Page 219 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

PETERSON’S AG TIMELINE (1936–2019)
— 1936 — 1940s
— 1957
— 1957
— 1958
— 1963 — 1982
— 1987
— 2002 — 2002
— 2002 — 2003 — 2007 — 2008
— 2010
— 2012
— 2016 — 2019
Peterson Tractor & Equipment Co. founded with ag-focused stores in Brentwood and Half Moon Bay; sells John Deere and Killefer farm equipment along with Caterpillar equipment.
Peterson veers towards construction industry based on growing demands of territory after WWII. Howard’s brother, Buster Peterson, hires on in 1943 and starts SEQ custom fabrication shop geared largely, but not exclusively, towards construction.
Caterpillar requires its dealers to choose between Cat and Deere. Peterson quits selling John Deere.
Peterson wins product support contract for Trinity Dam, the first of many state water projects.
Peterson acquires Shasta, Trinity, Tehama & Butte counties to support dams. Butte County is an ag-based territory.
Peterson acquires ag-focused Santa Cruz County.
Peterson acquires Zumwalt and opens ag-based Willows store; sells Steiger line of 4WD tractors along with other allied farm implements.
Cat builds Challenger ag tractors; Peterson adds the new Challenger to its ag product offerings.
Cat sells Challenger to AGCO.
New San Martin store replaces Peterson’s old San Jose store to better cover its southern territory, with a large ag-base.
Peterson takes on Claas combines, but lets Claas go in 2003 due to lack of sales
Peterson acquires Papé; moves into Oregon and begins to build ag presence; Randy Grimes spearheads ag business.
Peterson takes on Claas combines in Oregon and begins to penetrate loyal John Deere and Case customer base.
Eric Peters is hired as ag salesman to focus on California ag-market. Peterson Machinery assumes responsibility for ag machine sales in California.
Peterson acquires Halton and moves into southern Washington; Peterson’s Ag Division grows with addition of Salem, The Dalles, and Longview stores and an extremely dense ag customer population.
Randy Grimes becomes general manager of Ag Division. Paul Grove becomes product support operations manager; increased sales and service coverage brings recognition by AGCO as top 20 North America dealer
Ag Division grows and spins off from earthmoving designation. Ag sales captured separately from earthmoving identifying ag customers by industry.
Peterson sells its agriculture business to Holt Ag Solutions, a division of Holt of California.
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