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Farm family takes over agriculture equipment dealership in Kinistino

Jul 12, 2022 | 5:07 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – AgWorld Equipment in Kinistino, Sask. has new owners.

Jeff and Allison Freedman and Jamie and Lacey Freedman took over the business in early July.

The company sponsored a barbeque yesterday to introduce the family and say goodbye to former owner Ian Thorson.

Jeff said they are looking forward to this new venture.

“We’ve been dealing here a long time and one thing led to another and here we are. It’s a great fit with the farm and there’s lots of opportunity to grow in the area. We just look forward to seeing where this all goes. It’s quite exciting,” he said.

The Freedmans currently run a family-owned and operated grain farm together with their father Allan in the Gronlid, Ridgedale and Brooksby areas.

Jeff said they will continue to carry the same equipment including AGCO, Bourgault, JCB and a few other lines. He said the day-to-day operations will be very much the same as in the past.

“Louis Quasso is going to be managing the place and Jamie and I aren’t too far away. We’ll be here when it’s needed and doing whatever it takes to make the business grow,” Freedman said. “We’ve got a great team here and it’ll be business as usual.”

Thorson said it was great to see so many people attend the barbeque. He said the Freedman family bring some new energy.

“I’m really happy that they’re so community-focused and family-focused. It’s values that I really respect, and I’m really happy how everything’s worked out,” Thorson said.

He won’t be retiring completely as he will now turn his attention to his own mixed farming operation.

“We’re stepping out of the farm equipment business and now we’re going to focus on our farm,” Thorson said. “My daughter graduated this year and she’s going to farm so we’ll be working with her and the rest of the family.”

Thorson said he believes the new owners will be successful. He said there is one important aspect for the Freedmans to focus on as they take on this new venture.

“They are a whole lot smarter than me, and they’ll do well. But it’s a relationship business. These farmers are friends,” Thorson said. “The bigger companies struggle to keep that same farmer-friend relationship. The focus needs to stay with that farmer relationship and that’ll be their challenge going forward.”

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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