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Justin and Missy Gillespie



Elite Status Dealer

“I can’t express how humbled I am to have grown to where we are today. We truly could not have done this without our customers and family.”

-Justin Gillespie

Q&A

Who was involved in Gillespie's opening?
Justin and his wife, Missy Gillespie, were involved in the opening. Missy became full time in 2011. It’s been a family business since the beginning.

What makes you passionate about the products you service/sell?
We are passionate about the companies that we sell for and represent. They make great machines, and customers request them by name.

Which brands do you sell?
We sell Hustler, Honda, Husqvarna, Toro, Dolmar/Makita, Kawasaki, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Ryan, Turf Teq, Oregon, Mantis, Stens, Rotory, Jungle Jim’s, Carlton, NGK, Tuff Top, Mo Jack, Opti, Brown Bed Edger, and Accelerator to name a few.

What services do you provide?
Gillespie Outdoor Power Equipment provides several services. We sharpen mower blades, chainsaws, and also service ice augers. We provide parts for almost all makes and models of equipment, and we provide warranty and parts for all brands of ice augers (Jiffy, Strike Master, Eskimo). We also have pickup and delivery services on top of that.

Besides outdoor power equipment, what else is Gillespie involved in?
Gillespie is active in giving back to the community. We contribute to companies and organizations such as McCrossens Boys Ranch, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Junior Achievement of South Dakota, FFA, 4-H clubs, Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, Hartford Area Development Corporation, Equipment Retailers Association, Humboldt Threshing Show, West Central School District, Tri-Valley School District, and Montrose School District.

ABOUT GILLESPIE OUTDOOR POWER
EQUIPMENT


Parker residents Justin and Missy Gillespie own and operate Gillespie Outdoor Power Equipment in Hartford, S.D. Justin, a 5th-generation Turner County, South Dakota resident, always had an interest in fixing and tinkering with motors. His parents, Tom and Linda, operated Parker Feed & Seed (now known as Jim’s Farm Supply) for more than 20 years, where he and his brother, Wyatt, grew up helping with daily operations. The brothers were also often hired by farmers to walk beans, pick rock and haul square bales. Justin milked cows for six years through middle school and high school and was involved in 4-H and FFA. Those experiences ingrained a strong work ethic, encouraged his mechanical skills, and inspired an entrepreneurial spirit. “When I was a kid, we always had a lot of equipment around with small engines, and they always seemed to need tune-ups and repairs. It seemed we only had one option: to figure out a way to fix what we had on hand and make it work, or else,” Justin says.  

After graduating from high school, Justin went to Wahpeton, N.D. to study small engine repair and powersports engines. For several years, Justin spent his summers working as a farmhand on his uncle’s hog and cow/calf operation north of Hartford and winters in Steamboat Springs, Colorado as a snowmobile technician at a snowmobile rental company. At the same time, he started dating Missy, a Colton, S.D. native, and soon wanted to spend more time in South Dakota. 

Eventually, word got around to area farmers that Justin was repairing small engines on lawn mowers, ice augers, chainsaws, and other machines. The word-of-mouth referrals helped him build a strong business. He says, “It got to the point where I was becoming tired of having people stop by the house at 10:00 PM to have their engine fixed,” he jokes. 

In 2009, he opened his first commercial business near the antique shops off the Hartford, S.D. exit. Within 6 months, they quickly outgrew that space and moved to the north side of the interstate, closer to town. Missy joined the company full-time in 2012. Justin says her nursing background is a pivotal asset to the business. “Maintaining communication within the business and with customers, documentation and attention to detail are very similar tasks needed to care for people.” She also handles the day-to-day financial and service operations of the business. 

In 2016, Justin and Missy built their current facility, located at 1080 Ruud Trail, just north of the I-90 exit. Their location is now large enough for their current inventory and has room for growth. “The area farmers, businesses, and local banking community have really supported us, and we appreciate that. That’s the reason for our growth,” states Justin. 

Gillespie Outdoor Power Equipment also services brands they sell including Hustler, Husqvarna, Stihl, and Ferris. Justin shares, “People spend their hard-earned money with us, and in turn, we provide prompt high-quality service.” 

Gillespie Outdoor Power Equipment has grown to be the largest Hustler Turf Equipment dealership in the upper Midwest. Their long-term goal is to continue to provide the best products and service for all their customers. “Our business operates every day on two simple values: Treat people the way you would want to be treated and do the right thing,” shares Justin.