Orscheln Farm & Home acquired for $297 million, local store remains the same for now

Sarah Stortz, The Oskaloosa Herald, Iowa
·1 min read

Mar. 8—OSKALOOSA — Orscheln Farm and Home stores across the Midwest will be owned by a separate entity soon.

According to a news release from Business Wire, Tractor Supply Company announced it entered into an agreement where it will acquire all Orscheln Farm and Home stores. The purchase was an all-cash transaction of approximately $297 million.

Tractor Supply Company is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States.

"For more than 60 years, my family, our Orscheln Farm and Home employees and I have been committed to serving the needs of rural communities across the Midwest," Barry Orscheln, Chairman and CEO of Orscheln Farm and Home, said in the news release. "I am very proud of all that we have accomplished over this time. I am confident that with Tractor Supply our stores will be well-positioned to continue Orscheln's tradition of taking care of our customers and communities for the next phase of growth."

For the store in Oskaloosa, Manager Al Bunnell said nothing in the store will change for now, as the sale needs to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission. The process can take from a few months to a year.

Outside of Iowa, there are Orscheln Farm and Home stores in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio.

Sarah Stortz can be reached at sstortz@oskyherald.com.