Check out our first newsletter of the new year!
ksrequipment.com
805 E. Howard St. Pontiac, IL 61764 Phone: 815-842-1149 Pontiac
29987 N 300 East Road Streator, IL 61364 815-673-4320 Streator
1501 5th St. Lacon, IL 61540 309-246-2645 Lacon
THE BEST YEAR YET Ready to Make 2018
My whole life, I grew up in and around the dealership, seeing my dad’s love for the business and farming. I always appreciated his hard work and strived to have the work ethic he always exemplified. However, I always wanted to take my own path. Who would have guessed that it would have led me right back to my hometown and KSR? After graduating high school, I went to college out of state (College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina) and earned a degree in communications. Following graduation, I went to a postsecondary school in Orlando, Florida, and earned a diploma in personal training. My biggest accomplishment while in school was meeting my amazing wife, Alison. She has blessed me with two wonderful children, 4-year-old Owen and 2-year-old Lydia. Alison is originally from Georgia, and how I convinced her to move to the cold Midwest I will never know. We went into business together, running a personal training studio here in Pontiac, and we both loved helping others and following our passion for health and wellness.
We married in October 2011, and shortly thereafter, we decided that we needed something more stable than personal training. We knew we wanted to have a family, and it was important to us to have not only a way to provide for them but also to teach them the values of family, hard work, and the importance of your community, like we had learned growing up. So, I decided to discuss with my dad the potential of working at KSR. While only having minimal experience in the agricultural world, I felt confident in my abilities to help continue the great customer service that KSR is known for. I’ve always enjoyed the business side of things, but it’s the relationships I’ve built with our employees and customers that I really enjoy. Going into a new career almost six years ago, I had no idea just how incredible it would be. I am very fortunate that I get to work alongside each and every person here at KSR. From the employees to the partners, we all work well together and strive to always have the highest customer satisfaction possible. We have the best customers in the industry, and our partnership with them is of utmost importance to us. Overall, I am very blessed to work with and for the people that I do, and I think the love of John Deere is rubbing off on my kiddos quite nicely. Owen loves all things green and knows the only red he’s allowed to love is Georgia Bulldog red (my wife’s alma mater). His little sister, Lydia, is catching on quickly and calls every John Deere mower, tractor, or combine she sees “Daddy’s” or “Gugu’s” (Grandpa John). Through KSR and at home, I truly hope that I can pass on to my children the values that my family instilled in me.
–Paul Kelly
Jan - Feb 2018
ksrequipment.com | P1
EDUCATION IN THE KITCHEN What Your Child Can Learn From Baking
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably racking your brain for the perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store-bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids, baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen. Math Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon. Following Directions Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often
need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. Cultural Understanding Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new flavors and ingredients. Nutrition Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet.
Hiring!
We’re
Steve Fulton Employee Highlight:
Want to work at a fantastic place with fantastic people? We are looking for qualified candidates to fill a few positions at our Pontiac and
Steve Fulton is a service technician at our Streator location with over 20 years of service at KSR Equipment! He resides in Wenona, and his hobbies are working on his house and gardening when it’s in season. Steve has been a mainstay at KSR Streator for all 20 years as a service technician. He has rescued many customers over the years
Streator locations! Pontiac Location: • Service Technician • Part-time Equipment Detailing Position If you’re interested in either position at our Pontiac location, please send your resume to PaulKelly@ ksrequipment.com.
with on-farm repairs, many times at odd hours of the day, and can service just about anything we’ve sold over the decades. He is a trusted source of information for our customers, as well as KSR employees, with the talent, knowledge, and experience to tackle the most complex problems. From diagnosing error codes on a 2017 S680 combine to splitting a 1968 4020, Steve can figure out a way to fix it. We are very lucky to have Steve as one of our own!
Streator Location: • Service Technician • Equipment Detailing Position If you’re interested in either position at our Streater location, please send your resume to ZackSauder@ksrequipment.com.
For detailed job descriptions, visit ksrequipment.com/careers
P2 | ksrequipment.com
SAVE MONEY ON EQUIPMENT With a FREE GreenFleet Rewards Platinum Membership!
