Department Management

Part 2: Personal Observations Ahead of the Hands-On Workshop at Dealership Minds Summit

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In part 2, Mike and Drew Lessiter describe their company’s practical experience with the tools since being exposed to them last winter, and why Arzani was hired to deliver a special small-group workshop to equipment dealers navigating similar challenges.

Part 1: 2 Time-Proven Traits for Human Capital Success from 2026 Dealership Minds Summit Presenter

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Part 1 in this series is based on a profile assessment conference call on May 21, 2026 by Bryan Arzani, vice president and co-founder of Results Group and president of Innermetrix North America. The following is his description of key trait indicators from research that he shared before delving into a profile assessment exercise into matching positions to a future candidate.

Slower Market, Smarter Deals

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For many ag equipment dealers, the challenge isn’t just moving iron—it’s protecting profitability in every deal.

The Equipment Biz is a Team Sport: Get in the Game

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

“Ask not what the Summit can do for you, but what you can do for your fellow conference-goer …”

John Fulton Named as a CFAES Dean’s Chair

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

John Fulton has been appointed as a Dean’s Chair in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Kick-Off Session: Is It Time for a New Management Structure?

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

The New Holland and Kubota dealership acquired 4 dealerships in 2025 — nearly doubling its size and signaling the need for a change in management structure

AI in the Equipment Dealership: A Practical Guide to What Works, What Doesn’t & What to Look For

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The industry is moving fast. But the dealers getting real value from AI aren’t chasing every trend, they’re making smarter choices about where technology helps and where their people still lead.

Beyond Broke/Fixed: How Ag Equipment Dealers Can Secure Warranty Approvals

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Devon McGwin, development and compliance director with Warranty Consulting Services, notes that with nearly two decades of experience, he has seen the "gravy train" of simple warranty reporting disappear.

ROI on Coverage: Understanding the Real Return of Value

Dane@agguard.com — Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When dealers talk about return on investment (ROI) on coverage, they are rarely referring to ROI in the traditional financial sense. In practice, the conversation is about the value created by the investment.

Preview of the Inaugural Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit [Webinar]

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Lessiter Media’s President & CEO, Mike Lessiter, shares a preview of the inaugural, invitation-only Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Summit that will be held just outside of Chicago-O’Hare airport on May 19-20, 2026.

Planning for the Future Requires Getting Back to Relationship Basics

Bill.Hoeg@MachineryAdvisors.org — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Everyone says our business depends on relationships. As we prepare for the future, will that change? The answer is no — but our focus must evolve.

The Modern Service Department: Faster Turns, Higher Margins [Webinar]

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Discover how to boost service department efficiency, eliminate workflow breakdowns, and unlock higher labor revenue with proven strategies from Clint Sanders, Director of Sales at DIS.

[Video] Ballweg Implement Brings Gator Wars to Wisconsin

kschmidt@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Gator Wars is a hands-on competition for high school students initiated by John Deere at Ballweg Implement, starting in their fourth year. Teams of three to four students complete various activities within 15 minutes, including electrical stations, engine work, and component identification. The program aims to provide learning opportunities and expand students' technical knowledge through teamwork-based judging. Farm Equipment's Boots on the Ground series is brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment.

Practical Tech Series, Part 1: 'Gigging Out' Your Parts Delivery

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

A new Uber-type of ‘gig’ economy service offers same-day mobile parts delivery, including large & bulky parts.

Unlocking Upsell Potential Starts With Leadership

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Your sales & service people know what to sell; make them comfortable with how to do it, celebrate successes along the way & it will be a win for everyone

Turning the Page on a Turbulent 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:00:00 -0500

The economic picture at Titan Holdrege is lagging a little behind expectations, but store managers still expect a solid year for equipment sales & service. Farm Equipment's Boots on the Ground series is brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment.

Rental Offers Revenue Opportunities for Farm Equipment Dealers

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Rental equipment has always been a part of the farm equipment industry, but the current business and economic climate makes it especially prudent today.

Navigating RTR, Interest Rates, Harvest Demands & More

jdobberstein@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Increasing Absorption Rate & Attracting Repeat Business

mpaukner@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Controlling expenses, monitoring the balance sheet, budgeting & ‘parts integrity’ contribute to Greenway Equipment’s 92% absorption rate

‘Judge Me on My Losers’

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Lessiter Media President Mike Lessiter revisits the ‘one thing’ maxim and challenges his audience to gauge success or failure on the type of business you were born to earn.

Driving Success: Business Takeaways from “F1: The Movie”

mdrewek@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What a blockbuster movie about a failing F1 racing team can teach us about successful business and team building principles.

Farm Equipment Takeaways: September 2025

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Read key takeaways from several of the features found in the September 2025 issue of Farm Equipment.

Calculated Risk & Generational Leadership Define More Farm Stores

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

An ag tractor dealer started by Homer More in 1913 is still running strong, led by the 4th generation leader of the family. At the helm today is Andy More, president, Homer’s great grandson.

Why Equipment Dealers Are Ditching Legacy Tech for Cloud and AI

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:13:12 -0400

Insight from the Dealership Minds Summit on the ways digital transformation and embracing AI supports ag equipment dealers is shared in this insightful blog from Flyntlok’s Michael Wasserman.

Sales, Service & Strong Partnerships

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers across the Delta know Hobbs Farm Implement for its personal service, trusted brands and the ability to show, not simply tell a customer, why a piece of equipment is worth the investment.

Farm Equipment Takeaways: July/August 2025

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Read key takeaways from several of the features found in the July/August 2025 issue of Farm Equipment.

5 Questions with FE Dealership of the Year Lowe & Young Sales Manager

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this conversation with Farm Equipment, Lowe & Young’s Jon Bauman reflects on his 25-year journey from the shop floor to sales manager, sharing how customer satisfaction, service support, and strategic brand growth continue to drive dealership momentum. The 2025 Dealership of the Year is brought to you with the support of Associated Equipment Distributors (AED).

Titan Holdrege: Serving the Past, Present & Future

jdobberstein@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As the ag market continues its correction course, Titan Machinery’s Holdrege store works to optimize customer service, mulls what future farm customers will look like

Answering the Call of the Dealership Minds Summit — 4 Reasons You Need to Be in Iowa City

mlessiter@lesspub.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dealers come to the Dealership Minds Summit not just to “consume” the material presented, but to “contribute” to everyone’s experience. And that’s the secret sauce.

Momentum or Misses? 5 Ways to Gauge Your Dealership’s Midyear Health

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

June is the time when leaders pause, assess, and ask: “Do we have momentum or are we starting to stall?”