Page 213 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

to run. As the bags filled with rice, he’d sit on the back and sew the sacks right there in the field.” The elder Parisio bought his first Cat in 1946, an army surplus D6 painted in camo. A few years lat- er, he bought an old Cat D7. When he and his two sons formed Parisio Bros. in 1966, they used Hardy Harvesters—a locally manufactured com- bine built on a Cat D4 undercarriage with a Cat 3208 engine—and they farmed that way for the next twenty-five years.
Things have changed a lot since then for the Pa- risios. “Machines are bigger and faster and more efficient now. There’s still long hours, but now you can do more with less,” says Alex. “You used to sit in a D6 for twelve hours and be tired from clank- ing around all day. And your ears would be ring- ing. Now, you sit in an air-rise seat with air-con- ditioning, a CD player, and AutoSteer. After ten to twelve hours, you’ve done twice the work, your shoulders aren’t sore, and your head isn’t ringing. It’s made a huge difference.”
The Parisio’s first big step into high-tech equip- ment came in 1998 with the purchase of a Chal- lenger 55. Five years later they traded up for a new Challenger MT755A. “We demo-ed it against a John Deere 8410, and went with the Cat because we liked it better.” When Peterson got its first Lexion combine at the Willows store in 2001, Pa- risio was one of the first to demo it. “That com- bine walked away from all our other harvesters.” They’ve bought three since from Holt-Cat, who is the Northern California Claas–Lexion dealer.
“I’ve tried the other stuff, and that’s why I tru- ly believe the yellow-belted machine is better. It worked better and cost less. The other one didn’t even come close. There’s guys that are John Deere through and through, but I’d put my yellow stuff up against them any day of the week.”
“Parisio gives us an opportunity to sell him a ma- chine first,” says Grimes. “And we take care of him like his name is on the building. The reason we
MAJOR AG MANUFACTURERS PETERSON SELLS AND SUPPORTS (2000–2019)
AGCO formed in 1990 by acquiring equipment companies in financial trouble and turning them around. They own Massey-Ferguson, Challenger, Hesston, Fendt, GSI, and Valtra. AGCO offers a full line of tractors, combine harvesters, hay and forage equipment, seeding and tillage implements, grain storage and protein production systems. In 2002, AGCO acquired the assets of Caterpillar’s Challenger tractor.
CATERPILLAR provides traditional track-type tractors used in the agriculture industry. Many farmers also buy mini wheel loaders and excavators, skid steers, backhoes, telehandlers, and motor graders as support equipment on their farms and auxiliary businesses.
CLAAS is a German-based manufacturer of Lexion combines for seed crops, rice, wheat, corn, and beans. Peterson is a Claas dealer for Oregon and Washington only. Peterson’s California customers buy Claas combines from Holt of California.
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