Farm Depot of Schoolcraft, an agricultural equipment sales and service center, recently achieved a five-star rating from AGCO Corporation’s Dealer Excellence Program, an annual dealer evaluation review.
Farm Depot was one of 19 dealers to receive the rating. Bill Hurley of AGCO presented Farm Depot with a plaque and financial award as recognition of its high marks in the program.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition and designation from AGCO,” Mike Laethem, manager of Farm Depot said. “I’m proud of the work our entire staff has done to earn it. We’ve worked hard to provide the highest-quality customer service, and we’re proud to stand among the best dealers in the U.S. and Canada.”
Farm Depot, a family owned and operated business, has been in business for over 77 years as an agricultural dealership. It maintains locations in Caro, Ionia and Schoolcraft.
Farm Depot has come a long way from the day Dick Laethem opened the doors in 1944 as the Laethem Farm Service Co., in Fairgrove, Michigan. Times were different: The phone number was 17 and the John Deere and Caterpillar tractors sat on the dirt floor of the store. Today, the showrooms are large and equipment includes Fendt, Challenger, RoGator, TerraGator, Massey Ferguson, Krone, Kubota and Kioti. Brothers Mark and Mike Laethem, Dick’s grandsons, carry on the tradition of running the family owned business today. Mike’s son, Blake, is now the fourth generation of Laethems in the family business.
