Home / Authors / Mike Lessiter
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

Articles

ARTICLES

HOF-landing-Page.jpg

2024 Inaugural Dealer Hall of Famers

The first-ever class of inductees left a legacy of excellence for today’s — & tomorrow’s — industry leaders
By Mike Lessiter posted on January 29, 2024 | Posted in Best Practices
Last year, we announced a new recognition program to chronicle North America’s finest dealer professionals. With each passing year, more leaders leave us, and the Farm Equipment team agreed it was time to document the stories of our industry’s “greats”
Read More
Ron-Offut-HOF-Feature.jpg

Inaugural Farm Equipment Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Ronald D. Offutt, RDO Equipment

RDO Equipment, Fargo N.D. Primary Lines: John Deere, Vermeer, TopCon, Wirtgen, Ariens, Stihl Locations: 86
By Mike Lessiter posted on January 25, 2024 | Posted in Best Practices
If there’s such a thing as a reluctant Hall of Famer, Ron Offutt might be it. In the time we’ve known him, he appears more comfortable behind the scenes, elevating and promoting the achievements of his staff when it comes to taking a bow.
Read More
Paul-Wallem-DSC_5421-tweaked-HOF-logo.jpg

Inaugural Farm Equipment Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Paul Wallem, Wallem International & Central Sands International

Wallem International, Belvidere, Ill, & Central Sands International, Plainfield, Wis. Operated from 1970-1987 Primary Lines: International Harvester, Zimmatic, Steiger, Butler Locations: 2
By Mike Lessiter posted on January 15, 2024 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
Paul Wallem is a unique selection in Farm Equipment’s Hall of Fame for several reasons. He’s the oldest living dealer selected at age 89, has been out of the dealer business for nearly 40 years and well, his business didn't survive the disastrous 1980s.
Read More
featured-Turk-Image.jpg

Inaugural Farm Equipment Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Orhan Yirmibesh, 1914-1999

Badger Farm Store, Clinton & Avalon, Wis. Primary Lines: Oliver, White, New Idea, Massey Ferguson Locations: 2
By Mike Lessiter posted on January 8, 2024 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Dealership Marketing
According to Clinton historian Tom Larsen, Orhan Yirmibesh was an Istanbul native who attended an all-male Turkish boarding school since age 8 and graduated from American Robert College. In 1936, he arrived at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a graduate degree in economics.
Read More
Mike-Lessiter-0723.jpg
To The Point

The Escape to Find Your Team’s Effectiveness

Accepting a mission of ‘breaking in and breaking out’ provides observable lessons on the effectiveness of your team
By Mike Lessiter posted on December 7, 2023 | Posted in Best Practices
Last summer, after a few years’ absence, I rejoined my weekly men’s group at church, getting back with a few friends I’d started with 10 years earlier. Like me, guys come in and out as life changes around them, while new faces appear, some of whom I’m still getting to know.
Read More
Mike-Lessiter-2023.jpg

A Dealer’s Role in NFL History

A trip to the National Football Hall of Fame reinforces how auto dealers learned retail & service best practices from their implement dealer counterparts
By Mike Lessiter posted on October 23, 2023 | Posted in Best Practices

A trip to the National Football Hall of Fame reinforced how the auto world learned how to retail and service customers from its implement dealer counterparts


Read More

Top Articles

Current Issue

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More

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.
View More
Top Directory Listings

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.
MonTag

Montag Mfg

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.

Machinery-Scope-Finance-Scope.png

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.
View More