Issue # 2: Dealer Feature - O'Brien County Implement, Inc.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the crew from O’Brien County Implement, let me introduce you.

O’Brien County Implement is located in Sheldon, Iowa off of HWY 18. Vern Schlemper was the founding father of this fine organization in 1948, beginning with a contract to sell Massey Harris tractors and equipment. In 1959 OBCI switched their contract over to Oliver to promote what they felt was a superior product.

Today OBCI remains a very active dealer and handles many of the other short-line companies such as Demco Wagons, J & M Wagons, Demco Sprayers, Krause, Yetter, Buffalo, White, DMI, New Idea, Westendorf, Miller, Fox
Kewanee, Tebben, Loftness, Artsway, Bush Hog and Brady. The Demco plant is located just 8 miles from OBCI so they have an outstanding working relationship with that company and they annually sell around 100 wagons per year, making them the No.1 volume salesmen for Demco wagons.

While their future revolves around the New Holland line, OBCI is quite proud of the market they have with the Oliver line. Tom, Vern’s son, is the “Oliver Expert” behind the counter. When asked if they focused on any certain series, Tom said “We cover most of the equipment from about 1940 and up.” If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they’ll do whatever they can to help you find it. Their motto is “Plain and Simple - GOOD service sells equipment, BAD service does not.”

OBCI has an ever growing salvage yard that covers 5 acres dotted with Meadow Green. In addition to their used parts department, they have a good supply of new old stock and reproduction parts. While they relize that they are involved in a niche market, they want the Oliver user to know that they have somewhere to turn for parts.

But there’s more to this dealership than new tractors and a good Oliver parts inventory. There’s a good lineup of Oliver tractors sitting right out front - all for sale. The shop keeps busy with occassional restorations or they’ll recondition tractors to be placed on their Oliver lot.

The staff at OBCI consists mostly of family members. Vern is in charge of PR, the caretaker of the salvage yard and “wagonmaster”; Lee is in Sales & Administration; Tom is the Oliver Guru, Jay is in New & Used Tractor Sales; Jeff, compact tractor and skid steers; Randy is the office manager and Cal & Ryan are in counter sales. Rich is the shop foreman with 25 years of background with AGCO/White. Rick and Dave are the shop technicians. Tom says “We even have our own hillbilly on the staff. Kenny is our AGCO/Allis man.”

Be sure to check out Issue # 2 of Oliver Heritage and every issue there after for all kinds of interesting facts and stories from the Wide World of Oliver!!!