COVINGTON, Ohio – Apple Farm Service began as any American dream does – with an innovation, an idea and hard work. After adding three more locations in Ohio and one in Indiana, this family-owned agricultural equipment dealership and service provider is celebrating its 70 anniversary this month.

“It’s been a blessing to stay in business for 70 years,” said Bill Apple, president of Apple Farm Service. “We’ve stayed loyal to our customers, and they’ve stayed loyal to us through all these years. We’re incredibly thankful for the relationships and support that helped us reach this milestone.”

The founder of this southwest Ohio and eastern Indiana business was dairy farmer Henry Apple, who, in 1956, opened the Apple Chopper Service out of his own shop (it would later become Apple Farm Service).

 A farmer with his father’s (Alfred) mechanical abilities, Henry’s reputation for helping neighbors with their farm machinery grew fast. Henry invented technologies and techniques to thresh corn more efficiently and harvest more quickly.

“Even as a teenager, dad was inventing new and better ways of helping the farmer be more productive and earn a better income from his land,” Bill said.

In the mid-1940s, Henry created a design to make a better forage harvester. He used a Continental Engine, parts taken from a World War II Tank half-track, a Massey Harris 101 rear end, a Chevrolet steering axle, and a Gehl FH84 with TR83 two-row corn attachment. This was the beginning of self-propelled harvesters that are common today but not seen in the mid-century.

Growing up in the lush farmlands of west-central Ohio, Henry soon began to influence other farmers and farming methods throughout the state and into eastern Indiana.

“He was a natural born leader with a gift for invention, and an ability to make others see that his ‘new-fangled’ ideas and innovative ways were good, progressive, and beneficial,” Bill said.

Soon, other farmers curious about the new machine began to gather at the Apple shop to see what Henry was up to. The young farmer/inventor not only drew publicity, but he captured the imaginations and respect of other farmers. Henry was making life better and he was also making work more efficient for these dedicated men and women who farmed.

Henry, who was tending to a 500-acre dairy farm at the time, gained attention in the mid-1940s after a local newspaper printed a photo of Henry sitting on that forage harvester.

“That newspaper article and harvester that dad invented sure changed the direction of this farm and what we all did. Today, this company has continued to grow while staying focused on the hardworking farming communities it was built to serve,” Bill said.

Impressed by Apple’s mastery of mechanics, The Gehl Company offered Henry a dealership in 1956, and the Apple Chopper Service was born. As time passed, Apple Chopper Service steadily grew. The name officially changed to Apple Farm Service.

Buildings were built, showrooms were added and personnel increased. Henry’s son, Bill, followed in his father’s footsteps, building the second store in Botkins from the ground up in 1985. Henry passed away in 1996, leaving Bill as president and CEO. Bill continued with his father’s passion for being the farmer’s friend. The business quickly grew in the 2010 when a turkey barn complex across the street closed. Apple Farm Service purchased the 15-building complex, filling it with new and used inventory.

In 2012, the Covington store doubled in size with a new showroom and parts store. The company expanded into Indiana with the purchase of the West College Corner location in 2013. In 2015, Apple Farm Service opened a location in Mechanicsburg. Then, in the spring of 2021, the company added another location in Washington Courthouse.

Today, the company carries over 120 vendor lines, including Case IH, New Holland, Kubota and Coyote. Apple Farm Service stocks over 90,000 different parts and has access to millions more.

Bill grew up on the family dairy farm and learned his business sense, sales discernment, and philosophy of caring from his parents. After attending Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, he learned sales in the agricultural implement business by working alongside the best – his father. Through the years, Bill has upgraded his skills by attending numerous service, sales and management training courses provided by many of Apple’s manufacturers.

Bill’s son, Matt, is next to lead Apple Farm Service into the future.

To celebrate the anniversary, Apple Farm Service will launch a special “7 for 70” giveaway series on Facebook throughout the upcoming months. The company will be giving away a monthly prize package over the next seven months, valued at over $5,000. Customers can enter by liking or following Apple Farm Service on Facebook and sharing the official giveaway posts.

As part of the celebration, Apple Farm Service will also premiere a series of videos highlighting stories about farmers, families, employees and long-time customers of Apple Farm Service. The series will focus on the people and moments that helped shape the company over the last seven decades.

Customers and community members are encouraged to share their own memories and stories involving Apple Farm Service by messaging the company’s Facebook page or emailing Info@AppleFarmService.com.  To learn more about the anniversary celebration, view giveaway items, and watch the video series, visit: AppleFarmService.com/70Years.