Also will be recognized as ‘Iowan of the Day’ at State Fair Aug. 12
The Greene County Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service to Ag award was presented to Cecil Rueter (right) at the 99th annual meeting of the Greene County Farm Bureau on Thursday, July 31. Board member John Beltz (left) made the presentation.
The award is given periodically to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the progress of agriculture in Greene County. Over the past 63 years, Rueter has made a significant contribution, Beltz said.
Rueter started a Massey Harris farm machinery dealership in Grand Junction in partnership with his brother-in-law Bob Zenor in 1951 with an initial investment of $2,500. The business was located on W. Main Street alongside the Milwaukee Railroad. At that time, the main line tractors for the farmer were the Massey Harris Model 44, the John Deere Model G, and the International Harvester Model M, all with approximately 44 engine horsepower.
The Massey Harris “Clipper” combine, a popular harvesting machine at the time, had a header width of 7 feet. Over the last 63 years, farm machinery size has increased dramatically, with tractors now exceeding 600 horsepower and combine head widths of 30 to 45 feet.
In 1961, Bob Zenor left the business to take a position with the Massey Harris Corporation. In 1962, a fire which started in the repair shop resulted in the complete loss of the dealership. It was rebuilt at its present location on Highway 30 on the west edge of Grand Junction.
During the last 63 years, Rueter successfully steered the dealership through the ups and downs of the agricultural economy with the goal of always providing the best possible service to Greene County farmers. Greene County farmers, and now farmers throughout the country, have repaid this effort through their purchases, making this one of the top farm machinery dealerships in the Midwest. During a five year period in the 1970s the business sold an average of 48 combines, a year with the high point being 64 combines sold in 1974.
The farm crisis of the 1980s was a very difficult time for all businesses associated with agriculture. This is illustrated by the fact that 17 farm machinery dealers existed in Greene County in the 1950s, three of them in Grand Junction. By the 1990s, only Rueter’s Grand Junction dealership remained.
Rueter married his wife Dorothy in 1951. They have four children, sons Kim and Todd and daughters Karen and Terry. Todd currently manages the business, which now includes six stores involving Case IH and New Holland farm machinery and JCB construction equipment. Todd’s son Alex is now also involved in the operation.
Cecil Rueter is involved in a number of community activities and organizations including the Grand Junction Lions Club. He is a member of First United Methodist Church and one of four local sponsors who contributes funds annually to help defray the cost of 4-H enrollment. An avid supporter of Iowa State University and a longtime supporter of the Iowa State Fair, he will be recognized at this year’s state fair as “Iowan of the Day” on Tuesday, August 12.
