About Us

Word gets 'round.

The history of Delta Implement Company is the history of the agricultural South in transition. It tells the story of a change throughout the Mississippi Delta that is one of the most significant trends in American agriculture today. It is the story of farm mechanization.

Far-sighted men in the South saw mechanized agriculture in the South log before the possibility became a reality. James Hand, Jr. and J.B. Gibbs, successful partners in a saw mill and chain of general stores established a hardware business in Rolling Fork, MS. Home Hardware Company was established in 1924. Mr. Hand and Mr. Gibbs contacted the Memphis Brand of International Harvester Company about establishing an IH dealership in the Mississippi Delta. They met with Jere B. Nash, Sr., an IH employee, and agreed to become an International Harvester dealer. Mr. Nash soon left IH to become one of the three founding members of Delta Implement
Company. The rest is history.

After the start in Rolling Fork, the company established a dealership in Greenville, MS in 1926. This was the year of the first mechanical cotton picker experiment. 1927 was the traumatic year of the Great Flood as the Mississippi River levee broke north of Greenville. In 1929, the headquarters of Delta Implement was moved to Leland, MS. This was also the start of the Great Depression. In 1934, Planters Equipment Company was purchased in Cleveland, MS and Delta Implement of Yazoo City was established. In 1937 the price of cotton dropped to 8 cents/pound, but the businesses continued to grow.

In 1940, Delta Implement of Indianola, MS opened, and in 1941 International Harvester released the first mechanical cotton picker for sale. World War II started.

In 1946, two dealerships were opened in Arkansas. One in Manila, and the other in
Blytheville. In 1955, Miss-Lou Equipment Company was purchased in Vicksburg, MS.
In 1974, Delta Implement Company celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala
celebration headlined by Mr. Brooks McCormick, President of International
Harvester Company.

Over the years, some dealerships were sold and others bought, but there were 6-8 stores in the complex. Ownership of the dealerships has stayed in the Hand, Nash, and Gibbs families throughout the whole period. Second generation family members who spent their working careers in the organization are Jere B. Nash Jr., James Hand Jr., Rives C. Carter and John T. Gibbs.

In 1985, Tenneco Corporation which owned Case Company bought the agricultural interests of International Harvester, and formed the combined entity under the Case IH brand. In 1987, Delta Implement Company and The Ayres-Company, a long time Case dealership in the area, merged operations and established a new corporation, Ayres-Delta Implement, Inc. which currently has locations in Leland, Greenwood, Belzoni and Yazoo CityMS.

Ayres-Delta Implement, Inc. is owned and managed by four third-generation family
members of the original organizations, Stanley Ayres, Richard Cousino, Joe Nash,
and Terry Gibbs.