Beyond the Hood with Tractor Zoom

Leo Johnson, former owner of Johnson Tractor and current consultant for the Machinery Advisors Consortium (MAC), discusses dealership growth via acquisitions and the process of succession planning. He discusses the risks involved in growth, the need for strong processes and systems, and the significance of developing relationships with both employees and customers.

Andy welcomes Jim Rothermich, a seasoned and certified real estate appraiser with deep roots in agriculture, as this episode's Beyond the Hood guest. Jim shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Missouri to becoming an agricultural and commercial appraiser in Iowa. The conversation digs into the historical and current trends in land and machinery prices, emphasizing how both markets often move in tandem due to their capital-intensive nature.

Scott Waggoner of Van Wall Equipment and Taylor Kraayenbrink of Vesel Technology discuss trends and challenges in talent acquisition in the dealership industry. They emphasize the importance of building relationships with candidates and providing a great candidate experience throughout the hiring process. They also highlight the need for dealerships to have a clear strategy for talent acquisition that aligns with their overall business goals. Listen to learn more.

Andy Campbell interviews Duane Kautzman, Senior Strategy Manager at Tractor Zoom. They discuss strategies, technology, and the outlook for equipment dealerships in 2024. Kautzman emphasizes the importance of managing sales activity and inventory aggressively, especially given the challenging commodity markets and financial constraints faced by farmers. He highlights the necessity for dealerships to use CRM systems to track and enhance sales activities, ensuring consistent customer engagement and inventory turnover.

In this conversation, J.D. Marbury of Tennessee Tractor discusses the export market for cotton pickers, how the dealership expanded to 10 stores, the importance of diversification, and his insights into exporting to different countries, including China, Australia, and South America.

Jason Hoult, Anvil Pro founder, talks with Andy Campbell about his background and journey from farm to dealership to creating tech solutions for the equipment industry. They discuss digital transformation, technology, and the challenges faced by dealerships today.

In this conversation, Hank Mandsager, Tractor Zoom Lead Data Scientist, discusses the impact of Artificial Intelligence on farm equipment dealerships and shares his background as an aerospace engineer turned data scientist. He emphasizes the importance of data quality and the challenges faced by dealerships in implementing big data.

Ivan and Brandon Dorhout, owners of two Town & Country dealership locations, talk with Andy Campbell about succession planning and building a team.

In this conversation, Andy Campbell interviews Jeff Oldham of GreenMark Equipment about his background and experiences in the agriculture industry. They discuss topics such as hiring great people, building a strong company culture, and the importance of leadership development. Jeff shares insights from his time at John Deere and Volvo, highlighting the value of training, feedback, and recognizing individual strengths.

In Beyond the Hood, Andy Campbell, Tractor Zoom Director of Insights, breaks down current and future issues facing large equipment dealers. In conversations with industry experts and leaders, he’ll go “beyond the hood” and discuss stories, strategies, and experiences that your dealership can use to improve efficiency, maximize revenue, and succeed in an increasingly competitive market. Learn more about the podcast.