Blanchard Equipment Company owes its start to Hammond Blanchard who bought the John Deere franchise in Waynesboro, Georgia in 1957. Blanchard Equipment started with strong agricultural ties as Hammond Blanchard began purchasing farmland in Burke County in the early 1960’s and 70’s and operated a large scale farm with cotton, peanuts, and other row crops while also running the tractor business. The farmland he purchased is still farmed and owned by the Blanchard family.
With the success of peanuts in the early 1970’s, Hammond Blanchard began construction of what is currently the Waynesboro store location of Blanchard Equipment Company, Inc. The business opened its doors at the current location in January 1973 as Blanchard-Stewart, Inc. At that time, the business was owned and operated by three owners, Hammond Blanchard, Phillip Blanchard, and Fred Stewart. In the summer of 1973, Hammond Blanchard suffered from a massive stroke at which time his son, Phillip Blanchard, became more involved.
Phillip, who had grown up working on the family farm and at the dealership, became the sole owner of Blanchard Equipment Company in 1982.
Today, Blanchard Equipment Company is still owned by Phillip Blanchard and has 16 locations.
