On behalf of the Farm Equipment editorial team, we’re pleased to bring you “Profiles in Ag Equipment” — a special compilation that you can turn to time and again as you evaluate your many choices in this dynamic agricultural equipment industry.

One of our salesmen was fond of telling equipment manufacturers, “If you ignore the dealer, they’ll return the favor.” He was right, and some manufacturers learned their lessons the hard way. Some didn’t survive.

I started my farm equipment career during the Gerald Ford administration. Things were rockin’ during those 3 years (1975-78). Fresh out of college with a business degree, I went to work as a commissioned salesperson