In September, John Deere and the Farm Bureau announced a new partnership! Now, any Illinois Farm Bureau member can receive a Platinum 2 membership to John Deere’s GreenFleet rewards program! Normally, in order to achieve a Platinum membership to GreenFleet rewards, customers must purchase two units from John Deere within 12 months. But with a Farm Bureau membership, you can bypass this requirement and immediately receive great discounts on select equipment! We highly recommend all our customers enroll in GreenFleet rewards. Platinum 2 Membership provides customers with substantial discounts on select residential, commercial, and small ag equipment. For example, right now you will receive $250 off an X734 Riding Lawn Mower just for being an Illinois Farm Bureau member! Plus! You’ll also receive emails periodically with coupons for discounts on home and workshop products and other select parts and merchandise! How do I apply for membership to receive Platinum 2 benefits? 1. If you’re not already an Illinois Farm Bureau member, visit fb.org/ join to find the number for your local bureau office to get started. For
a minimal cost, membership will get you an array of discounts and benefits separate from GreenFleet rewards, so it’s well worth it! 2. Once you gain membership to the Farm Bureau organization (or if you’re already a member), visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau and scroll down to the “Current Farm Bureau Members” button. 3. Clicking the button will take you to the special GreenFleet registration page. All you’ll have to do is enter your Farm Bureau membership number and your zip code to begin. (If you don’t know your membership number, contact your local Farm Bureau office for that information!) Already a GreenFleet Loyalty Rewards Member? 1. Visit myjohndeere.com to log into your account. 2. Click the GreenFleet icon. 3. Under Membership Affiliations, click the “Add Affiliations” button. There you can enter your Farm Bureau membership number and zip code and it’ll add those benefits to your GreenFleet membership!
Have a Cow!
Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for your Super Bowl party or the next family get-together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear! Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Bombs
INGREDIENTS
• 4 slices bacon, quartered • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted • 1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into¼-inch squares
DIRECTIONS
3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately. ksrequipment.com | P3 Recipe inspired by ThisGrandmaIsFun.com
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
805 E. Howard St. Pontiac, IL 61764
Inside This Issue KSR Partner Paul Kelly Looks Forward to 2018
PAGE 1
Cook Your Way to Better Grades
PAGE 2
Job Openings and Employee Highlight
PAGE 2
Get Big Discounts on John Deere Equipment
PAGE 3
Not Sure What to Bring to the Super Bowl Party?
PAGE 3
A Trip Can Change Your Child’s Life
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When you go on a trip, whether it’s a quick jaunt to a neighboring town or a weeklong stay in an exotic locale, you interact with new people and cultures. It’s one thing to hear someone talk about the laid-back vibes of the West Coast, but you can’t really feel them for yourself until you’ve meandered through the redwoods or watched the sun set over Puget Sound. Now, imagine the positive effects this kind of cultural awakening could have on a young mind! While we tend to think about the worst-case scenarios and added stresses of traveling with kids, they stand to benefit as much, if not more, from travel as we do. You never know — your son or daughter may realize a passion for a subject that will one day become their career. As you’re plotting destinations for the new year, keep these life-changing possibilities in mind. 1. History will come to life. Yes, your kids will read about World War II in school and take state capital quizzes. But in the end, nothing compares to firsthand experiences of culturally significant locations. Imagine showing a child the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin’s famous theory of evolution was conceived, or having the chance to talk about the beginnings of the Revolutionary War while strolling through Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts. If you live in a state with a rich history, make it a point to visit one of the nearby museums. If you’re planning a vacation abroad, incorporate visits to historical sites. Take the opportunity to learn as a family! 3 Ways Travel
2. They’ll pick up new skills. In addition to learning about history, your child may discover a new skill. They may learn a bit of conversational Spanish during a trip to Mexico or they might play soccer with a group of children and realize they have a knack for it. By fostering a sense of healthy curiosity about new places, you’ll help your child feel confident enough to branch out of their comfort zone and make new friends at home and on the road. 3. They’ll understand compassion. After a trip to Fiji, Lonely Planet Kids writer Patrick Kinsella found that, long after they returned, his eldest daughter continued to reflect on her experience. “It’s an eye- and mind-opening experience, especially for Ivy, who has never before considered that someone her age might not have a TV, let alone lack electricity,” Kinsella writes. “For many months afterward, Ivy talk[ed] about Po, imagining her Fijian friend’s life.” Can Transform Your Kids
Because they’re so open- minded, kids are the perfect sponges for new experiences. At the very least, they’ll be less likely to take what they have for granted, and they might even develop an expansive and exploratory worldview.
P4 | ksrequipment.com
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