Est. 1938 — Four Generations of Family Ownership
Keeping You, Field Ready Since 1938
From a one-man International Harvester dealership in the Missouri Bootheel to 14 locations and 185 employees — Baker Implement’s story is one of family, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to the farmers we serve.
Our Heritage
86 Years of Serving Agriculture
Charles B. Baker buys Deering Farms from International Harvester and begins selling equipment to tenant farmers in the Missouri Bootheel. By 1938, Baker Implement is officially founded as an IH dealership.
“Mr. Baker was the entrepreneur of our family and he’s the one that got everything started. He did a lot of things for a lot of people and he was just an excellent businessman.”
Baker Implement Company is officially incorporated on April 4, 1942, and moves to Kennett, Missouri, becoming the area’s premier International Harvester dealer.
Baker opens the Arbyrd location as Baker Truck & Implement, marking the beginning of a multi-location strategy that would define the company for decades.
Mechanical cotton pickers transform agriculture in the Bootheel. Baker becomes one of the largest IH cotton picker dealers in the country by financing machines on a per-bale basis — sharing the risk with the farmers he served.
“Mr. Baker sold cotton pickers all over this part of the country with nothing down, financed them for the farmers and they paid so much for every bale that they picked. If that made the payment fine, if it didn’t make it, it was fine — he just wanted to be sure that they had enough cotton to pay him if they made a decent crop.”
Under Jerry Paul Combs’ leadership, Baker Implement begins a sustained period of expansion, acquiring the Portageville location and extending the company’s reach deeper into the agricultural heartland.
When International Harvester merges with J.I. Case, nearly every IH dealer in the region loses their contract. Baker Implement becomes the only IH dealer from Memphis to St. Louis to keep theirs — because Jerry Paul was willing to walk away rather than compromise.
“No sir, we won’t buy one used tractor. He sold every tractor that’s been sold in this trade territory for the last two years and we’re not going to spend our money bailing him out.”
Baker Implement earns the title of top-selling Case IH dealer in North America — a testament to the relationships, reputation, and relentless work ethic built over nearly six decades.
Paul T. Combs takes the helm after Jerry Paul’s retirement, continuing the family tradition of strategic growth while preserving the culture that makes Baker Implement unique.
Continued growth brings Piggott (#10), Poplar Bluff (#11), Hoxie and Pocahontas (#12 & #13), and Caruthersville (#14) into the fold. Today, Baker Implement spans 14 locations across Missouri and Arkansas, serving thousands of farming operations throughout the Delta.
Leadership
Four Generations of Family Ownership
The entrepreneur who started it all. Bought Deering Farms from International Harvester and built a dealership by financing cotton pickers for farmers with nothing down — sharing the risk and earning their loyalty for life.
Baker’s son-in-law brought conservative financial discipline to balance the founder’s entrepreneurial ambition. His steady hand stabilized the company during a period of rapid agricultural change.
The builder who transformed Baker Implement from a few stores into a regional powerhouse. Navigated the Case IH merger, expanded to multiple locations, and built a culture where employees stay for decades.
Continues the legacy of strategic growth while fiercely protecting Baker Implement’s family culture. Expanded to 14 locations and guided the company through the toughest agricultural markets without a single layoff.
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The Baker Implement Story
What We Believe
Our Values
Family First
This is a family business and we treat it like one — employees, customers, and communities alike.
Loyalty Rewarded
Stick with us through the bad years and we’ll stick with you. That’s not a slogan — it’s how we operate.
Collaboration
We’re one company across 14 locations. We share parts, people, and knowledge to serve every customer better.
People Over Metrics
Numbers serve people, not the other way around. We make decisions that are right for our team and our customers.
Long-Term Thinking
We don’t sacrifice culture for short-term gains. Four generations of ownership prove that patience pays off.