Asheboro Kubota, a new dealership in Franklinville, N.C., held a ribbon cutting ceremony April 6. The dealership sells wide range of products including tractors, hay equipment and mowers.

Besides the Kubota line, Asheboro also carries Land Pride, Echo and Stihl products and specializes in repair work on any farm equipment purchased from the dealership. Owner Joe Milikan hopes to add the option of rental equipment down the line.

Milikan believes the new business fills a void in the area for those who own Kubota equipment and need a nearby location to have their equipment serviced and to purchase parts. The process to become an authorized Kubota dealer took 6 months, according to Milikan.

“It is a very detailed process to become a Kubota dealer. The process started off with an interview. Kubota (then) looked at my educational background, finances ... and we were asked to complete a 5-year business plan. We had to prove that we could make it work for what we were going to sell.”