Davis Equipment Celebrates 50 Years
November 3, 2014 
Iowa-based Davis Equipment Corp. has branched out over the years to work with many of the major equipment suppliers to the agricultural marketplace.
Founded in 1964, Davis Equipment Corp. is celebrating its 50th year in business in 2014. The Johnston, IA-based company has been built upon meeting and exceeding the customer expectations of providing quality equipment, parts and service, and is backed by the integrity, experience and outstanding tenure of its employees.
The company was founded by Roger L. Davis, and since 1985, has been under the leadership of Roger’s son, Paul Z. Davis. Zach Davis, Paul’s oldest son, is the third-generation of the Davis family to work for the company, and is the Sales Manager for one of Davis’ affiliate companies. Paul has two other sons, Alex and Colton. Alex recently graduated from Iowa State University and currently works for a business valuation company in West Des Moines. Colton is a current Iowa State University freshman working to obtain a degree in business.
During Paul’s tenure, the company has expanded geographically and in the industries that the management group and organization have had core competencies in. Davis Equipment Companies operate and do business as FEI East, Turfwerks and Davis Equipment Corp. FEI East was purchased in 2000 and Turfwerks was formed after an acquisition in 2004.
Branching Out
Davis Equipment and FEI East are distributors/dealers of crop nutrient application equipment, crop protection equipment and equipment technology that enables the manufacturing and blending of fertilizer, and application of anhydrous ammonia and liquid and dry fertilizer. Both companies represent industry leading brands, while providing quality parts and service support: AGCO/Willmar, B&B, Case IH Application Equipment, Doyle Manufacturing, Miller Application Equipment, Precision Tank & Equipment, Raven Electronics, Simonsen Manufacturing, Dalton Ag Products, Waconia Blending and Handling Equipment, Wacker Articulated Loaders and NMC Articulated Loaders.
“We are committed to distributing new technology, equipment and services that enhance the efficiency and profitability of ag retailers and growers in the Midwest as we have done over the last 50 years,” says Paul.
Turfwerks, which distributes turf and irrigation equipment to the golf, sports turf, municipal and commercial lawn care industry, represents quality manufacturers such as Jacobsen, Rain Bird, Smithco, Turfco, Progressive Turf Equipment, Ventrac and Redexim.
“The key to Davis Equipment Companies’ success for 50 years has been the quality of our management group, sales group and all of our employees,” says Davis Equipment President Joe Funkhouser, who has led Davis Equipment and FEI East since 2005, beginning with the company as a service clerk in 1979. Todd Gray, president of Turfwerks, has been in the turf equipment finance industry for over 20 years and joined the Turfwerks team in January 2013.
Davis Equipment and FEI East’s average territory sales manager’s tenure is 15 years. Turfwerks’ territory sales managers are also averaging six years of tenure with the company. The companies operate out of sales, parts and service locations in Johnston, IA, Eagan, MN, Omaha, NE, Sioux Falls, SD, and St. Louis, MO.
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