees Thursday, June 4.
Owners Mike and Carolyn Kleiber purchased the long-time Allis-Chalmers (now AGCO) dealership in 1986 and renamed it Ag-Power Inc.
Mike Kleiber said Friday the sale to Lang Diesel Inc. was motivated by changes in AGCO?s approach to dealerships.
?AGCO is following suit like many of the other equipment companies — they want to consolidate dealers and they want dealers with multiple locations,? Kleiber said. ?They?ve been after us for a succession plan for awhile. Long story short, our succession plan didn?t include multiple locations of farm equipment dealerships.
?We decided that for the health of the dealership, this was the right move.?
The acquisition includes only the Ag-Power implement dealership. Ag-Power Carquest will continue under the same ownership.?
Kleiber said Lang Diesel is compatible with Ag-Power?s approach to customers and community involvement, so the transition should be smooth.
?Lang Diesel is a very well-run company and they?re aggressive in the market,? he said. ?They?ve got multiple locations. It just seemed like a good fit. We?re really comfortable with them as a company, and we feel they will definitely continue the tradition Ag-Power has had.?
Lang Diesel Inc. has been serving farmers as a farm-equipment dealership since 1988. Beyond its headquarters in Hays, it has locations in Colby, Sabetha, Smith Center, Ellinwood and Salina. In addition to being a full-line AGCO dealership, the company offers various short-line products, the most recent additions being Miller sprayers and Versatile four-wheel-drive tractors.
The company?s Web site address is langdieselinc.com.
?We thank Mike and Carolyn for giving us the opportunity to continue with the values and traditions Ag-Power Inc. has established with their customers and community through the years,? Brian Lang, president of Lang Diesel, wrote in a letter to Ag-Power customers this week.
Kleiber said no changes are planned at this point in personnel at the Hillsboro location. Ag-Power currently has 12 employees.
?Personnel-wise, we hope everybody will stay,? he said. ?Everybody has a position there.
?Brian is a laid-back guy,? Kleiber added. ?He is not a micro manager. He let?s his locations run themselves.?
