DULUTH, Ga. — Two small, independent businesses recently became compact and utility equipment (CUE) dealers for Massey Ferguson, a global brand of  AGCO Corp.

Grass Roots Equipment and Outdoors, Batesville, Ark., opened its doors for the first time in December 2017 as a start-up Massey Ferguson dealership. Bill Miller, co-owner, is not new to the equipment business. He spent more than 11 years managing operations at a 25-year-old family-owned dealership that closed.

“We’re excited about this opportunity, and we’ve already heard from members of the community they’ll be coming here for parts and service for the Massey Ferguson equipment they already own," says Miller.

Long-Lewis Truck and Tractor in Bessemer, Ala., is adding compact tractors to complement its heavy-duty truck line. The dealership sells to the vocation, construction and off-road industries.

Long-Lewis Truck and Tractor is a subsidiary of Long-Lewis Inc., founded as a hardware business about 130 years ago that moved into automobile sales in 1907 as the first Ford dealership in Alabama. “Long Lewis is synonymous with Ford and superior customer service,” says Benson. “I plan to build our Massey Ferguson business so Long-Lewis becomes synonymous with superior service and the Massey Ferguson brand," says Eric Benson, general manager.