Tampa, FL (Feb. 22, 2012) - Nortrax, the largest John Deere dealership group for construction, mining, and forestry equipment in North America, congratulates John Deere on their 175th anniversary.  Company founder, John Deere, successfully manufactured and marketed the self-scouring plow in 1837 – a humble beginning for the leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment in the world today.

“John Deere revolutionized agriculture and he made farming in the tough soil of the U.S. Midwest a productive and profitable venture,” said Samuel R. Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deere & Company. “Our recognition of this special anniversary reminds us of the many thousands of John Deere employees who came before us to make this company a world leader.”  Today John Deere employs more than 60,000 people worldwide.

The values that John Deere adhered to when he built his first plow – integrity, quality, commitment and innovation – are still apparent throughout Nortrax’ 52 locations, as within the entire John Deere corporate culture.

“It’s the values John Deere stood by that have made John Deere the great company that it is today,” said Tim Murphy, President and CEO of Nortrax. “John Deere said, ‘I will never put my name on a product that doesn’t have in it the best that is in me’. Deere products are still made with that commitment to quality and we, at Nortrax, are tremendously proud to sell and support those fine products.”

Recognition of the 175th anniversary began recently when the John Deere Foundation made a $175,000 grant to help fund Feeding America’s BackPack Program that provides children nutritious and easy-to-prepare food they need over the course of a weekend. Since 2007, the John Deere Foundation has been an
active supporter of BackPack programs in several communities where Deere has facilities. That grant is one of many ways Deere’s 175th anniversary will be recognized as the year progresses.

As John Deere corporate celebrates their anniversary by funding such a worthwhile cause, Nortrax will be supporting their efforts by hosting open house’s for customers at each location to celebrate this milestone and participating in local charities across the country.  The year 2012 will be a year of recognition of a rich business history, and giving back to the community that made John Deere one of the world’s most respected companies.
 

Nortrax is the largest John Deere dealer for construction, mining and forestry equipment in North America. Its presence extends across the eastern and central portions of the United States and Canada with 52 locations.