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Donation to help build a Naperville Agricultural Interpretive Center

Richard and Mary Benck of Naperville, founders of West Side Tractor Sales Co., recently donated $50,000 to the Naperville Heritage Society toward the development and construction of a future Agricultural Interpretive Center at Naper Settlement.

The proposed center will chronicle the rich history of agriculture in Naperville and interweave lessons in science, technology, engineering and mathematics into the exhibition and programming.

"The Bencks' generous gift will allow Naper Settlement to more completely tell the history of Naperville and the contributions of our farming families," Naper Settlement President and CEO Rena Tamayo-Calabrese said.

The Bencks started West Side Tractor Sales Co. in 1962 and it continues to be a family operation now being run by the second generation: Steven Benck, Diane Benck and Tom Benck.

West Side began with one dealership with three employees on the "west side" of Chicago and now has more than 200 employees. Headquartered in Naperville, the company serves more than 80 counties with 10 locations spanning Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

West Side continues to grow, but holds close to the core values that built the foundation of the company. The company prides itself on being a customer-focused, solution-selling, sales and service organization driven by personnel dedicated to providing its customers with the highest levels of sales expertise and product support.

Recently, West Side has welcomed the third generation into the business with the addition of Steve's three children, Brian Benck, Jen Snow and Lauren Coffaro in the finance, HR and marketing departments.

The Bencks' gift follows the Wheatland Plowing Match Association's donation of $100,000 in September to the Naperville Heritage Society. The Wheatland Plowing Match Association is disbanding after 137 years and is donating equipment to the Naperville Heritage Society, which includes a thresher, plow, grain binder, oat cutter and tractor, dating back to the early to mid-1900s and into the mid-20th century.

The funds will assist in the preservation and exhibition of the equipment and the farming stories they help to tell.

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