Home / Authors / Kim Schmidt
Kim Schmidt

Kim Schmidt

Kim Schmidt is the Executive Editor of Farm Equipment and the host of Ag Equipment Intelligence’s On The Record. An award-winning writer, she worked 7 years in business-to-business trade media before joining Lessiter Media in 2012. She is a journalism graduate of Marquette University.

Contact: kschmidt@lessitermedia.com
Articles

ARTICLES

HOF-Don-Van-Howeling_FE_0226.jpg

2026 Farm Equipment Dealer Hall of Fame Inductee: Don Van Houweling

Owner/CEO, Van Wall Equipment
Headquarters: Perry, Iowa
Locations: 33 locations across Iowa (28), Nebraska (1), Kansas (1), Minnesota (1), Illinois (1) and North Dakota (1)
Primary Lines: John Deere, Kuhn Krause, Westendorf, Brent, Unverferth, Demco, Brandt, Land Pride, Honda Power, Polaris, Yamaha, Hagie
By Kim Schmidt posted on February 5, 2026 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Dealer News
Don Van Houweling started his first business — a carwash in Nevada, Iowa — when he was just 18 years old. As he approaches his 80th birthday later this year, the energy of that young entrepreneur is still going strong.
Read More
David-Benjamin-CC-Feature.png
Color Conversions

‘Customer Service Wins Every Time’

Alberta farmer David Benjamin worked with Noble Equipment to find ‘the absolute perfect implement’ for each task around the farm, converting from all green equipment to a mixed fleet of European brands
By Kim Schmidt posted on February 4, 2026 | Posted in Best Practices
Alberta farmer David Benjamin worked with Noble Equipment to find ‘the absolute perfect implement’ for each task around the farm, converting from all green equipment to a mixed fleet of European brands
Read More
Farm Equipment Best of the Web
This Week

Farm Equipment's Best of the Web: Jan. 30, 2026

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 30, 2026

This Week's Lineup:

  • No-Till Farmer’s 1:1 with Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Modern Ag Alliance
  • Through the Decades: Bane-Welker’s Steve Hine Reflects on 52 Years
  • Precision Ag Drives Demand for More Technicians
  • The 2025 Tractor Sales Collapse: Is the Small Tractor Boom Dead?
  • Farming Forward: Modifying Planters to Manage Cover Crop Residue

Read More

[Podcast] Deputy Ag Secretary Backs Farmers in Right-to-Repair Debate

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden puts right-to-repair in the national spotlight.
By Kim Schmidt posted on January 27, 2026 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden puts right-to-repair in the national spotlight.
Read More
01-23-26 Slides_OTR.jpg
On the Record

Deputy Ag Secretary Backs Farmers in Right-to-Repair Debate

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 27, 2026 | Posted in Data & Forecasts
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden puts right-to-repair in the national spotlight. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman highlights the decisions HTS Ag’s Adam Gittins says he might make differently based on what he’s learned. Also in this episode, dealers report precision was a bright spot for 2025 business and OEMs share their outlook for how dealers can use technology to help their high value crop customers.
Read More
Farm Equipment Best of the Web
This Week

Farm Equipment's Best of the Web: Jan. 23, 2026

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 23, 2026

This Week's Lineup:

  • AgTech Predictions for 2026
  • 10 Navy SEAL-inspired Commandments That Will Harden Your Sales Game
  • Adaptation & Strong Relationships: A Conversation with Ben Brown
  • Fardoc Breaks Down the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
  • OEM & Autonomy Tech Company Team Up on New Equipment

Read More

Top Articles

Current Issue

FE_June_2026_BookWithPages_Curl_art.png

Farm Equipment

Farm Equipment's 100TM
100 North America's Largest Ag Equipment Dealers

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More

Farm Equipment Videos

View More
Top Directory Listings
A&I-Consumer-Large.png

A&I Products

Since 1980, A&I Products has become a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts for the agricultural, turf, and industrial equipment markets. A&I Products' experience and expertise has greatly contributed to the company's reputation as a top supplier of quality, reasonably priced parts. Founded with roots as a small machine shop and repair facility, the company made the transition by manufacturing new parts to replace those that were identified as commonly needing repair. Throughout the 1980s, the company quickly garnered a reputation for offering quality parts at a reasonable price.

Yetter farm equipment since1930 01

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.
Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope

At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
View More