Our History
Cecil Nelson got his start working at a Chevrolet dealership in Blairsville. When a local Ford tractor dealer named Ralph Quick Sr. offered to sell him four tractors, Cecil took the chance. He opened shop on Young Harris Street in 1949, fixing and selling whatever came through the door. Tractors, cars, trucks, bodywork, painting. If it had an engine, Cecil would figure it out.
Cecil passed the business to his son, W.C. Nelson, who made one of the most consequential decisions in company history. In 1970, W.C. began importing Kubota equipment from Japan, two full years before Kubota officially entered the U.S. market. That early bet on Kubota shaped everything that followed. At present, Nelson Tractor is the oldest Kubota dealer in Georgia and the fourth-oldest in the United States.
Today, Will Nelson leads Nelson Tractor Company as CEO and President. Will holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Lipscomb University and has served on the board of the Southern Equipment Dealers Association for over 10 years, including a term as president. Under his leadership, NTC has grown to three locations and earned every major award Kubota offers.
What We Stand For
Will Nelson puts it simply:
"It isn't about the money—it's about the relationships. My dad always believed in doing things the right way. He used to say, 'If you're gonna take time to do something, do it right. People appreciate that. And it doesn't cost a dime to treat people with kindness.'"
One of the best compliments Will ever received came from a longtime customer who told him:
