Speaking from a size point of view, it’s safe to say that the equivalent of a small town population was under the roof at Western Sales in Outlook last week as the long-time John Deere dealership celebrated the grand opening of their brand new, 38,000 square foot building.
Held on Thursday, June 22, the day was busy from the get-go, with the opening held at the same time as Western Sales’ Drive Green promotional event, showcasing a number of different farm machinery and allowing producers and would-be customers to get up close and personal with what the dealership offers.
Hundreds showed up for the event, making for a long, snaking line by the time lunch was being served, with burgers and fixings provided by AG Foods.
On top of the free BBQ lunch, there was also a bouncy castle and face painting for the kids, as well as tours of the new facility conducted by staff.
The vision of a new building for the Outlook branch of Western Sales started just over a year ago. By the time Christmas rolled around, the facility was finished, and the excited staff was able to move in by January.
But the new building wasn’t the only growth, as there was growth from within the business side of Western Sales. In January of 2016, they purchased Valley West Irrigation out of Outlook as a way to expand into irrigation infrastructure and take advantage of the water resources in this part of the province.
As much as the grand opening event was about Western Sales showing off their new digs, a part of it was also about giving back to the community, and General Manager Regan McGrath managed to surprise Tony Peter of the New Pool Committee with a donation to Outlook’s new swimming pool facility for $25,000.
On top of that, reps from STARS Air Ambulance were on hand for the event and revealed that their Rescue on the Prairie event will include the heading, “Presented by Western Sales.”
President and CEO Grant McGrath was on hand for the opening, and he said that things such as a new building and new products and services was their way of continuing to move ahead in an ever-changing farm landscape.
“Things in farming are a lot different now than they were 25 years ago,” said Grant. “It’s an ever-changing world out there today. To have this here is great, and why we do this; it’s all about you. This is our way of moving ahead.”
The staff at Western Sales, known locally as a dedicated group who stand by their products and service, were also commended.
“To the staff, I really can’t say enough about their hard work,” said McGrath. “You’re asked to give a level of service you have to commit to for our customers, and none of them ever say no.”
Following the event, staff continued the good times after hours, capping a celebration that was more than a year in the making.
