ST. PAUL - Farm families from around the region stopped by for a barbecue and ribbon cutting at the grand opening of the Caouette and Sons’ newly constructed shop on the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 881 in St. Paul.
“This has been in the works for close to 10 years,” said Yvon Caouette, who now owns the business his father started 55 years ago in 1969.
Formerly located in St. Paul’s industrial park on 46 Street, Yvon said they had long outgrown their original space, which only had one garage door for moving equipment through. The new barn has eight.
“We were doing Tetris to move stuff in and out if you were waiting for parts,” said Yvon, noting the size of farm machinery has increased over the years along with the size of the farms.
“We deal with everyone, small and big it doesn’t matter,” said assistant manager Marc Caouette.
"With us being local, you don't have to wait for an answer from head office. We make the decisions right here. And of course, there's always going to be disputes, but we're pretty flexible. We understand farming."
Caouette and Sons’ Implements is the only single store, one owner dealership in the area. It’s also the only place to get the full line of their signature red Massey Ferguson agricultural equipment, although they also carry industrial equipment, tools, and mowers by other manufacturers.
“People that are just curious about us and hadn’t stepped in our old shop before, we want to show them what we can provide to them,” said Marc.
According to Yvon, it’s important for the business to stay rooted in St. Paul, both as a service to the surrounding farms and as an economic anchor for the town.
“Somebody has to service all those farmers or they’ll go to another town and the town will slowly die,” said Yvon. “People like to deal local, if they have to run for parts two hours away it’s not convenient for them. St. Paul is a good place to be.”
Executive director for the St. Paul and District Chamber of Commerce Yvonne Weinmeier praised the Caouette family for their community involvement, noting Yvon has served on the Chamber’s board of directors for many years.
“It means a ton that they are expanding and staying in our community. Having a multi-generational business withstand and prosper through everything is amazing. . . We’re incredibly proud to have them in our community,” said Weinmeier.
“The future is here, and unless something drastic happens we plan to be here for a long time,” said Marc.
