Roy Applequist

Founder and Former President and CEO / Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. / 1946 / Inducted 2024

Roy Applequist founded Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. (GPM), a company renowned for its innovative, high-quality agricultural equipment. What started out as a small operation in Salina, Kansas, has grown into a multi-million-dollar company with facilities in eight Kansas communities, over 2,300 employees, and global product distribution.

Applequist started the business in 1976 after interviewing 100 farmers about their equipment needs. This led young Applequist to introduce the first 30-ft. folding no-till drill that could be transported full of seed. From its humble beginnings, GPM quickly grew into a major player in the agriculture sector, thanks to Applequist’s commitment to engineering excellence, ingenuity, and customer service.

Under Applequist’s leadership, the company expanded to include no-till and min-till drills, tillage equipment, and precision planters. His strategic and innovative vision helped GPM remain competitive in a demanding agricultural market.

With a challenging ag market in the mid-1980s came a need to diversify. In 1986, Applequist founded Land Pride, which became a leading manufacturer of grounds maintenance and dirt-working tools and attachments. In 2007, Applequist established a strategic alliance with Kubota Corporation, building implements for tractors – significantly expanding the Land Pride network. Applequist also diversified, creating trucking and international divisions.

In 2016, GPM was acquired by Kubota Corporation, though Applequist’s legacy of quality, customer focus, and innovation continue to play a role in the company’s success. With a lifetime of manufacturing experience, Applequist established Applequist Manufacturing, Inc. in 2018, where he continues to pursue his entrepreneurial passion.