About Us

Central Tractor began business at this location of I35E at exit 401B in July 1978, by Wayne and Lora McEwen, former John Deere dealers from Cortez, Colorado.

In the beginning, the fledgling company was named Wapiti Equipment, so named because of a large elk, (Wapiti), statue that was previously part of the John Deere dealership in Colorado. The statue was designed and made out of hammered copper by the world famous W.H. Mullins Co. in Salem, Ohio during the 1890's. It was one of approximately 18 original John Deere Company logos. Having been placed on the John Deere Transfer House in Colorado when the Denver Transfer House was remodeled in the mid-40's.

After being in the tractor business in Cortez, Colorado from 1961 to 1978, we relocated in Waxahachie, Brining with us the Elk statue, which was part of our share of the assets from the Cortez dealership.

Having purchased the acreage on I35E we began business as a John Deere Consumer Products Dealer and continued until 1989 at which time we dropped the John Deere line of equipment and took on the Kubota Tractor Line.

Our business continued to grow and flourish after taking on the Kubota line of tractors and equipment. Soon we found the name 'Wapiti Equipment' too cumbersome and difficult to say and spell for many people. So to expedite communication and advertising we decided on the name 'Central Tractor' in 1996.

Now, in 2004, having moved into new facilities (at the same location) and into the computer age, we feel it necessary to once again update our name to be compatible with the Internet and stay competitive in the marketplace.