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Dealership Minds

Cultivating Supplier Relationships to Build Customer Loyalty

By Dave Kanicki posted on February 13, 2016 | Posted in Operations & Finance, Department Management, Niche Equipment Markets
“I miss cotton,” says Larry Sitzman. “We really enjoyed serving the cotton industry for a lot of years.” But today, cotton, which was once called “white gold,” has become insignificant in California’s Central Valley, one of the most diverse agricultural regions in the U.S., if not the world. Kern Machinery, where Sitzman is the general sales manager, hasn’t sold a cotton picker in more than 10 years.
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Dealership Minds 2016: Kern Machinery

How to Encourage Preventative Maintenance

By Jaime Elftman posted on January 27, 2016 | Posted in Department Management
Preventative maintenance programs have helped Kern Machinery identify potential worn parts on equipment that may need attention. Don Zajac and James Boel, service managers for Kern Machinery in the San Joaquin Valley (California), explain how these programs are built and the value the customers see in them. The 54-part 2016 Farm Equipment Dealership Minds video series is sponsored by Charter Software.
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Dealership Minds 2016: Kern Machinery

Parts Department Management: Building Trust

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 27, 2016 | Posted in Department Management
Joe Alvarado, parts manager for the Delano, Calif., location of Kern Machinery, talks about the importance of building trust with employees. Through his leadership, Alvarado works to show his parts department employees how they play a role in the larger ag industry. The 54-part 2016 Farm Equipment Dealership Minds video series is sponsored by Charter Software.
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Farm Equipment

2026 Dealership of the Year, Messick’s Equipment, Mount Joy, Pa.

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Farm Equipment Videos

2025 Dealer Hall of Fame: Raymond P. Koenig

2025 Dealer Hall of Fame: Raymond P. Koenig

During the 2025 Dealership Minds Summit, we honored the recipients of the Dealer Hall of Fame award. Among the award winners was the late Raymond P. Koenig of Koenig Equipment. To receive the award and speak on his uncle's behalf, Aaron Koenig, CEO of Koenig Equipment shares a few words.

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A&I Products

Since 1980, A&I Products has become a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts for the agricultural, turf, and industrial equipment markets. A&I Products' experience and expertise has greatly contributed to the company's reputation as a top supplier of quality, reasonably priced parts. Founded with roots as a small machine shop and repair facility, the company made the transition by manufacturing new parts to replace those that were identified as commonly needing repair. Throughout the 1980s, the company quickly garnered a reputation for offering quality parts at a reasonable price.

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Yetter Farm Equipment

Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope

At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
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