Badger Common’Tater October 2019 Issue
Interview with Guy Mathias
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
When AG Systems merged with Heartland AG in March of 2019, Heartland AG Systems became the largest Case IH application equipment dealership in North America, says Guy Mathias, location manager, DeForest, Wisconsin.
In 1967, Dick Lenz started AG Systems, located in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Tyler Equipment was the main line sold along with other fertilizer equipment that the company manufactured.
“In 1991, Tyler came out with the Patriot sprayer, which was a great boost to our success,” Mathias says. “Case IH purchased Tyler Equipment in 1997 to complete their ‘Circle of Equipment’.”
DeForest was the first branch location, launched in 1988, and with its success, two more branches were opened in Manvel, North Dakota (1990) and Mitchell, South Dakota (1994). The last location opened its doors, in Garrison, North Dakota, in 2015.
“We had 125 employees companywide when we merged with Heartland AG on March 1, 2019,” Mathias explains. “Heartland AG is a CNH application equipment dealership that has four locations servicing Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.”
The Heartland AG Systems corporate office and manufacturing plant are part of a new facility in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and Mathias says customers won’t see anything different when they stop in or call.
“With the merger, it gives us access to some additional parts and equipment suppliers and four more warehouses to get parts from,” he relates.
