Belle Mead Garage has spent nearly a century adapting to the times while staying true to its roots. What began as a small auto shop in 1927 has grown into one of the East Coast’s leading Massey Ferguson tractor dealerships, supplying equipment to farmers across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and beyond. The Higgins family has steered Belle Mead Garage forward—first under founder Leroy Higgins, then his son Murf, and now under his grandson Kip Higgins, who co-owns the dealership today alongside Chris Carnevale, President of the New Jersey Agricultural Society and Treasurer of the Somerset County Board of Agriculture. Together, they’ve built Belle Mead Garage into a hub for the region’s agricultural community.
During a recent visit, Chris gave us a tour of the facility, sharing his history with the business and how it has evolved over time. After first working at Belle Mead Garage in the early 1990s, he left to run a Massey Ferguson dealership in Wisconsin. When the last remaining Massey dealer in New Jersey shut down, he returned in 2016 to reintroduce the brand to the region. “We hit it at just the right time,” he said. As large commodity farms dwindled, small, diversified farms took their place, fueling demand for compact, high-horsepower tractors.
“The amount of tractors sold in New Jersey is actually quite large,” Chris explained. “We’ve seen an explosion of small tractor sales as more farmers focus on high-value crops and direct-to-consumer sales.” Belle Mead’s latest addition—a vineyard tractor designed for narrow rows and delicate crops—is an example of this shift in demand, supporting grape, blueberry, and orchard farmers with specialized equipment.
During a recent visit, Chris gave us a tour of the facility, sharing his history with the business and how it has evolved over time. After first working at Belle Mead Garage in the early 1990s, he left to run a Massey Ferguson dealership in Wisconsin. When the last remaining Massey dealer in New Jersey shut down, he returned in 2016 to reintroduce the brand to the region. “We hit it at just the right time,” he said. As large commodity farms dwindled, small, diversified farms took their place, fueling demand for compact, high-horsepower tractors.
“The amount of tractors sold in New Jersey is actually quite large,” Chris explained. “We’ve seen an explosion of small tractor sales as more farmers focus on high-value crops and direct-to-consumer sales.” Belle Mead’s latest addition—a vineyard tractor designed for narrow rows and delicate crops—is an example of this shift in demand, supporting grape, blueberry, and orchard farmers with specialized equipment.
“The amount of tractors sold in New Jersey is actually quite large,” Chris explained. “We’ve seen an explosion of small tractor sales as more farmers focus on high-value crops and direct-to-consumer sales.” Belle Mead’s latest addition—a vineyard tractor designed for narrow rows and delicate crops—is an example of this shift in demand, supporting grape, blueberry, and orchard farmers with specialized equipment.
Beyond selling tractors, Chris takes pride in the hands-on work of running Belle Mead Garage. Whether it’s helping first-time farmers find the right machine, repairing a long-time customer’s truck, or tracking down a rare tractor part, he enjoys the problem-solving that comes with the job. “Sometimes it’s like a puzzle,” he said. “You’ll have a 40-year-old tractor, and the insignias are gone, the tags are missing. You have to go by pictures and back into what it is. And sometimes, all it takes is a $20 part to bring it back to life.” That attention to detail and commitment to service has kept Belle Mead Garage thriving for generations.
When asked about his favorite part of the job, Chris didn’t hesitate—“When people buy a new car, it’s a happy day. But when I drop off a new tractor, it’s like Christmas—they’re standing by the door waiting for it,” he said with a laugh. With a team that understands both worlds, Belle Mead remains a one-stop shop for New Jersey farmers, offering not just tractors but full-service repairs on trucks, trailers, and farm equipment alike.
The New Jersey Agricultural Society is proud to have Belle Mead Garage as a Corporate Sponsor of our 2025 Gala. Their dedication to supporting New Jersey’s agricultural community makes them a perfect partner for this event. There’s still time to join them--become a Corporate Sponsor today!
Beyond selling tractors, Chris takes pride in the hands-on work of running Belle Mead Garage. Whether it’s helping first-time farmers find the right machine, repairing a long-time customer’s truck, or tracking down a rare tractor part, he enjoys the problem-solving that comes with the job. “Sometimes it’s like a puzzle,” he said. “You’ll have a 40-year-old tractor, and the insignias are gone, the tags are missing. You have to go by pictures and back into what it is. And sometimes, all it takes is a $20 part to bring it back to life.” That attention to detail and commitment to service has kept Belle Mead Garage thriving for generations.
When asked about his favorite part of the job, Chris didn’t hesitate—“When people buy a new car, it’s a happy day. But when I drop off a new tractor, it’s like Christmas—they’re standing by the door waiting for it,” he said with a laugh. With a team that understands both worlds, Belle Mead remains a one-stop shop for New Jersey farmers, offering not just tractors but full-service repairs on trucks, trailers, and farm equipment alike.
The New Jersey Agricultural Society is proud to have Belle Mead Garage as a Corporate Sponsor of our 2025 Gala. Their dedication to supporting New Jersey’s agricultural community makes them a perfect partner for this event. There’s still time to join them--become a Corporate Sponsor today!