MyDealer:
RDO Equipment has announced that its three dealership groups – RDO Equipment, Vermeer Australia and Vanderfield – will now be known as RDO Equipment. This action will bring together 29 branches and over 800 staff as one team, focused on the success of its customers across the agriculture, construction, and forestry equipment sectors.
With this change, Vanderfield will become known as RDO Equipment, retiring a brand that has long been synonymous with agricultural machinery across Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Based in Toowoomba, Vanderfield has been a John Deere agricultural dealer since 1970. The company was originally founded by Gordon Vandersee in 1963 as a Chamberlain dealership.
Based in Fargo, North Dakota, RDO Equipment was established in 1968 by Ron Offutt. The company remains rooted in the agriculture sector and is family owned and operated, with Ron’s daughter and son, Christi and Ryan, active in leadership roles with the business.
Bruce Vandersee, who served as CEO of Vanderfield for 28 years and remains a director and shareholder of RDO Equipment, said: “Since they invested in Vanderfield nearly 10 years ago, the Offutt family have shared our values and have been great partners to me and my family. They understand agriculture, take a long-term view, and are committed to investing in our business to provide the highest level of service and support for our customers.”
Over the past 10 years, the group has continued to expand, most recently with the acquisition of Chesterfield, a John Deere agricultural dealer in SE Queensland and Northern New South Wales. In 2019, RDO Equipment was established in Australia when the company was appointed as the John Deere Construction and Forestry dealer for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Phil Canning, who assumed responsibilities as CEO of RDO Equipment on November 1st, said, “We have a tremendously dedicated team, many with decades of experience, who have a deep understanding of our customers and the machines that are critical to their operations.
“While we are changing the brand, our customers will continue to be looked after by the sales and service teams they already know and trust, and they can expect the same level of expert support and advice that they have always received from our united team.”
Ryan Offutt, Chairman of the RDO Equipment Board, says this is an exciting new chapter for RDO Equipment in Australia.
“Our business is built on values and a commitment to the success of our stakeholders, our customers, employees, manufacturing partners and the communities where we do business. When we had the opportunity to invest alongside Bruce and his family 10 years ago, it was clear we shared this same approach to long-term success.
“I want to recognise the legacy of the Vanderfield organisation as an important foundation stone for our future, and express my family’s gratitude to the customer and employees who have given us the opportunity to invest in Australia. The strengths and qualities of Vanderfield will be continued as we focus on the future.”
