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ksrequipment.com
805 E. Howard St. Pontiac, IL 61764 Phone: 815-842-1149 Pontiac
29987 N. 300 East Rd. Streator, IL 61364 815-673-4320 Streator
1501 5th St. Lacon, IL 61540 309-246-2645 Lacon
A LIFE SPENT AT THE FARM AND DEALERSHIP Why I’ve Stuck With This Business for More Than 40 Years
In the spring and fall, Tim and I spend our time after work and on the weekends helping our brother Tom and our nephews on the family farm. I love the work and genuinely enjoy getting my hands on the equipment. It helps keep me up to date on the latest innovations John Deere is offering so I can better serve our customers. When you’ve been working with many of the same families for over 40 years, you form some pretty
I grew up on a family farm outside of Cornell with my seven brothers and sisters, where we learned about hard work and family values from the beginning. I attended the University of Illinois and received a degree in agricultural business. After returning back home, I worked for Valley View as a truck driver hauling rock up to Chicago twice daily. During that time, Delbert Gardner, who founded Gardner Sales and Service in 1947,
powerful relationships. I feel fortunate to work with so many people who, over the years, have really become both personal friends and customers, and I am proud to do everything I can to help improve their bottom line. On a more personal level, I have been happily married to my wife, Susanne, for over 34 years. We have four children and three grandchildren, with one on the way. Our son, Paul, is now a partner at KSR, while our daughter, Jackie, is our Marketing Manager. Our daughter, Jillian,
was looking for someone to pass the torch to. His three sons were pursuing professional careers in other fields, so he reached out to my father, Clare, who’d been a close friend and loyal customer of his and asked if any of his sons were interested in joining the business. My younger brother Tim and I eagerly accepted his offer in 1978. We both started out in the service department, and by the time we became full owners after Delbert’s passing, I was heading up the business side and Tim the service side. Since then, we’ve had
John Kelly and his family
works for Maui Jim in Peoria, and Eric, our youngest, recently graduated from Illinois State University with a business degree. We are very proud of our children and happy to pass on the same strong work ethic and family values we grew up on.
some of the most dedicated and hardworking employees work for us and have been fortunate enough to work alongside our children and other family members as well. We know our employees have always been the backbone of this business, and we are very grateful for the hard work they put in every day. When we merged in 2003 with Sauder Implement and Rupiper Equipment, we saw the same dedication in their dealerships and were proud to become one.
Thank you for trusting us with your business, and we promise to always treat you like family!
–John Kelly
July - August 2018
ksrequipment.com | P1
LEARNING THAT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE SCHOOL
Mentally Stimulating Activities for Summer
For Teenagers: Family Dinner Party Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. For the Entire Family: An Educational Field Trip Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way.
Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun. For Little Ones: Homemade Bubbles Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting with different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Justin Shide Employee Highlight:
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Tom, Rachelle, and Alivia with their trusty John Deere tractor
Streator Service Technician
Justin started at KSR in April of 2006 as a service technician at our Streator location, where he still works. He currently resides in Pontiac with his wife, Kara, and their 6-month-old daughter, Emmalyn Rae. Outside of work, Justin enjoys being with family and friends. He loves to spend a day on the lake fishing, and in the winter, loves skiing. Justin says, “Since Emmalyn has been in
Justin, Kara, and Emmelyn Rae
my life, being a father is the only thing I am focused on. Sure, I still love to have a good time here and there, but she has brought me so much happiness like I never knew.” Justin is very hardworking and diligent, and he looks out for the customer’s best interests. His quality of work has customers coming back year after year to have him service their machine. Justin is a great example to younger techs of how to grow and develop their craft. We are very happy and proud to have Justin be a part of the KSR Family!
“The parts and service departments at KSR are unsurpassed! Fixed right the first time through service, with an excellent supply of parts on hand! They have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you!” –Tom, Rachelle, and Alivia Tom Fitschen Farms, Washburn, IL
P2 | ksrequipment.com
WE’RE HIRING! TELL YOUR FRIENDS! TELL YOUR FAMILY! TELL YOUR FRIENDS’ FAMILIES!
LACON Equipment Detailer: Washes and details all trade-in agricultural and turf equipment for the sales and service departments. May also perform some light reconditioning, painting, and repair of equipment. Parts Warehouse Person: Performs customer service and stocking duties related to the receipt, sale, and delivery of parts and accessories that contribute to the efficient and profitable operation of the dealership. PLEASE SEND ALL RESUMES TO JACKIETRACHSEL@KSREQUIPMENT.COM
We are looking for qualified individuals to join the KSR family! More detailed information on each job opening can be found at www.ksrequipment.com/careers. PONTIAC Service Technician (2 openings): Performs basic diagnostics, service repairs, and maintenance work on customer and/or dealer-owned agricultural and turf equipment. STREATOR Service Technician (2 openings): Performs basic diagnostics, service repairs, and maintenance work on customer and/or dealer-owned agricultural and turf equipment.
Have a Cow!
Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
INGREDIENTS
For Hot Dogs: • 1 package of your favorite hot dogs • 1 package hot dog buns • 1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce • 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese For Celery Slaw: • 4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice • 1 teaspoon olive oil • Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste 1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve. DIRECTIONS
ksrequipment.com | P3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
805 E. Howard St. Pontiac, IL 61764
Inside This Issue John Kelly on a Life Spent Farming
PAGE 1
Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities
PAGE 2
PAGE 2
Meet KSR Employee Justin Shide
PAGE 2
What Our Customers Are Saying
PAGE 3
We’re Hiring!
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Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
PAGE 4
Battling the Summer Sun!
HOW MUCH SUNSHINE IS TOO MUCH?
Keep Your Family Safe
Taking a break from the sun gives your body the time it needs to recuperate and helps prevent sunburn and heatstroke. Common Myths About Sun Exposure Many people think that a tan is better than a sunburn, but the result of tanning is still sun damage. When your skin tone changes due to the sun, regardless of whether it tans or turns red, it’s a result of the epidermis reacting to damage caused by UV rays. Both are symptoms of harmed skin. While vitamin D is important, the sun does not contribute to its creation as much as you might think. Doris Day, a New York City dermatologist, explains that if your skin were to constantly produce vitamin D from being in the sun, it would reach toxic levels. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that your body can produce on its own, through a common form of cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Spending time in the sun does help vitamin D form, but you need far less exposure than you think.
To many people, summer is all about heading outside to enjoy the weather. But getting too much sun can be dangerous. To have a fun- filled summer with your family this year, remember that it’s essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Cover Up Covering your skin is one of the best ways to avoid skin damage. Wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants or skirts can protect your skin from direct exposure to UV rays. While this tactic protects you from the sun, it offers poor defense against the heat. So, if you opt for cooler attire, it’s important to cover all exposed skin with a copious amount of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply every two hours for maximum skin protection. Spend Less Time in the Sun If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, consider your environment. Will there be plenty of shade? Will you have to bring your own? What’s the best way to step out of the sun for a few minutes? Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing are great ways to shield yourself from UV rays, but it’s important to avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods.
Knowing how to protect yourself from UV rays is the first step to having a safe, fun-filled summer!
P4 | ksrequipment.com
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