March is Women’s History Month in the United States, making it the perfect time to recognize and honor women in the agricultural industry. Did you know that 36% of US farmers are women and 56% of all farms have at least one female decision maker? Women have played a crucial role in agricultural history, and continue to grow in the industry today. Women historically managed crops and livestock, planted, and harvested. Today, their agricultural roles have expanded to include agribusiness, landowners, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy makers.
LS Tractor is proud to recognize that many of our tractor owners and dealership owners are women. This month we would like to highlight Rachel Robison, owner of Robison Equipment Company, Inc. The dealership, out of Thompson, Ohio, is a 3rd generation family-owned business. Rachel’s grandfather started the business in 1945 selling tractors from the Minneapolis Moline line. They took on LS Tractors when LS first came to the market as their own entity. Rachel says, “Our dealership stands out because we are a 3rd generation dealership that has been in the same family and same location for 80 years! We pride ourselves on our dedication to our customers and the ag community.” Today, LS Tractor is the backbone of the dealership, offering quality and affordable products.
Although Robison Equipment Company, Inc has been passed down through generations, it has not always been easy. Even though Rachel wasn’t new to the agriculture scene, as she has a love of everything equine, she previously worked in the healthcare industry. She struggled finding her footing in the business, especially during the COVID pandemic. However, just at the right time, she was invited to participate in a business development class. Through the course, Rachel learned the business structure she was missing, which in her words, “was life changing”. She gained the structure and confidence she needed to manage the business through COVID and beyond. As a family dealership, they do it all! Rachel has been the leading figure in modernizing the business.
Rachel is certainly invested in her dealership and customers, and owns two LS Tractors herself. Currently, her family raises Percheron Draft horses and a crop farm. Their LS Tractors work every day to manage and care for the farm making hay, planting corn, and caring for the horses. For the Robisons, the best feature of LS Tractors is the affordability. In a time when everyone is counting money, they are able to offer a great product at an affordable price.
Rachel is not the only strong woman in her family. She and her husband are raising two daughters, who they hope to inspire to continue in the ag industry. Rachel was quick to share, “Our goal for our business is to hand it over to our daughters at the 100-year mark. Watching our daughters take the business into the next century is a moment we look forward to with pride in our hearts.” As a female role model, Rachel wants her daughters to see a strong, successful woman in a male dominated industry, and hopes they will continue in her footsteps. Her favorite role in the business is having the opportunity to talk with new customers to find out what they need for their farms, then fitting them with the right LS Tractor to fulfil those needs. We commend and congratulate Rachel for her hard work and dedication toward continuing and growing her family business, as well as putting the needs of her customers first. She is an inspiration not only to her daughters, but to all women in the agricultural industry. Rachel says her favorite color is LS Blue, and we think it’s definitely your color!
Check out Robison Equipment Company, Inc for more information!
Published on March 5, 2025 By Kimberly Steele