Farm Equipment magazine asked its Alumni Group (comprised of recipients of the Dealership of the Year Award and Hall of Fame) a thought-provoking question that we call the “It’s a Wonderful Life Question.” In the famed Christmas movie, protagonist George Bailey gets to see – via a dramatic intervention by an angel named Clarence Odbody – what the world might have been like had he never been born. Similarly, we asked our award-winning executives to ponder that same challenging question, and to consider how their communities might have been altered had their businesses “failed to launch” or perhaps failed to survive trying times. https://www.farm-equipment.com/rss en-us Howard Martin was inducted into the Farm Equipment Shortline Legends Hall of Fame in 2024. He also earned myriad awards and honors from No-Till Farmer for his development of solutions specific to farmers’ ability to make no-till work. Martin passed away in February 2024. The article below, on Howard Dean Martin’s legacy of innovation and integrity, was written by his son and business partner, Steve Martin. Farm Equipment Shortline Legends Hall of Fame in 2024. He also earned myriad awards and honors from No-Till Farmer for his development of solutions specific to farmers’ ability to make no-till work. Martin passed away in February 2024. The article below, on Howard Dean Martin’s legacy of innovation and integrity, was written by his son and business partner, Steve Martin.]]> http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23927 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23927-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-martin-till 8Howard-Martin.png mlessiter@lesspub.com Farm Equipment recently launched the “What If & What Was” series, borrowing from the film, It’s a Wonderful Life. Thanks to a dramatic intercession, as you’ll recall, George Bailey was shown a world in which he’d never been born. Read your peers’ thoughts — had their business “failed to launch” or survive — here. Farm Equipment recently launched the “What If & What Was” series, borrowing from the film, It’s a Wonderful Life. Thanks to a dramatic intercession, as you’ll recall, George Bailey was shown a world in which he’d never been born. Read your peers’ thoughts — had their business “failed to launch” or survive — here.]]> http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23874 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23874-our-what-if-story Mike-Lessiter-0723.jpg What a ride it has been! From washing a Massey 44 at my father’s Massey Ferguson dealership at age 10 to working on my uncle’s farm in my grade 8-12 summers. What a ride it has been! From washing a Massey 44 at my father’s Massey Ferguson dealership at age 10 to working on my uncle’s farm in my grade 8-12 summers.

]]> http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23873 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23873-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-youngs-equipment-inc Tim-Young---Honorary-Diploma-Recipient-Post.jpg Discover the pivotal moments and bold 'what ifs' that shaped Titan Machinery’s journey in this reflective look at its evolution and impact on the farm equipment industry. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23866 Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23866-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-titan-machinery Dave & Peter at a Parts Counter.JPG I often wish I could truly gauge the impact I have made in my lifetime, hoping that it was much more good than bad. Just as tossing a rock into a still pond can send ripples to the other side, many daily decisions send ripples through others' lives that we often do not see. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23843 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23843-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-ag-info-tech Tim norris speaking.png To the question about the impact of a dealership that fails to survive, I have first-hand experience. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23837 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23837-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-wallem-international Paul-Wallem-DSC_5388.jpg Many people hear issues other people have. Only inventors take the time to figure out a better way other than just to help a friend muscle through a tough job. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23831 Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23831-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-keller-manufacturing-and-the-bobcat-skid-steer-loader Darren Foster and Joe Keller.jpg leo.johnson@machineryadvisors.org Our goal over the years was to try to do certain things really well and stay away from things that we feel are “not in our lane.” http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23791 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23791-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-johnson-tractor The Johnsons.jpg The Johnsons ... Patrick (l), Sue and Leo Johnson Starting a company with no major product lines to sell was a risky, bold venture. Seeing the great potential of a business totally devoted to 24/7 service to hay customers, I went in business with my wife, one employee, 2 old pickups, a worn-out truck and trailer with shot brakes. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23726 Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23726-what-if-and-what-was-reflections-on-our-journey-livingston-machinery-parallel-ag Earl Livingston.jpg What if Stotz Equipment wasn’t here? Are we making a difference? Or is the analogy of the finger in the bucket of water appropriate? That is, we like to feel like we are making a difference, but if we were not here, somebody else would be doing most of the same things we are doing – selling equipment and supporting customers. http://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6/post/23695 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:00:00 -0500 https://www.farm-equipment.com/blogs/6-opinions-columns/post/23695-farm-equipment-reflections-series-stotz-equipment GCU Graduation 12-24 Stotz Equipment.jpeg