Contractors and equipment professionals from across Eastern Pennsylvania gathered Sept. 3, 2026, at Sparks Industries in Jamison, Pa., for a hands-on look at John Deere's newest P-Tier excavators during an equipment demonstration hosted in partnership with Groff Tractor & Equipment.
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The Eastern Pennsylvania P-Tier Demo Day was the third and final stop in a series of John Deere demonstrations organized across Pennsylvania, following events in the western and central regions. The Jamison location provided a centralized setting where customers could climb into the machines, put them through their paces and see firsthand the technology John Deere is bringing to its latest excavator lineup.
For Sparks Industries CEO Shawn Sparks, hosting the event was a natural extension of a relationship with John Deere that stretches back decades.
“We've always had a good relationship with John Deere,” Sparks said, noting that his father, Jeffrey Sparks, began purchasing used John Deere equipment in the early 1970s before the company moved toward buying new equipment in the early 2000s.
Sparks Industries has undergone its own evolution in recent years, including changes to its fleet-rotation strategy and a strengthening relationship with John Deere.
“We've developed a stronger partnership with John Deere the past couple of years, especially buying a lot of newer equipment and just looking to help support wherever we can,” Sparks said.
That relationship helped lead to the Sept. 3 event. John Deere and Groff Tractor & Equipment were looking for a centralized Eastern Pennsylvania location, and Sparks Industries offered the space, parking and working environment needed for a large-scale equipment demonstration.
“We have some miscellaneous bulk material piles, and they thought it'd be a great setup,” Sparks said.
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The setting was particularly appropriate given Sparks Industries' business. The company manufactures and wholesales mulch and topsoil for landscapers and garden centers while also serving retail customers at its Jamison and Doylestown, Pa., locations. Its products include mulch, topsoil, compost, stone, sand, river rock and other bulk materials.
The company traces its roots to 1978, when Jeffrey Sparks, then 19 and fresh out of high school, purchased his first machine and began doing excavation work, including ponds and basements.
“He just started doing excavation, digging ponds, basements, whatever,” Shawn Sparks said.
The company grew from those modest beginnings, with help from Jeffrey Sparks' two brothers, a brother-in-law and employees who have remained with the company for decades.
Today, Shawn Sparks represents the second generation of family leadership. He joined the company in 2018 after working for Allan Myers and initially served as a dispatcher before moving through the organization. He said he has effectively been serving as CEO since about 2022. Ten family members are currently involved in the business.
At the heart of the demo day were John Deere's new P-Tier excavators, part of a new series of machines manufactured by John Deere for the construction and forestry markets.
Daryl Black, president and chief financial officer of Groff Tractor & Equipment, said the event was designed to give customers an opportunity to experience the technology rather than simply hear about it.
“John Deere is rolling out their new excavators, first one that they've had manufactured for construction and forestry for quite a while,” Black said. “We partner with John Deere to get these machines out in front of the customers, allow them to see the technology that really sets John Deere apart as they move forward.”
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Three excavators were featured for hands-on demonstrations, including the 210, 230 and 260 models. The lineup was supplemented by additional equipment, including a John Deere dozer, wheel loader, other excavators and a compact track loader, as well as Wirtgen Group equipment.
The event ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving customers throughout the day an opportunity to operate the equipment and talk with Groff Tractor representatives.
Black said attendance at the first two events had topped 200 people, and Groff was expecting another strong turnout in Eastern Pennsylvania.
The demonstrations were about more than individual machines, however. They also provided Groff Tractor an opportunity to reinforce its relationship with contractors and showcase the breadth of support it offers.
Matt Pixler, chief revenue officer of Groff Tractor & Equipment, said the purpose of the event went beyond introducing customers to new John Deere products.
“It's not just about the new products that John Deere is offering,” Pixler said. “It's about us here at GT&E and what we offer to our community and our contractors.”
Groff has been through a period of transition, Pixler said, making it particularly important for customers to understand the company's current sales, support and precision-technology teams.
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The goal, he said, is to develop long-term partnerships with contractors rather than simply sell them a machine.
“GT&E is dedicated to our customers' success,” Pixler said. “We look to take care of our customers from a holistic standpoint, not just from the beginning of the sales approach, but the product support, the aftermarket service and technology support.”
That technology support can include monitoring equipment and providing fleet-productivity and return-on-investment reports, he said.
“Really, be a partner,” Pixler said. “That's really what we're trying to achieve — to be a partner with our contractors in our markets.”
Groff also maintains 24/7 support for its customers, Pixler said, with someone available to answer the phone when contractors encounter equipment problems outside normal business hours.
For contractors, the appeal of the new excavators extends beyond performance and productivity. The technology incorporated into today's equipment also can play a role in attracting and retaining employees.
Mike Matthews, equipment superintendent of Allan Myers Construction, attended the event with an eye toward staying current with developments in construction equipment.
“We're always trying to be on the cutting-edge of technology,” Matthews said, adding that the company wanted to see what John Deere's new excavators had to offer.
He also sees advanced technology as a potential recruiting advantage.
“This technology definitely helps us find new operators,” Matthews said. “The younger generations are very comfortable with the new technology.”
For contractors competing for skilled operators, having modern equipment can become part of the pitch to prospective employees — and potentially help retain them once they're hired.
“Having the best of the best helps with getting the best of the best … and to retain them,” Matthews said.
