Welcome to Smiley's Equipment

George Henderson, the owner of Smiley’s Equipment, is the epitome of the American entrepreneur.  Raised on a small dairy farm in the Catskill mountain valley, George was no stranger to hard work.  When he was a young adult he expanded beyond the farm, trying his hand in several trades.  From building houses to butchering, he searched for the kind of labor he liked while developing a strong work ethic.

            In 1970 while George was an electrician, he sold his old Case tractor and, as he tells it, “naturally made a small profit.”  Over the next ten years he steadily bought and sold farm equipment until 1980, when he gave up electrical work and established his business: Smiley’s Farm and Industrial Equipment.

            Today the machinery business is also part of George’s 360-acre cattle farm.  Many first-time customers are surprised by the expansive acres of farm equipment and extensive variety of items he sells.  Together with his sons, Charlie and Chris, the business has expanded beyond what anyone expected. 

“If you like work, it’s a good business,” George says.  “I’ve seen many other machinery businesses come and go.  The most important thing to do in this line of work is show the customers the equipment and answer their questions.  You’ve got to take time for them to see it and try it out, whether the sun’s shining or it’s snowing.”