An Elie-based business is harvesting the rewards of a bumper growing season.

Chabot Implements is having one of its busiest summers ever as a result of confident farmers looking to cash in on one of the best growing seasons in recent memories.

Co-owners Bernie and Gilles Chabot said the business has been so busy it has been difficult to keep up with demand.

"The crop outlook was so good, and our prices have been so strong," Gilles said. "Last year’s crop was so poor, so with a more positive outlook this year, a lot of producers have been repairing and upgrading their equipment. We are all in the same bag, so a good crop means we are just as busy as the farmers."

The family-owner business received some more good news recently. It was named best in class farm equipment dealership for 2012 by Farm Equipment magazine for the second year in a row.

"We were nominated by someone in the industry," Bernie said.

"This is the second year in a row that we have won this award. There are 12,000 dealers in North America that are eligible, and about 100 that were nominated, so being chosen from that field is pretty impressive."

Chabot Implements operates four retail stores, three of which are Case IH dealerships, and earned the distinction in the over $50 million in annual revenues category. It was the company’s third nomination and the first time it was honoured in the over $50 million category.

The dealership was chose by a panel of industry experts who noted the dealership generates $741,506 per employee and has strong ties to the community.

"Their community involvement was really put to task in providing equipment and employees to help with the flood of 2011," said panel judge David Downer, director of the Centre of Agricultural Business at Purdue University.

The brothers said while they are proud to be singled out by the magazine, it’s a team effort that sets Chabot Implements apart from its competitors.

"We have been successful because of our loyal and dedicated employees who work hard every day to make us what we are," Bernie said.

"It’s been our many loyal customers who have made it possible for us to survive and thrive all these years."

Chabot Implements was started by Bernie and Gilles’ grandfather Charlie in 1935 and has been operated by three generations of Chabots since then.

prescott.james@canstarnews.com