Earlier this month, Vermeer Corporation celebrated 65 years in Pella with a family style picnic attended by thousands. Attendees and their families played games and explored Vermeer facilities and machines. In the late 1940’s Gary Vermeer created a mechanical hoist to ease the process of unloading his grain wagon during harvest. As word spread, Gary, along with cousin and local banker Ralph Vermeer, started Vermeer Manufacturing on November 22, 1948. Vermeer has developed many “firsts” including the world’s first large round hay baler, tree spade, and stump cutter.