Mark Tibbets of General Implement Distributors and Craig Harthoorn of H&S Manufacturing, sat down during the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Assn. fall meeting to discuss the 2-step distribution model, which has become less common in today’s marketplace. The two executives agree the best manufacturer-distributor relationships work because of honest communication, especially throughout competition and crises.

Former International Harvester (IH) executive/dealer Paul Wallem & Case IH North America vice president Scott Harris reflected on the IH and Case merger of 33 years ago and contrasted today’s ag cycle with the early 1980s during a sit-down at the Case IH Experience Center in Racine, Wis. The last time Wallem was in Racine 33 years ago, the ag economy was still reeling after a confluence of stacked-up woes precipitated by President Jimmy Carter’s Russian grain embargo, 22% interest rates, a 6-month IH labor strike and factory-pumping equipment inventories that took dealers 4 years to unload.

Farm Equipment editors sat down with individuals touching various aspects of agriculture — among them dealers, farmers, manufacturers, economists and consultants — to moderate conversations about the biggest issues impacting the farm equipment industry.