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Lemon’s Farm Equipment treats customers like family

Photo by Jeff Baughan A view of the approach to Lemon’s Farm Equipment from Larkmead Road. Lemon’s began selling Massey Ferguson tractors in 1987.

PARKERSBURG — The directions were simple to Lemon’s Farm Equipment. “Go to Larkmead Road and turn. About a mile up the road, we’ll be on your left,” said Marilyn Lemon Matheny, who runs the small office which had $3 million in sales pass through it in 2016.

That $3 million total had AGCO, formerly known as Massey Ferguson Tractors, calling Lemon’s to inform the south Parkersburg tractor and farm equipment dealer it ranked number four in North America in sales for 2016. That “North America” label includes the United States and Canada. “So yeah, that was a pretty big deal for us,” he said.

So what is it that makes Lemon’s such as destination when “it’s a mile off the main road and up the holler,” Marilyn said and laughed heartily. “It’s simple,” she said. “It’s what Lemon’s has always been about. It’s about sales and service. The first time a person buys, they’re a customer. The next time, they’re family. Family knows, if you need something, you call and it gets taken care of.”

Marilyn said the GC1700 series is the most popular tractor with a 60-inch belly mower. “There’s a lot more to this job than just selling a vehicle,” she said. “We do the best we can with what we have and we don’t worry about it. The Good Lord always provides.”

Marilyn added there were tractor sales to “a guy in Maine. There were sales in Georgia. There were sales everywhere in between. We’re communicating with a guy in New Mexico about a tractor. It’s word of mouth and reputation. You take care of people, they stay loyal. The old saying is ‘if it’s not red, it stays in the shed.'” Massey Ferguson tractors are red.

Photo by Jeff Baughan Curtis Lemon, left, and Marilyn Lemon Matheny stand within a row of tractors at Lemon’s Farm Equipment on Larkmead Road in South Parkersburg.

Lemon’s became a Massey Ferguson dealership in 1987 but the Lemon name became associated with business in 1957 with Lemon’s Garage. “Dad, otherwise known as Curtis,” said Marilyn, “was working at the marble factory in town and was laid off. Once he didn’t go back. We used to hear him working on cars into the wee hours.

Curtis is still an active participant in the day-to-day activities according to Marilyn. “He helps to load and unload tractors. He keeps the shop hopping. He has a farm where he keeps other people’s horses. He’ll load hay and feed those horses, even though they aren’t his.

“You see, dad made this business by taking care of people,” said Marilyn. “We still do. We take care of people because you just don’t know who is walking through the door or what they need. You just know, they’re coming to you for help.”

And Lemon’s gives back above and beyond service. “We have a Christmas tradition with a big dinner where the customers come in and bring covered dishes to share. There’s music and we make up 300 fruit baskets to give to the community.”

Then there’s an open house the first weekend of each April which is more of a reunion than an open house. “We just call it a ‘family dinner’ said Marilyn.

Photo by Jeff Baughan Wade Darnell, left, and Jim Lemon walk past a row of tractors at Lemon’s Farm Equipment in South Parkersburg.

“They start calling the week before and asking if it’s going to happen and they know it is, but they call anyway,” she laughed. “They want their hot dogs and door prizes. This is a put on your jeans and work shoes open house. You can forget your suits. You wear a suit to this and you look soooo out of place.”

It’s not too long before Marilyn’s brother, Jim, also a part owner, pays a visit. It’s not long before he has Marilyn laughing and goes back to tending shop in the parts area. “You gotta love him, well, sometimes you gotta,” she laughs. “You can see when he kids. He has a twinkle in his eye and a smile. He and dad are cut from the same cloth – they’re kidders.”

Although one must pay attention to what is said as to know what is truth and what is ‘joking.’ Marilyn told the story.

“One day one of our (tractor) reps came in for the first time and asked if there was anything he could do for dad,” she said. “He answered ‘where’s my doughnuts?’ and the guy asked ‘how many do you need?’ Well, dad being dad, said ‘about 300 I think will do the job.’ The guy turned and left. I saw the truck leave and I asked dad ‘what did you say to him?’

“Dad responded ‘I don’t know. He just asked what he could do for me. I told him and he left,” she continued. “About 45 minutes later, the guy comes back carrying bags and bags of Krispy Kreme donuts. I think the guy went to Krogers and bought every Krispy Kreme doughnut in the store. That day, if you spent a dollar in the store you took a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts.” Just for those who want to know, that’s 25 dozen doughnuts.

Photo by Jeff Baughan Joe Means looks at inventory parts. Lemon’s Farm Equipment ranked fourth in North American sales for Massey Ferguson for 2016.

“We like to have fun and play games during a day but when it gets busy here, it gets stressful,” Marilyn said and shifted gears in her story. “We started selling International Farm Equipment in 1964,” she said, “and that was it. Now the inventory has grown by many brands. It’s ‘gihugeick’ the grandkids call it.

“Really, dad always said to do for people the way you would want them to do for you,” she said. “We do. You never know who is coming through the door after what and how much money they have. I have old farmers walk in with a paper bag or just a wad of money in their pocket and say ‘peel off what you need.’ You just never know. That’s why you treat everyone the way you would want to be.

“Whether it’s a new vehicle or just a part,” Marilyn said, “they’re coming to you for service. They could go somewhere else. We like for them to keep coming back.”

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