Carlson Equipment and BCM Sales: Family business caters to Fremont County’s agricultural needs

Father-daughter duo Brad and Brook Carlson have spent the better part of three decades managing Carlson Equipment in Riverton, providing a range of essential agricultural services to farmers and ranchers throughout Fremont County.

Located on Zuber Road just across the fence from the Carlson family farm, Carlson Equipment has a variety of new and used equipment in stock, as well as a line of livestock supplements, fencing supplies and a little bit of everything in between.

Early years

Brad opened Carlson Equipment in 1991 after spending several years running a custom farming and trucking business called Carlson Brothers.

Brook grew up on a farm just down the road from the store, along with her three sisters – Bobbi, Bridget and Becky. The Carlson girls were heavily involved with farming, ranching, 4-H and FFA while growing up.

Brook began working behind the parts counter in the spring of 1997, originally intending to provide some part-time help after graduating high school. The situation became permanent when the employee she was filling in for passed away during a medical operation. 

Brook had only been on the job for three days when she got the news. Things were particularly hectic in the middle of haying season. 

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Brook recalls. “I’d been around farm equipment my whole life, but I didn’t know anything about the shop or how to look up parts.”

Brook admits the first summer was difficult, but she credits the patience and good nature of the surrounding community with her decision to keep going.

“There were such good clients, good customers and good people, including the people who were working for us,” Brook says. “I just fell into it and decided it was what I was going to do.”

Continued community 

Brook has been at the helm of Carlson Equipment ever since. 

In 2020, she purchased the business from her father and added BCM Sales. Brook continues to prioritize community and customer service in daily operations. 

“Those old guys who used to come in when I was a kid are still coming in, and they hardly even want to talk to anybody but me,” Brook says. “They know I’ll look everywhere to try and find what they’re searching for.”

Carlson Equipment specializes in selling used equipment and aftermarket parts other competitors find difficult to source.

“Equipment nowadays is so hard to work on, which is why we sell a lot of used equipment,” Brook says. “With the older stuff, you don’t have to have a computer degree to drive your tractor.”

The shop’s official hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Brook has been known to make exceptions. As a farmer herself, she knows how costly a breakdown can be in terms of both time and money.

“Hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but everybody has our phone numbers,” Brook says. “So sometimes we’re there on the weekends.” 

Brook says she and her father are proud of the customer base Carlson Equipment has built up over the years and grateful for the community they’ve grown along with it.

“A lot of it has to do with trust,” Brook says. “If you’ve been around the community for a while, you know who you can trust. You know who is going to be willing to swing in on a Saturday night at four a.m. to get you a part for your baler.”

“The business owners and people of Fremont County are very accommodating,” Brook says. “We try to help each other and look out for each other.”

Services offered

In addition to used equipment and parts, Carlson Equipment carries a selection of new short-line products and livestock supplies. 

The store is an authorized retailer of New Generation Supplements like SmartLic, and it carries a variety of fencing supplies from freestanding panels to post-hole diggers.

Carlson Equipment recently added a line of Arrowquip chutes to their inventory, and some products like Ritchie Livestock Waterers are available for special order. 

Brad is semi-retired nowadays, but Brook has enjoyed the help of Katie Winfield behind the parts counter for the past three years. 

With a business ethic prioritizing relationships, customer service and community, Brook says it’s easy to maintain a good business. 

“You’ve got to be kind, and you’ve got to be helpful,” Brook says. “And you’ve got to at least halfway know what you’re doing most of the time. With that, it’s easy.”

Carlson Equipment is located at 77 Zuber Rd., Riverton, WY 82501. For more information, visit carlsonequipment.com/ or call 307-856-8123.

Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.