Check out our March/April newsletter!
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
A RETURN TO MY ROOTS
M y involvement with John Deere and the dealership in Lacon started over 25 years ago when my dad (Dick Rupiper) had me paint the showroom over a summer break. The wall color was a dark, drab brown, and it took a lot of primer to get it covered! Some of you may remember the article in the 1992 “Scoop by Rupe.” After that, I was “promoted” to washing combines and performing general maintenance around the shop until I went to college. Upon graduating from Bradley University with a mechanical engineering degree, I started at John Deere and Company in Horicon, Wisconsin, where I worked with lawn and garden equipment.
I still remember the senior engineer telling me that my experience at the dealership was key to being selected for the position. I spent time in product design, production support, and product validation and verification. I’ve worked on products at the conceptual stage, through development, and through production, until they were finally placed in the customers’ hands. Along the way, our family relocated twice; in total, we lived in three different states. When I chose to leave Deere and return to the dealership in 2012, it was like coming back full circle to where I had started. What’s exciting is that agriculture is in a very critical transitionary period. Farmers have never had so much information available at their fingertips. At the same time, technology is infiltrating into every product category. Helping customers navigate these waters of change is what keeps me energized. It’s also where KSR differentiates itself from the competition. We’re your partner when it comes to making your equipment and technology operate at peak potential. Whether it’s getting a machine up and running, providing critical parts at critical times, or helping you plan your technology updates, we’re here to help. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife, Sarah, for 17 years. We have three outstanding children, Jacob (15), Philip (11), and Clare (7). Outside the dealership, Sarah and I are always on the move, mostly with our kids’ activities or trying to sneak in short trips, because we love to travel. Personally, I enjoy a number of different hobbies that have nothing to do with agriculture. That may sound strange, but it helps me keep a different perspective and allows my mind to work on different problems and challenges than what happens every day at the dealership.
–Chris Rupiper
March - April 2018
ksrequipment.com | P1
YOUR DINNER TABLE MIGHT BE the Key to a Happier Family
CALL ALL HANDS ON DECK Mom or Dad shouldn’t be expected to cook by themselves for every meal. This is family time, after all, so call in the kids! Make sure their tasks are age-appropriate — leave sautéing vegetables to the high schooler and let your first-grader set out the cups instead. This is the perfect opportunity to teach kids valuable kitchen skills and to take some of the burden off your plate. Plus, if your kids are picky eaters, inviting them to be part of the cooking process can make them more inclined to try the finished product. DON©T STRESS YOURSELF OUT It’s okay if you’re too busy on a Monday to cook dinner. There’s always Tuesday. Or you can take a trip to your favorite family restaurant. Family meals should be fun, and that can’t happen if you’re stressed. Don’t feel pressured to make each meal perfect or to prepare a three-course dinner every night. Chicken and rice can get the job done as long as you’re all sitting around the table as a family. No matter how hectic your schedule may be, making family meals a priority is always worth the investment. Who’s in the mood for meatloaf? What Our Customers Are Saying
The family dinner is a staple of years gone by. These days, the only time you see a family sit together and break bread seems to be at Thanksgiving. This is a shame, because regular family dinners are incredibly important! It’s a time to bond with your loved ones that can have a positive impact on your kids’ lives. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that kids who regularly partake in family meals are less likely to experience depression or engage in drug use. Furthermore, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University determined that kids who eat family meals five to seven times a week bring home better report cards. Even when schedules are busy, you can make family dinners fit into your agenda with these tips. BE FLEXIBLE ABOUT MEALTIMES Dinner doesn’t have to be at 6 p.m. on the dot. If Kamala has a karate tournament in the evening or Peter needs to stay late at school for art club, why not break out the healthy snacks and make dinner happen a little later or earlier? Plus, the meal you share as a family doesn’t have to be at dinnertime. If there’s time in the mornings, sit down for breakfast. If you have the opportunity on weekends or during a school break, grab lunch together. Clayton Kieser Employee Highlight:
Derek with his three children and dad, Doug.
