Ward McConnell Jr. Takes ’56 Year Break’ as Ag Equipment Dealer

The vice chairman of Art’s Way Manufacturing Co. decided recently to open a tractor-and-trailer dealership in Marietta, Ohio.

The idea for Crescent-McConnell Tractors & Equipment was born while McConnell was surveying the site of a distressed plumbing and electrical company he’d just bought.

“There are three buildings on the property,” he told Rural Lifestyle Dealer, “and I looked at one of the buildings that sat mostly empty and said, ‘That looks pretty good for a tractor dealership.’”

From there, he explains he turned to people and products he trusts to bring the dealership to life.

McConnell was chairman of Art’s Way from 2002 to 2015. He continues to serve as a director on the board and the company’s vice chairman. Marc McConnell, Ward’s son, is chairman today.

The elder McConnell, who is 86, describes himself as a dealer who took a “56-year break” to pursue a series of farm equipment manufacturing investments.

Among wisdom he shared with Rural Lifestyle Dealer was to do what you love.

“I enjoy being in business, and I enjoy coming to work every day,” he said. “I’ve been doing it so long now that I don’t know how not to do it.”

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