Mike Lessiter

Mike Lessiter

Mike Lessiter, a second-generation ag journalist, has been Editor/Publisher of Farm Equipment since 2004. He has covered business-to-business operations, manufacturing, and marketing topics since 1992 and has held various roles with the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn. and the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers. Mike is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was named president of Lessiter Media in 2007.

Contact: mlessiter@lessitermedia.com

ARTICLES

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Dealers Voice 6 Areas of Concern over FTC Rulings vs. Deere in Right-to-Repair Suits

Deere settled its larger potential risks as an equipment-maker but the ‘cost’ to dealers remains unknown. Regardless of color dealers are expressing concern over the slippery slope this settlement may mean to their investments & survival.
Deere settled its larger potential risks as an equipment-maker but the ‘cost’ to dealers remains unknown. Regardless of color dealers are expressing concern over the slippery slope this settlement may mean to their investments & survival.
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To the Point

Part 2: Personal Observations Ahead of the Hands-On Workshop at Dealership Minds Summit

Experience with Innermetrix Profiles: Free to Dealership Minds Summit Workshop Attendees

In part 2, Mike and Drew Lessiter describe their company’s practical experience with the tools since being exposed to them last winter, and why Arzani was hired to deliver a special small-group workshop to equipment dealers navigating similar challenges.


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Part 1: 2 Time-Proven Traits for Human Capital Success from 2026 Dealership Minds Summit Presenter

Bryan Arzani provides a primer for the profile assessment tools free to Dealership Minds Summit workshop attendees, made possible by NAEDA.

Part 1 in this series is based on a profile assessment conference call on May 21, 2026 by Bryan Arzani, vice president and co-founder of Results Group and president of Innermetrix North America. The following is his description of key trait indicators from research that he shared before delving into a profile assessment exercise into matching positions to a future candidate.


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Tractor Project Shows Promise of 10-Year-Old Ziegler Rebuild Center

Ten years after the opening of a dedicated rebuild center for the 31-store dealer group, a 6-unit case history illustrates how rebuilds can be applied to ag tractor market

Ten years after the opening of a dedicated rebuild center for the 31-store dealer group, a 6-unit case history illustrates how rebuilds can be applied to ag tractor market


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To the Point

Where’s the Class in Class-Action?

Class-action 101 & observations on the race by attorneys and their subcontractors to get an even larger piece of John Deere’s $99 million settlement intended for farmers

Class-action 101 and observations on the race by attorneys and their subcontractors to get an even larger piece of John Deere’s $99 million settlement intended for farmers.


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[Podcast] Preview of the Inaugural Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, Art’s Way Mfg. benefited from increased demand for its ag segment products, reporting Q1 sales up 27.3%.
Lessiter Media CEO and longtime Farm Equipment editor Mike Lessiter shares a preview of the inaugural, invitation-only Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit that will be held just outside of Chicago-O’Hare airport on May 19-20, 2026.
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Farm Equipment

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

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