Birkey’s accounted for six of the seven dealerships recognized by the Pinnacle Excellence Program for 2015. Birkey's locations earning Pinnacle Excellence status were Gibson City, Henry, Hoopeston, Oakland, Prophetstown, and Urbana, Ill.

There are innumerable ways to grow your dealership. And Mike Hedge's message that it can be done without resorting to outside influences or taking on extra debt was a welcome message. Seeking outside capital via a public offering or working with private equity groups are options, but they aren't for everyone says the Birkey's president and CEO.

Until January 2013, Birkey's Farm Stores has had only three president/CEOs in its near-60-year history. When Ron Birkey retired at the end of last year, the dealership's board of directors elected Mike Hedge (see article on p. 18) as just its fourth president/CEO.

Campbell asked for dealers who could say every one of their employees knew what they'd be promoting the following month. Imagine the sound of crickets. "That's a struggle, to get everybody focused in the dealership on the target and what you're going to be promoting," says Campbell. He recalls the day at Birkey's when each store was doing its own thing, often with the parts department running a different promotion than the store, and service

Birkey's Company-wide Parts and Service Operations Manager shares insight into the role of product support meetings and benchmarks in the success of Birkey's farm stores.

Mike Carley, general manager of the company’s Gibson City store, explains that in 2009, a drawn-out harvest season helped keep the service department busy through December.

Birkey's Parts Manager Todd Lippens shares insight into Birkey's successful parts department including the choice to begin a company-wide daily parts shuttle.

The introduction into Farm Equipment's Birkey's Special Report with links to each interview story.