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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

Articles

ARTICLES

Lessiter
To the Point

Another Major Line No Longer Mere Talk

By Mike Lessiter posted on June 11, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
To complement this SHOWCASE’s report on what happens after the ink dries on a dealer acquisition (Dealer Acquisitions Report), I’d been exploring the major lines’ resources, checklists and protocols to help dealers integrate newly acquired stores. With the exception of John Deere (declined to participate), the majors supported the topic and cooperated with materials.
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Acquisition Journal
Special Report: After the Ink Dries

One Dealership’s ‘Acquisition Journal’

New manager Davin Peterson recalls the first few months following an acquisition — in which he was getting to know both parties.
By Mike Lessiter posted on June 11, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance
Davin Peterson joined California-based Kern Machinery Inc. (KMI) in April 2015 in advance of the acquisition of Hollingsworth Inc., a 3-store John Deere dealer group with stores in Ontario and Burns, Ore., and Weiser, Idaho, that would be renamed Camp Equipment.
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Consultants
Special Report: After the Ink Dries

Consultants Offer ‘Post-Deal’ Insights

Professional management advisors share top tips on how to integrate store cultures, operations and systems on ‘Day 1’ of an acquisition.
By Mike Lessiter posted on June 11, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
You know that you’ve got a complex subject when a canvassing of experts stirs up an array of answers to identical questions, even from professionals in the same organization.
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Lessiter

To The Point: Another Major Line No Longer Mere Talk

By Mike Lessiter posted on June 11, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
To complement this SHOWCASE’s report on what happens after the ink dries on a dealer acquisition (Dealer Acquisitions Report), I’d been exploring the major lines’ resources, checklists and protocols to help dealers integrate newly acquired stores. With the exception of John Deere (declined to participate), the majors supported the topic and cooperated with materials. Their viewpoint seemed a fitting introduction for this month’s “To the Point” column.
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Deere-Hagie News Shows 180-Degree Changes Can Come Quickly

By Mike Lessiter posted on April 1, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer News
I was out at the Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show when I heard the big news that John Deere had acquired majority ownership of self-propelled sprayer manufacturer Hagie Manufacturing, Clarion, Iowa. Hagie's sprayers, which followed the direct-to-farmer model for most of its 70 years, will, over the next 15 months, be distributed through to Deere’s strong network.
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Flaman shortlines
Sponsored Content: Success in Shortline Machinery

Traditional Dealerships Setting Up Separate Entities to Sell Shortline Equipment

By Dave Kanicki and Mike Lessiter posted on March 21, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Niche Equipment Markets
A mainline dealer whose shortline business is critical to success sets up a separate location to quiet the major about the competitive attention at the primary location. The idea has also been talked about as a hedge move to protect a dealership whose contract or future transition of that contract could be questionable.
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Precision Farming Dealer Summit

Internal Management Challenges Still to Solve for Sustainable Precision Farming Service Plans

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service
Jason Pennycook, precision specialist at Johnson Tractor (4 stores in Wisconsin and Illinois), says Johnson is still working on the internal management issues, including how service plans are billed, who is responsible and how to get all locations on the same page, as many farmers will use one or more stores. “We’re working on ways to make sure every service manager at every store knows when a farmer is on a service plan so he doesn’t get billed incorrectly.”
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PFD Summit: Johnson Tractor’s Advice on Precision Service Plans

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service
Jason Pennycook, precision specialist, Johnson Tractor, Janesville, Wis., has had 3 years of precision service plan experience. Johnson Tractor offers a basic (phone support and training class) and a premium (also including onsite visit). Other individual packages include precision training on-farm, spring planter checkups and yield monitor checkups.
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PFD Summit: Creating Precision Service Plans: Makes & Misses

With less equipment being rolled, precision service plan sales could see a shot in the arm. These dealers share their advice for getting them in place.
By Mike Lessiter posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service
After years of “giving unapplied service labor away for free when it came to precision technologies” the dealer panel presentation on capturing revenue in service plans for precision was of keen interest for Summit attendees.
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Lessiter
To the Point

Blurred Lines: Iron Dealers Poised to Benefit in Precision

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 12, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Precision Ag Sales & Service
During last month’s National Farm Machinery show, I bumped into a precision ag manager for a large co-op. It didn’t take long to discover he was less than enthusiastic about hearing the major OEM dealers creeping into the agronomy territory, on top of the competition from the likes of the Monsantos of the world. He also wasn’t buying the “PR” that dealers’ on-staff agronomists would be stopping at casual support only.
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Farm Equipment Videos

Precision Specialist Comes to the Rescue on First Day of Planting

Precision Specialist Comes to the Rescue on First Day of Planting

Go behind the scenes with Leo Johnson and his son, Patrick, as they plant corn into strips for the first time on their 1,000-acre farm in Clinton, Wis. Jason Pennycook, precision specialist for 9-store Case IH dealer Johnson Tractor, comes to the rescue with remote support when Patrick runs into a problem with the planter in the field.

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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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