Paul Du Toit’s roots are in agriculture and coming to Emporia to manage PrairieLand Partners was a natural fit following the retirement of former general manager, Richard Garber. Garber had been in charge of the John Deere dealership, formerly named Deer Trail Implement.
Du Toit came to the United States from South Africa, where he grew up on a family farm.
“It was a very well diversified farming operation,” Du Toit said.
Du Toit’s family farmed a variety of things including barley, wheat and ran a livestock operation. He originally came to the United States in 1999 on a custom harvest operation and met his future wife Sara, whose family had been doing custom harvesting for more than 30 years. Du Toit managed an Angus cattle ranch outside Tremont, Ill. They then moved to the west coast, where Du Toit worked for six and a half years for a family owned John Deere construction and forestry dealer. He worked in the Parts & Service departments, served as a Customer Service Advisor, and Territory Manager & Regional sales manager for three stores.
Du Toit landed in Emporia when his wife spotted the job posting on an online job search engine. The move was a good one because his wife wanted to be closer to the family operation, which is headquartered in North Dakota.
Du Toit said after meeting with PrairieLand, he felt a connection and took the job. As manager of the store he is responsible for coordinating day-to-day operations and procedures for sales, parts and service department at the Emporia location and also ensures good customer service, he said.
PrairieLand Partners is a part of a partnership among eight stores located at Marion, McPherson, Hutchinson, Wichita, Andover, Winfield, Emporia and Anthony.
Du Toit said he enjoys the industry along with providing customer service and being in a smaller town.
“I love coming back to farming roots ...” he said. “I’ve always had a passion for farming. I enjoy working with people and helping them meet their own personal goals. I really enjoy customer service.”
Du Toit said he’s excited to become a part of the Emporia community.
“I joined the Chamber of Commerce and will continue building on the current foundation cultivated by Richard Garber and the team at PrairieLand Partners,” he said.