By G.R. MacGregor
Mike Shuckrow has been working in the equipment business since he was a kid. He grew up working part time in his father’s farm and construction business. From bulldozers to skidders, he started from the ground up sweeping floors, washing equipment and doing anything he was asked to do. Now 33 years later, he laughs thinking about how fast the years have gone by. He has been working alongside office manager Pauline, who has been with him since the beginning and for the 18 years before that, when she worked for his father.
After high school, Shuckrow attended Wyoming Tech, a premiere automotive technology school, eventually returning to Maine. However, at the time he was unable to find a job, so he went to work for the family business. Six years later, when the business shut down, he decided to make a run for it and used the building for a smaller lawn and garden equipment operation. Starting with a Bolen’s line, he moved to Troy Bilt (It bought out Bolens.) and when Cub Cadet bought out Troy Bilt, he became a Cub Cadet distributor, which continues to this day.
Cub Cadet is now one of the equipment “big boys,” and Shuckrow moves a fair amount of their lawn mowers, lawn riders and Zero Turn mowers. Lawn tractors are still number one in sales; snow blowers are a close second. Yan Mar compact tractors have been a newer line that sold out last year, and Shuckrow confirms he will stock this product again in 2021. Along with sales of equipment, there is a steady stream of parts sold and always repair work to do — the nuts and bolts of his company.
Shuckrow has been doing this his whole life and loves the business. He loves selling his products ,which goes beyond Cub Cadet and Yanmar, as he has extensive lines of equipment including generators, chainsaws, pressure washers, leaf blowers, trimmers and hedge clippers.
Shuckrow works on and repairs these products as well as anything that has an engine. For the most part, when it comes to taking care of the small equipment, turnaround times are excellent. Shuckrow has seen many models of Cub Cadet and has taught more than one Cub Cadet sales rep about past products.
If in need of repairs for their equipment, customers can call or stop by and drop off their items. Central Maine Equipment also will pick up and deliver any piece of equipment needing attention.
