A second-generation ag journalist, Mike Lessiter has been Editor/Publisher of Farm Equipment since 2004. He has covered business-to-business operations, manufacturing and marketing topics since 1992. He has also served in several capacities with the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Assn., Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers and is a frequent industry speaker. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, he was named president of Lessiter Publications Inc. in 2007.

Contact: mlessiter@lessitermedia.com

A New-Era ‘Contract’

By Mike Lessiter posted on November 26, 2019 | Posted in Dealer Succession

This year (2019) marks 15 years since our company (Lessiter Media) acquired Farm Equipment magazine (along with two other titles we rebranded as Ag Equipment Intelligence and Farm Innovations For Today’s Top Farm Operator). The last 15 years have brought highs and lows, but never boredom! We’re forever grateful for an acquisition that introduced us to so many outstanding people — both personally and professionally — that comprise you, the North America’s farm equipment industry.

Blog/Opinion

Farm Equipment ‘Falls In’ on Embedded Tour Assignment to Germany & France

By Mike Lessiter posted on November 22, 2019 | Posted in Manufacturer News

For a first-ever "Journal Series" in Farm Equipment, Editor/Publisher Mike Lessiter provides his across-the-pond observations from the 11,653 miles in 7 days trip he took with a Claas delegation to Germany and France November 10-17, 2019.

H&R Agri-Power’s Sales Comp Plan

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 25, 2019 | Posted in Best Practices, Dept. Management

Ryan Polete, sales manager at H&R Agri-Power made a profound opening statement about sales compensation and motivations. “What I’m showing is really not a compensation plan that motivates people, but it will push their direction in the right way. That’s about all we can hope for on that. Money,” he says, “should motivate our sales force.”

Valley Implement’s Sales Comp Plan

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 24, 2019 | Posted in Best Practices, Dept. Management

Fred Titensor, COO, has 8 salespeople among his 4 stores, with average service of 15 years. “When I walk in the door, I see familiar faces,” notes the fourth-generation dealer about what may perhaps be a unique situation, “and they know what the goals are and what we want to do.”

Compensation Plans: A Tale of Two Dealerships

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 23, 2019 | Posted in Best Practices, Dept. Management

“It was the best of plans; it was the worst of plans.” To borrow from the words of Charles Dickens’, what may seem a no-brainer for the company’s well-being may feel like a penalty for the greenback-motivated salesman.

Valley Implement’s Sales Program Checklist

Presented at the 2019 Dealership Minds Summit, Fred Titensor C.O.O., Valley Implement explained his dealership’s sales compensation plan.

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 22, 2019 | Posted in Best Practices, Dept. Management

Presented at the 2019 Dealership Minds Summit, Fred Titensor C.O.O., Valley Implement explained his dealership’s sales compensation plan.

To the Point: Onboarding Salespeople: Calibrate Your Current Sales Force, Too

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 22, 2019 | Posted in Best Practices, Dept. Management

The highest rated panel of the 2019 Farm Equipment Dealership Minds Summit featured two Dealership of the Year Alumni. It was no surprise that dealers learned so much from RDO Equipment and Stotz Equipment. We’ve visited them on numerous occasions and continue to be amazed by their home-grown systems that cultivate the exact results they want.

Guest Blog

Glen Peart Tells Farm Equipment About Son Neil, the Parts-Manager Turned Rock Star

Neil Peart’s dad, Glen Peart, recalls his son’s days as parts manager in St. Catharines, Ontario.

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 15, 2019 | Posted in Dealer Succession

Neil Peart’s dad, Glen Peart, recalls his son’s days as parts manager in St. Catharines, Ontario.

To The Point

Parts Rush: Young Dept. Manager Ends Up in Music Limelight

Journey with us back to the early 1970s to the farm equipment world of Ontario. Envision a young parts manager pounding his sticks on the parts counter, on 55-gallon drums or whatever was parked out in the shop. Of course, stealing this “practice time” only between farmers’ requests for hoses, sweeps/tines and feeder chains.

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 15, 2019 | Posted in Dept. Management, Dealer Succession

Questions (and More Questions) on Autonomy: Do the Majors Have Too Much to Lose?

By Mike Lessiter posted on September 16, 2019

Nearly 30 years in business media have taught me that when you get stuck on a topic and/or don’t know the right questions to ask, just get it out there ... Subscribers will tell you the questions to ask (and of whom). You’ll also receive the occasional comment about whether the columnist has made a sudden change in medication (you know who you are).

Farm Equipment Videos

Walterscheid Powertrain Group Discusses their Smart and Connected strategy with Powertrain Solutions

Dr. Max Kruger (two dots over the “u”), Technology Manager for Walterscheid Powertrain Group talks about their Smart and Connected solutions that offer real-time and historical mechanical data from the powertrain.

Events

Nebraska Power Farming Show

Date: 12/10/19

Location: Lincoln , NE

The Nebraska Power Farming Show – the second largest indoor farm show in the United States – annually hosts nearly 760 exhibitors with ag manufacturers and suppliers coming from around the world to display the best ag has to offer.

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Top Directory Listings

Yetter Mfg Co

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.

Montag Mfg

At Montag Mfg., we specialize in fertilizer equipment. Our complete fertilizer application system will help you start reaping the benefits of deep band fertilizer.

Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope offers premier risk management tools for farm equipment. We provide timely, personalized, and flexible solutions to protect more farm equipment investments than anyone in the industry. We add value and peace of mind when you are buying, selling, or managing your farm equipment by offering extended warranty plans.

Mike Lessiter

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