C.R. WALK implement
Indianola, Iowa
Years of Operation: 1950 - 1999
Years of Operation: 1950 - 1999
Clarence Roland Walk grew up on a farm near Lacona, Iowa during the height of the Great Depression. After serving in the US Air Force during WWII, he returned home and started an implement dealership with a small loan from his father. Clarence started as a Massey-Harris dealer and continued with Massey-Ferguson. In the 1950's, the dealership was located at 1009 South Jefferson Street in Indianola. From the 1960's on, they listed 1001 South Jefferson as their address. In 1966, the dealership became a dealer for the Fox forage equipment line. Along with the new line, Walk added a new 40' x 60' steel building addition on the rear of the dealership making a larger space for repair work on modern equipment. Another additional to the dealership came in September 1966 with the Oliver Farm Machinery line added to Clarence's implement dealership. The new machinery line came with new signage featuring 2 keystone logos and a "C.R. WALK IMPL." sign in the middle added to the building. Additional product lines offered in 1967 included Gehl and Krause.
In May 1971, Walk was named as an authorized dealer for New Holland. By the mid 1970's, Hesston products had been added to the business. Hesston sales were good because in 1977, Clarence was named a Master Dealer Circle Award winner by Hesston. During April 1978, the dealership hosted the "Agrifuture Fair" which included presenting a video produced by the White Farm Equipment company and promotion of new White 2-135 tractor. By the early 1990's, C.R Walk was a dealer for the Ford New Holland tractor and equipment line. Walk continued the WFE product line through at least 1985. When Clarence was once asked how he stayed in business so long, he would always say, "You have to be honest, because if you are not, sooner or later it catches up with you."
On December 29, 1999, the dealership held a going out of business auction and sold the remaining equipment and major parts inventory. Clarence kept the building until selling the former implement dealership location around 2008. Clarence passed away in 2016 at the age of 94.
In May 1971, Walk was named as an authorized dealer for New Holland. By the mid 1970's, Hesston products had been added to the business. Hesston sales were good because in 1977, Clarence was named a Master Dealer Circle Award winner by Hesston. During April 1978, the dealership hosted the "Agrifuture Fair" which included presenting a video produced by the White Farm Equipment company and promotion of new White 2-135 tractor. By the early 1990's, C.R Walk was a dealer for the Ford New Holland tractor and equipment line. Walk continued the WFE product line through at least 1985. When Clarence was once asked how he stayed in business so long, he would always say, "You have to be honest, because if you are not, sooner or later it catches up with you."
On December 29, 1999, the dealership held a going out of business auction and sold the remaining equipment and major parts inventory. Clarence kept the building until selling the former implement dealership location around 2008. Clarence passed away in 2016 at the age of 94.
A picture of the dealership in November 1997. Mainly a Ford New Holland dealer at the time, the White Farm Equipment sign from the 1970's remained on the sign pole! Photo Credit: Michael Misbach
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Dealership building
In 2007, the former dealership building looked very similar to how it was in 1999 when the close-out auction was held.
The former C.R. Walk Implement dealership building as it stands in 2024. It is now a shop for a local garbage disposal business.