If you’ve been thinking about buying a riding lawnmower or tractor, there’s no better time than today.

A new business in town, White Oak Equipment, is having an open house today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1258 Progress Road. All morning and afternoon, people can test drive the equipment, get special pricing if they decide to buy, and get refreshments too.

The family-owned business comes to Suffolk after the president, Tom Ficklin, determined the market was ripe in Suffolk for his products.

“It looked like it needed this kind of service locally,” Ficklin said.

White Oak has been in business since 1970. They have three other locations in Virginia, with the headquarters in Fredericksburg.

The event will have factory representatives on hand to show off the Kubota and other brand-name products. White Oak carries mowers, tractors, tractor loaders, backhoes, trimmers, chainsaws, blowers and light construction equipment such as mini-excavators. They also service everything they sell, as well as what they don’t sell, Ficklin said.

The event today will allow people to come see the products and meet the employees and product representatives in a comfortable atmosphere, Ficklin said. They also will be able to get a drink from the “$35,000 drink machine” – a loader bucket with ice and drinks in it, Ficklin joked.

“It’s a great community to be in,” Ficklin said. “Everybody is welcome.”