Industry's Best Dealerships Recognized In 6th Annual Award Program

RDO Equipment and Codington-Clark Equipment earned the industry’s top honor as 2010 Dealerships of the Year.

Dealership of the Year Judging Panel

The challenging job of choosing this year’s Farm Equipment Dealerships of the Year went to three highly experienced and involved individuals that comprised the independent judging panel. This year’s group included Dr. W. David Downey, Center for Agricultural Business, Purdue Univ., David Kahler, former CEO of the Ohio-Michigan Dealers Assn., and Charles R. Glass, Glass Management Group, and past chairman of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn.’s Dealer Relations Committee.

Dr. W. David Downey

Executive Director, Center for Agricultural Business (CAB), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Downey is responsible for the development of education programs at the CAB, which is largely regarded as the U.S.’ leading center for agribusiness education. A distinguished agricultural marketing professor and a proficient author, Downey also consults extensively throughout North America on a variety of agribusiness issues.

David L. Kahler

Retired CEO of Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Assn., Dublin, Ohio

Kahler spent his entire 38-year career assisting equipment dealer-principals with their business affairs, the last 20 as CEO of the association serving Ohio and Michigan. An active industry participant who earned the respect of both dealers and manufacturers, Kahler retired from full-time employment last January.

Charles R. Glass

President, Glass Management Group, chairman emeritus, Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn.’s (FEMA) Dealer Relations Committee, Arlington, Texas

Glass has been actively involved in the sales and marketing of farm equipment to dealers throughout his 40-year career. A former Director of FEMA, he is also a frequent presenter and author, including several white papers on the future of farm equipment distribution.

Farm Equipment Staff Report

Farm Equipment’s 2010 Dealerships of the Year have been selected and RDO Equipment, Northern Agriculture, Fargo, N.D., has been chosen this year’s winner in the over $50 million in annual revenue category, while Codington-Clark Equipment of Watertown, S.D., captured the top spot in the under $50 million category.

In 2005, Farm Equipment editors established the Dealership of the Year program “to elevate farm equipment dealerships that are leading the industry in best practices, operations management and customer care.”

Joining the top dealers this year are four additional farm equipment retailers that have been selected as the “Best-in-Class Dealerships” for 2010. They include BTI (Bucklin Tractor & Implement Co.) of Greensburg, Kan., and Elder Implement Co. of Muscatine, Iowa, in the over $50 million category. Janson Equipment Co. of Reese, Mich., and Selmac Sales (2007) Ltd. of Stony Plain, Alberta, took “Best-in-Class” honors of those dealers with under $50 million in annual revenues.

Together, these six dealers amassed $740 million in total revenue in 2009, which amounted to nearly $600,000 in sales per employee. They also combined for an average parts and service absorption rate of 84.2%.

More than 100 U.S. and Canadian dealerships were nominated this year by a their farm customers, equipment suppliers and their own employees.

This year’s award recipients will join 27 past winners in the “Dealership of the Year Alumni Group."

2008 Class

Dealerships of the Year

Miller Farm Equipment, Moosomin, Saskatchewan

Vincennes Tractor, Vincennes, Ind.

Best-in-Class Dealerships

Hendershot Equipment, Stephenville, Texas

Kay Jan Inc., Fort Morgan, Colo.

Kunau Implement, Preston, Iowa

Young’s Equipment Inc., Regina, Saskatchewan

2006 Class

Dealerships of the Year

Champlain Valley Equipment, Middlebury, Vt.

Titan Machinery, Fargo, N.D.

Best-in-Class Dealerships

Dave’s Tractor, Red Bluff, Calif.

Greenfield Equipment Co., Madison, Ga.

Hlavinka Equipment Co., East Bernard, Texas

S&H Farm Supply Inc., Rogersville, Mo.

2005 Class

Dealerships of the Year

Fred Haar Co. Inc., Freeman, S.D.

Jamestown Implement Co., Jamestown, N.D.

Best-in-Class Dealerships

Atkinson Implements, Hartney, Manitoba

RDO Equipment, Yuma, Ariz.

S&H Farm Supply Inc., Lockwood, Mo.

Swartzrock Implement Co. Inc., Charles City, Iowa

Make plans to participate in Farm Equipment’s 2011 Dealership of the Year program. To nominate a dealer whom you believe is worthy, or for more details, contact Dave Kanicki, executive editor, at dkanicki@lesspub.com or call 800-645-8455, ext. 414.