Bortnick Tractor Sales was founded in 1954, beginning a tradition of serving farmers and rural communities throughout Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
That philosophy would become the foundation for the generations that followed.
In 1984, Dana Harju, David Holdson and Michael Brewster took over Bortnick Tractor Sales, beginning a new chapter in the company's history.
Their leadership would guide Bortnick through decades of growth and change while maintaining the values that made the dealership successful.
In 1985, Bortnick established its operation at its Monroe Township location, creating the foundation for the dealership's next era of growth.
The business continued to serve agricultural customers while maintaining its commitment to parts, service and customer support.
This period helped establish the Bortnick organization that customers would come to know for decades to come.
In 1987, Bortnick added Kubota to its equipment lineup.
The addition of Kubota was an important milestone, allowing Bortnick to serve an even broader range of customers—from full-time farmers to hobby farmers, rural property owners and homeowners.
Kubota became an important part of Bortnick's product offering and remains a key brand within the company today.
By the 2000s, Bortnick had grown into a well-established multi-line equipment dealership, representing brands including Kubota, New Holland, Woods and STIHL.
The company served a wide range of customers, including full-time farmers, agricultural operations, hobby farmers, homeowners and rural property owners.
These investments allowed the dealership to continue supporting customers long after their equipment purchase.
In 2011, Bortnick Tractor Sales expanded into Cortland, Ohio, through the purchase of Cortland Tractor Company.
Cortland Tractor had a long history of its own. The dealership had been operated by Larry Longberry and Fred Shoyhada, who together had approximately 90 years of experience with the business.
The dealership was a long-established New Holland operation serving farmers and customers throughout the Cortland area.
When Longberry and Shoyhada retired, Dana Harju, David Holdson and Michael Brewster purchased the dealership on behalf of Bortnick Tractor Sales.
Rather than starting over, Bortnick continued the legacy that had already been built in Cortland.
The acquisition brought together two longstanding equipment traditions and gave Bortnick a second Ohio location while continuing to provide customers with the equipment, parts, service and support they had come to rely on.
In 2017, Robert Lingsch purchased Bortnick Tractor Sales, acquiring both the Conneaut and Cortland locations.
This marked another important chapter in Bortnick's history.
As the needs of our customers changed, Bortnick continued to expand and diversify its equipment offerings.
Today, the dealership serves customers across a wide range of industries and applications, including:
Our lineup has grown to include brands such as Kubota, New Holland, Mahindra, Land Pride, Woods, Kinze, Great Plains, Exmark, Ferris, Altoz, STIHL, Billy Goat and others.
While our selection has grown, our approach has remained the same: offer quality products, provide dependable parts and service, and give our customers a dealership they can depend on.
Today, Bortnick Tractor Sales continues to build upon more than 70 years of history.
The equipment may be different than it was in 1954. The brands and product offerings have grown, and the company has expanded beyond its original agricultural roots.
But the philosophy remains the same:
Take care of the customer. Stand behind what you sell. Support the community. Build relationships that last.
70+ Years of History. Generations of Customers. One Continuing Commitment to Our Community.
Since 1954, Bortnick Tractor Sales has grown from a traditional farm equipment dealership into the multi-location equipment organization it is today. While our brands, products and locations have evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to taking care of our customers and the communities we serve.
The original dealership was owned by M.E. Bortnick and was associated with Allis-Chalmers equipment. From the beginning, Bortnick was built around more than selling equipment. Parts, service, customer support and long-term relationships were important parts of the dealership.
Rather than changing what Bortnick stood for, they continued the philosophy that had been established by the dealership from the beginning—providing quality equipment, dependable parts and service, and building lasting relationships with customers and the local community.
Throughout this growth, parts and service remained a central part of the dealership's business. In 2006, Bortnick made significant improvements to its facility, including expanded parts storage and improvements to the customer parts and receiving areas.
Robert Lingsch continued building on the foundation established over the previous six decades, maintaining the Bortnick name and carrying forward the company's commitment to quality equipment, dependable parts and service, customer relationships and community involvement.
From its beginnings in 1954, through the transition to Dana Harju, David Holdson and Michael Brewster in 1984, the addition of Kubota in 1987, the expansion into Cortland in 2011, and Robert Lingsch's purchase of both Ohio locations in 2017, each generation has contributed to the company Bortnick is today.
From the Allis-Chalmers equipment of the 1950s to today's tractors, construction equipment, lawn & turf equipment, outdoor power products, parts, service and rentals, Bortnick Tractor Sales continues to build on the legacy that started in 1954.