Clayton Kieser is a service technician at our Lacon location. Clayton came aboard with KSR in September 2015. He started as an Illinois Central College diesel power technician and continued on in the Lacon Service Department after he graduated. Clayton resides in Camp Grove, Illinois. In his free time, he helps out on his family’s farm and enjoys
“Both my dad and I have had all great experiences with KSR, from the service department to the sales team and back to the parts counter. I really appreciate the relationships we have built through the years. Being a fourth-generation farmer, it’s nice to buy from the same dealership where my grandfather, great uncle, and father did and still have great relationships!” –Derek Stephens
spending time with family and friends. He is very active outdoors, fishing and playing sports, and he spends as much time as possible on the open water.
Clayton is a great individual, and we all enjoy working with him!
P2 | ksrequipment.com
Bring Your Mower in for Service Now Before the Grass Starts Growing!
Have a Cow!
Colcannon
When you think of St. Patrick’s Day cuisine, corned beef and green beer are probably the first things that come to mind. This year, consider adding colcannon to your March 17 menu. It’s basically mashed potatoes on steroids, and it’s utterly delicious.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 pound cooked bacon, chopped into small pieces • 4 scallions, finely chopped • Parsley, for garnish • Salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 pounds potatoes • 2 sticks butter • 1 1/4 cups hot milk • 1 head cabbage, cored and shredded
DIRECTIONS
1. Steam potatoes for 30 minutes. Peel skins and mash flesh thoroughly. 2. Chop 1 stick of butter into small cubes and add to warm potatoes. Once melted, slowly add milk, stirring constantly. 3. Boil cabbage in water. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to tenderize. 4. Add cabbage, bacon, and scallions to mashed potatoes, gently stirring to combine. 5. Serve garnished with parsley and a pat of butter.
ksrequipment.com | P3 [Inspired by foodnetwork.com]
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
805 E. Howard St. Pontiac, IL 61764
Inside This Issue A Return to My Roots
PAGE 1
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Family Dinners
PAGE 2
Meet Clayton!
PAGE 2
Hear From Derek
PAGE 2
Spring Deals
PAGE 3
A Classic St. Patrick’s Day Side
PAGE 3
The 3 Best Places to See Beautiful Flowers
PAGE 4
Earth’s Most Beautiful
Flower Displays
Basin during the spring can witness 3,000 trees, which were a gift from Tokyo in 1912, flaunt their beautiful pink blossoms. The best time to see the spectacle is from the end of March through the end of April. ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK Desert lavender, flowering cacti, pygmy poppies, and rock daisies are just a few of the many wildflowers decorating Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The various native species are often seen weaved together to form a colorful carpet over any barren patch in the park, which is located just two hours from San Diego. In addition to flowers, visitors often spot bighorn sheep. Wildflower blossoms vary in intensity each year, but they typically begin to bloom in late February or early March.
Spring is here, which means flora will soon be in full bloom. Flowers can be an easy pick-me-up or a great way to add color to your home, but some people take their flower obsession to the next level by planning botanical-themed vacations. Here are some of the most impressive gardens and flower displays in the world.
THE NETHERLANDS Holland, most famous for its tulips, always draws visitors at the first sign of spring. One of its most famous destinations, Keukenhof, located in Lisse, is among the world’s largest flower gardens. The park is 79 acres and boasts approximately 7 million flowers each year. This colorful garden is open
annually from mid-March to mid-May, but mid-April is the ideal time to see the tulips. WASHINGTON, D.C. Besides the monuments and historic buildings, one of the biggest attractions in Washington, D.C. is the cherry tree blossoms. Travelers who visit the Tidal P4 | ksrequipment.com
Next time you’re planning a spring trip, consider visiting one of the world’s most beautiful flower displays. No green thumb required.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker