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Mike Lessiter

Mike Lessiter

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

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ARTICLES

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From the Desk of Mike Lessiter

Career Outlook: ‘Yes, there’s a Lot of Room to Move Up in This Industry’

I wanted to find out what a 34-year-old thinks about young talent and today’s industry.
By Mike Lessiter posted on April 16, 2019
Last month, the new “Our Dealer Story” podcast featured a one-on-one with Landis Stankievech of Trochu Motors, a large single-store farm equipment dealer in Alberta. It was a fascinating interview, as it isn’t every day that a young Ivy League athlete, Rhodes Scholar and fast-tracked corporate professional moves back into their parents’ basement to join a farm equipment dealership.
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‘Producer-First’ Partners to be Mantra of New Case IH Exec

After 12 years of dealers (partners as Scott Harris calls them) accustomed to the same personality at the top, Harris bring a familiar yet fresh approach as the new leader of Case IH Agriculture’s North American dealer network.
By Mike Lessiter posted on December 20, 2018 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
In this year’s series, the third such project Farm Equipment (FE) has done since 2006, Scott Harris is the newest exec we’ve sat down with and mic’d up, having just 8 months on the job. In the 14 years our company has operated FE magazine, Case IH has shown the greatest interest of all the major lines in the relationship with FE editors and the publication’s position in the dealer universe. (That isn’t to say the coverage pleased them, but dialog and the ability to pick up the phone with our staff has been important to Case IH).
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Lessiter
To the Point

3 Important Questions: Action Plans & Answers

By Mike Lessiter posted on November 19, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices
As many of you know, a favorite “To the Point” theme of late is grit, perseverance and the other intangibles that we want so much from our workforce — and must commit ourselves to bringing out. In my blog on Sept. 11, 2018, I asked for your help. You answered with your emails and web commentary. So, here’s my end of the deal, a FREE just-completed downloadable eGuide — “Talent Development in the Farm Equipment Industry: 3 Ways to Defeat Complacency.”
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Advice on Dealership Personnel

By Mike Lessiter posted on October 12, 2018
I’m asking for your help. Last month, I wrote an article on “3 Questions to Root Out Complacency.” In that piece, we posed 3 questions to farm equipment dealers on motivating staff to achieve greater heights for themselves, your customers and the company. I’m pulling together the compilation of answers from you and your industry peers, but I need your help with some additional perspective. I’m hoping you’ll take a moment to weigh in on 3 questions.
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Farm Equipment Videos

Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

Analysts Comment on CNHI CEO's Departure

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Weasler Engineering, we look at some analyst comments on Scott Wine's departure from CNH Industrial. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman talks to Pessl Instruments' CEO about the recent investment it received from Lindsay Corp. Also in this episode, dealers and farmers chime in on brand loyalty, air seeder sales forecasts and layoffs at the Racine, Wis., Case IH plant.
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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.
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Montag is the industry’s innovative leader for precise, accurate metering of fertilizer, seed and other nutrients. The Montag system has become the standard for deep banding of fertilizer. Montag is also pioneering the technology for cover crop seed application. The new Cover Crop+ is able to meter the smallest seed, and can be mounted to tillage implements, combines, plus Hagie sprayers and detasselers.

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Finance Scope

Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.
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