Gruett's Inc. was developed out of an honest job Harlan Gruett held back in 1958, which consisted of pounding plow plates on an old anvil in his parent's garage. He was 19 years old at that time. Years later, in 1962, Harlan and Audrey purchased a house and small property on the west end of Potter, where Gruett's Inc. is still located today. The company expanded in 1977 when they began selling Same Tractors, Starline, Hesston, Leyland, and Wil-Rich equipment. Manufacturing was still a huge part of the company, and in 1986 a new facility was built for increased production of forage boxes and feeders. Harlan passed away in 1993, and since then two major additions have been added, the most recent in 2008 which houses a showroom for Polaris® snowmobiles, ATVs, and utility vehicles. 2008 also marked the 50th anniversary of Gruett's Inc. Fast forward to 2024, we have grown to 4 locations and service the entire Eastern half of Wisconsin. With stores in Potter, Eden, Waupun and Watertown, we are still family owned and driven to serve our local customer. We look forward to the future as Gruett's Inc. continues to expand and diversify.
Harlan Gruett (pictured) was the founder of Gruett's Inc. He started Gruett's back in 1958 at the age of 19 with very little money and a lot of ambition. Harlan was born and raised in the town of Rantoul just outside of Potter and graduated from Chilton High School.
Harlan and his wife Audrey moved to the west end of Potter with their 2 oldest sons Steve and Jeff. This is where Harlan built Greenfeeders, Forage Boxes, and more. This is currently where Gruett's Inc. is located.
After 19 years in business Gruett's had grown and expanded to sell other manufacturer's equipment as well as their own. Some of the original brands were: Hesston, Wil-Rich, Same, Starline, Leyland, and DMI.
This is an aerial view of Gruett's Inc. in 1986 after the construction of our manufacturing facility, wash bay, warehouse, and paint booth.
Six years after Harlan's death, an addition was built consisting of a new shop, and a service/administration office area. J&D Mfg, White, Thomas, Knight, and Sioux Steel were now among the other equipment lines being sold at that time.
Picture taken in 2008; another addition was made for Powersports, Lawn & Garden, Sales & Service. 2008 also marked the anniversary of 50 years in business for Gruett's Inc. The original family still owning and operating the business.
In the spring of 2021 Gellings Implement of Eden, WI was purchased. The dealership was renamed Gruett's - Eden and is currently a full line New Holland store under the ownership of Gruetts Inc.
In the spring of 2022 Waupun Equipment was purchased. Acquiring locations in both Waupun and Watertown, WI. Both of these locations are currently full line New Holland and Massey Ferguson stores and under the ownership of Gruetts Inc.