Dixie Chopper acquired by Jacobsen, which plans to operate out of local facilities

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Jacobsen, a Textron Inc. company, has acquired the assets of Dixie Chopper, a Putnam County-based manufacturer of zero-turn-radius mowers for the commercial and residential markets, it was announced Thursday.

"The addition of Dixie Chopper expands our reach into the consumer and commercial sectors, including municipalities, with a full range of zero-turn mowers known for their speed, quality and performance," Jacobsen President David Withers said.

"It's really a win-win for both companies," he added, "and we look forward to building customer relationships together with Dixie Chopper."

Known as "the World's Fastest Lawn Mower," Dixie Chopper mowers are capable of mowing up to 6.6 acres per hour. The company manufactures 11 models of zero-turn mowers, from the residential Zee 2 with 21-hp Kawasaki engine and 42-inch deck to the industrial category XCaliber Twin with two 27-hp Generac engines and 74-inch deck.

"We are excited to join the Jacobsen and Textron family of brands," Dixie Chopper founder and Chairman Art Evans said Thursday.

"Our line of zero-turn radius mowers fit perfectly into the Jacobsen portfolio of products," Evans added, "and we look forward to working together to serve more customers.

"The joining of Dixie Chopper and Jacobsen offers an opportunity for Dixie Chopper to reach a global market and expand brand awareness in the process."

Jacobsen will continue to operate Dixie Chopper out of the company's Indiana facilities in Fillmore and Greencastle, and the existing Dixie Chopper management team will join Jacobsen.

With the addition of Dixie Chopper, Jacobsen offers a complete product line of turf maintenance equipment, including zero-turn mowers, small and large area reel mowers, trim mowers, wide-area rotary mowers, aerators, sprayers, utility vehicles and renovation equipment.


 Founded in 1980, Dixie Chopper revolutionized the entire lawn and garden industry by providing the first zero-turn lawn mowers built specifically for commercial mowing contractors.

Known as "the World's Fastest Lawn Mower," Dixie Chopper mowers are about much more than being fast. The company prides itself on providing quality and reliability in addition to speed. To learn more about Dixie Chopper and view the complete lineup of zero-turn lawn mowers, visit the company's website at www.dixiechopper.com.

With more than 90 years of experience in the turf maintenance industry, Jacobsen equipment is used on some of the finest formal turf areas across the United States and the world, through an extensive distribution network and the international Ransomes brand. Additional information about the company can be found at www.jacobsen.com.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com.

Comments
View 6 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • I hope this is a good fit and good move for Greencastle.

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Thu, Feb 6, 2014, at 2:24 PM
  • Well that's good to know......... but being employed by Dixie Chopper I would have hoped to have heard something like this from them and not the Banner Graphic

    -- Posted by just.a.local.guy on Thu, Feb 6, 2014, at 4:22 PM
  • Say goodbye to Dixie Chopper. Textron/Jacobsen has a history in the mower market (Bunton now Bobcat). They like to buy up companies like Dixie Chopper who are out of cash. They buy, merge, and grow them to an acceptable gain then sell them off to an emerging or mid size market player looking to expand brands. If you think they plan on investing in Greencastle for the long term - I wouldn't count on it.

    -- Posted by jorge on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 2:19 AM
  • Nice to see positive thoughts. Remember when Lone Star was bought out, comments were negetive and some said it was the end of Lone Star. Well, they were bought a second time, and they are still there. Todays market is about being larger,and this looks like a move forward. Good luck to all Dixie Chopper employees, and to the Evans family. They all have done Putnam County "PROUD".

    By the way, I am not family, and I do not work there.

    -- Posted by bglaze on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 6:20 AM
  • To: Jorge

    I have been in the industry for over 15 years. I was there when Textron acquired the Bobcat Product line.

    They left all facilities in tact and continued with existing employees and Dealer Base!

    You need to get your facts straight before you go posting comments that will put fear into employees and community members that are already scared!

    bglaze: Your comment is very correct!

    I also wish the Best of luck for the Evans Family they have been very good to their employees for the last 35 years.

    People seem to forget all the good that has been done when things look a little scary.

    Dixie Chopper Employees go back to work and show them all what a great group of employees you are and continue to build the Best Zero Turn Mower In The Industry!

    -- Posted by Mr. Obvious 1968 on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 7:17 AM
  • I remember when IBM left town. Everyone was sooo worried about the future and this was way before the Walmart distribution came to town. I am glad to see Greencastle moving ahead like this.

    -- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Fri, Feb 7, 2014, at 11:24 AM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: