Messick Farm Equipment adds northern Pa. locations

• By Chris Reber/LNP | LancasterOnline

Messick Farm Equipment has expanded into three northern Pennsylvania counties with the acquisition of a farm equipment dealer whose owners have plans to retire.

On March 1, Rapho Township-based Messick’s finalized its acquisition of Rovendale Ag & Barn. Rovendale’s dealerships in Northumberland, Bradford and Wayne counties are now operating under the Messick name.

Both parties declined to reveal the cost Messick’s paid for the business.

The former Rovendale locations will continue to sell equipment from brands like New Holland Agriculture. While Rovendale’s Watsontown, Northumberland County, location and Messick’s in Halifax, Dauphin County, shared some overlapping sales territory, they have largely operated in different regions, according to Neil Messick, an owner of the company.

Customers at the former Rovendale locations should see lower prices on New Holland equipment from the larger buying power that comes from Messick’s larger sales volume, Messick said. Messick’s existing customers will see a larger parts selection.

Messick’s, which got its start near Elizabethtown in 1953, now has eight locations, including a 230,000 square-foot headquarters built in 2021.

Rovendale’s owners Brenda and Donny Rovenolt opened their first location in 1992. Brenda said they decided to sell the business as they neared retirement and Messick’s fit perfectly as a successor.

“It’s like putting a glove on,” she said.

Consolidation in the farm equipment dealership business is a trend. Messick said that in recent years, many small dealers have sold to larger companies, which have more capital to be able to withstand economic ebbs and flows.

“It just made sense for that dealership to continue on as part of a larger organization,” Messick said.