While the ag economy has been in the midst of a downturn for the last few years, dealers are still investing in their facilities and making updates with the future in mind. According to the 2026 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends report, nearly 25% of survey respondents made a significant facility modernization/expansion in 2025. Another 14% said their last project was in 2024.
“52% of dealers say they plan to update their shop & service department this year…”
Looking to 2026, 52% of dealers say they plan to update their shop and service department this year (up from 31.7% in 2025) and another 29% say they plan to modernize their showrooms (up from 15.8% in 2025). Below are some highlights from 4 dealerships that have recently updated their facilities — Redline Equipment, Salem Farm Supply, Tidewater Equipment and West Hills Tractor.
Redline Equipment Builds with Future Growth in Mind
In 2024, Redline Equipment opened a new, state-of-the-art dealership in Logansport, Ind., replacing an obsolete facility that had served the market since the early 1980s.
The former location consisted of 3 separate buildings — which created significant operational inefficiencies. The service shop could accommodate only a limited number of technicians, and many newer, larger pieces of equipment couldn’t fit indoors and had to be serviced outside. Parts storage was constrained and spread across multiple buildings, increasing handling time and reducing efficiency.
Redline Equipment
The new Logansport facility features more than 45,000 square feet of functional workspace, including an air-conditioned shop, an in-store equipment expo, indoor bulk oil storage and a two-story parts warehouse. The service shop, parts warehousing and generous showroom are all climate-controlled, with air conditioning and in-floor radiant heating throughout the working spaces to ensure year-round comfort. Particular attention was given to creating a contemporary environment that current and future employees would be comfortable working in.
Lighting controls are in place to manage light levels, on/off timing and occupancy sensing, improving both energy efficiency and workplace comfort. An employee breakroom was intentionally designed to provide an inviting, quiet and comfortable space where team members can relax and connect with their co-workers. The facility provides space to host customer events and technician training.
The building was designed with future expansion in mind. The office core, parts warehouse and service center have been constructed to grow alongside the business, ensuring the facility can support increased demand and long-term growth. In addition to serving employees, the new dealership was designed with customers’ long-term needs in mind, providing a capable, modern facility that can serve them effectively today and well into the future.
In 2025, Redline consolidated the operations of another dealership located approximately 30 minutes away into the Logansport location. This consolidation has allowed the company to benefit from economies of scale by serving a larger geographic area from a single, modern facility. As a result, Redline has seen improved service capacity, increased parts availability and sales growth that has exceeded the combined performance of the former smaller locations. The new facility has also created a more attractive and efficient environment for employees while offering customers a more welcoming and professional place to do business.
— Anna France, Marketing Manager, Redline Equipment
Salem Farm Supply Addition Improves Shop Space, Tool Room
Last year, Salem Farm Supply constructed a new service addition at our Claverack location. This gave us expanded shop space, an overhead crane, a new (less “dungeon-y”) breakroom, tech-specific lavatory and a new service office suite.
Salem Farm Supply
A new tool room allowed us to organize thousands of dollars worth of service tools. The entrance is through the service manager’s office, which provides increased oversight on tools going in and out. Better lighting and a dedicated library space have also made it easier to access older service manuals.
We plan to soon add barcoding to our service tools to improve the check-in and check-out process. It is very frustrating (and a huge time-suck) when you can’t find the service tool you need for a job.
This minor change will have a BIG impact on cutting down wasted time/added expense of missing tools. Our service technician Preston Stiffler did a fantastic job leading the charge on this project.
— Carole Lewis, President, Salem Farm Supply
Tidewater Expands Shop & Parts Inventory
Tidewater Agriculture & Construction Equipment Co.
Tidewater Agriculture and Construction Equipment Co. has recently moved locations in Tifton, Ga., to a new state-of-the-art facility. The move came as the long-standing location on Highway 82 became too small to meet customer needs.
The new facility sits on a 52-acre lot with lots of room for demonstrations. The facility has an expanded shop area with more service bays, a large parts inventory and showroom, and an extensive lot of new and used equipment.
— Addie Lamb, Marketing Manager, Tidewater Ag & Construction
West Hills Tractor Gains Foot Traffic with Facility Updates
Over the past 2 years, we have made several strategic facility updates aimed at supporting growth, improving efficiency and reinforcing our long-term commitment to the business.
West Hills Tractor Inc.
We constructed new offices within our showroom to accommodate additional administrative staff, provide dedicated training space and create private work areas for brand representatives. We also renovated our original office building to add a new meeting room, improved hallways, and additional offices, creating a more functional and professional environment for both employees and visitors.
Currently, we are renovating our parts showroom to improve layout, visibility and customer flow. We also plan on updating our signage pylons to enhance dealership visibility and constructing a new building dedicated to vehicle storage and bulk parts storage to better support inventory management.
These updates were driven by growth in staffing, increased OEM engagement and a desire to improve the overall customer and employee experience. Feedback from customers and employees has consistently reflected that the facility improvements demonstrate our commitment to the future and long-term stability of the dealership. Brand representatives have noted that the addition of dedicated spaces makes their visits more comfortable and productive, encouraging longer, more engaged time on site rather than brief drop-in visits.
From an operational standpoint, we have found that facility improvements naturally attract additional foot traffic, which has been a key driver behind the parts showroom renovation. Overall, these modernization efforts have improved workflow, strengthened OEM relationships, and enhanced the dealership’s professional image.
— Matt Proffitt, Sales & Marketing Manager, West Hills Tractor
