History of Kern Machinery

Bill Camp was raised in a cotton patch in South Carolina. The evil boll weevil was chasing cotton out of the southeastern U.S., so the USDA hired Bill to show Kern County farmers how to grow cotton way back in 1917. Many didn’t think cotton would grow here in those days. It did. Bill started his own cotton farm and grew along side his farming neighbors.

The Golden State built the California Aqueduct because of the economic importance of agriculture and water. This opened Kern County’s west side to agriculture. Bill’s son, Don Camp, started a John Deere dealership called West Kern Machinery in 1969 to serve this new area. 

Before long the Camp family added John Deere locations in Delano and Bakersfield. Agriculture continued to grow and change as always, so additional equipment lines were added for applications like spraying, harvesting, tillage, dairy, and orchards. AV Tractor and Turf was added in Lancaster in 2004. North Kern Motorsports was established in 2000 to sell and service the full line of Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki recreational products.

Today, Clayton Camp is president of Kern Machinery, Inc. It’s still about family and neighbors, the best equipment and reliable service. In fact, the next generation can often be found out in the equipment yard—washing tractors. Bill Camp, who hoed cotton long before he could see over it, would appreciate that.