Selma’s Bush Hog plows into the consumer market

One of Dallas County’s largest employers, Bush Hog, is growing its product lines to fit a new demographic: consumers.

For most of its six decades in Selma, Bush Hog has built its giant mowers for commercial farms, large landowners and commercial needs.

Last fall, Bush Hog launched a redesigned zero-turn mower that is aimed at those with smaller parcels of land, like two to three acres, which many homeowners in Dallas County have, said Jule Booker, marketing & customer service manager for Bush Hog.

Another series of zero-turn mowers are ideal for six to 10 acres of land and often used by hunting clubs and land maintenance.

One addition to the line is the single-spindle rotary cutter, which spreads four to seven feet and attaches behind zero-turn mowers. There was also a new tiller line introduced in the fall.

Providing a mower for homeowners with acreage helps owners, “get it done faster and have more time for the family,” Booker said.

Dealers are loving the zero-turn mower for small landowners, she said. Some dealers are taking a zero turn with them to events to let attendees drive it around in the parking lot and see how easy it would be to use at home.

Bush Hog’s addition of new models is a good sign for the health of the business that has always been located in Selma, regardless of ownership turnover.

And they’re not done. Booker said they’re also getting into outdoor power sports vehicles like four-wheelers.

Booker said she gets asked all the time if there are openings at Bush Hog, and she points them to their website that has a link to careers with a list of open positions.

Bush Hog wants to hire local talent, which is why they get involved in workforce development at a young age. They host tours of school groups to the facility frequently and introduce students to the skills needed to work there.

Booker encourages students to develop more than manufacturing skills. They also need administrative skills like customer service, phone etiquette and sales to be successful at Bush Hog.

“It’s important to be involved in the community for future workforce development and to be a responsible member of the community,” she said.

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