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What Farmers Want From You: More Clinics & Better Relationships

January 19, 2025

Dealers got a glimpse inside the customer’s mind last week during a farmer-to-dealer panel at the Precision Farming Dealer Summit. I asked our panelists, Mike Starkey and Loran Steinlage, for some words of advice for precision dealers in 2025. Here’s what they said.

“If something goes down and it’s something I can’t figure out, I want somebody to fix it, and I want them to fix it fast. That was a big issue for me in the past when I had the 20/20 monitor. I didn’t have the patience. Farmers aren’t very patient, let’s put it that way. I didn’t have the patience to wait the whole day for something that could’ve been fixed in an hour. That’s number one.”  

“A workshop of some sort would also be nice. You don’t have to have a lunch, but for the customers’ benefits, I think that would be something that I would present. Also, as an incentive, I like the idea of seeking out customers that are willing to try things. Having a demo of some sort, I know that’s quite a bit of an investment, that would be the icing on the cake.”  

  – Mike Starkey, Farmer, Brownsburg, Ind.  

“Play the long game would be the best advice I’d leave you with. If you’re in it to make that quick buck, it’s not going to last. If your customer is in it for that quick buck, it’s not going to last. It’s that relationship that you have to foster and build. It’s that simple.”  

 – Loran Steinlage, Farmer, West Union, Iowa  

Loran says he’s learned how critical relationships are over the years, and that If you say you’re going to do something, then do it.


Watch the full version of this episode of On The Record

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Noah Newman

Noah Newman started at Lessiter Media in March 2022 as Associate Editor for No-Till Farmer, Strip-Till Farmer and Cover Crop Strategies. He previously worked in broadcast journalism as a sports anchor/reporter for television stations in central Illinois and most recently Jackson, Mississippi, where he was named the state’s sportscaster of the year by the National Sports Media Association. The Cleveland, Ohio, native enjoys engaging with growers, learning extensively about their operations, and sharing impactful stories with the audience.

Contact: nnewman@lessitermedia.com