On August 5, J D Equipment, S & S Volvo and Kale Marketing came together to purchase the Grand Champion Market Beef at the Ohio State Fair's Sale of Champions. J D Equipment, an eight-store agricultural and lawn and garden dealership, has a long history of supporting local agriculture by purchasing many Grand Champion livestock purchases over the years.

Honda Power Equipment, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and marketer of a complete range of outdoor power equipment, today announced a new partnership with the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Atlanta Hawks, the American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The team is part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the NBA.

Four awards for business-to-business magazine editorial excellence were recently presented to Lessiter Publications editors. Sponsored by the American Society of Business Press Editors, the Azbee Awards of Excellence program is recognized as one of the most competitive nationwide award programs for business publications.

"What's your title?"? I asked someone I interviewed recently. "Best salesperson ever,"? she answered, then paused and laughed. Based on conversations with her and one of her rural lifestyle customers, I believe her. They have years of tractor, mower, attachment and power tool purchases together, plus mutual admiration.

Briggs & Stratton's next dividend is payable Oct. 1 to shareholders of record on Aug. 20. The company said it is raising its dividend because of its improved financial performance despite the weak economy.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has elected two new directors: Tiago Bonomo, President & CEO of McCormick USA, joins the AEM AG Sector Board, and Daniel Miller, President & CEO of Manitou Americas Inc., joins the AEM CE Sector Board. Both fill unexpired terms.

Metalcraft of Mayville and Scag Power Equipment (Mayville, WI), in conjunction with Mid-State Equipment (Watertown, WI) proudly announce their support of the Waterworks Park Project in Beaver Dam WI. A Scag Freedom Z zero-turn riding mower has been donated to be raffled off with all proceeds going towards the park project.

The Portland-based maker of sawchain and other tools and replacement parts used in logging, agriculture and gardening (NYSE: BLT) earlier forecast that it would reach $1 billion in annual sales this year.

Kubota Tractor Corporation recently recognized local Kubota Dealer Messick's of Abbottstown, Carlisle, Elizabethtown, and Halifax PA, with the company's prestigious President's Kaizen Award for outstanding performance as a dealership in 2011.

Cautious consumers often look for places to cut, but one quiet victim of the recession has the opposite problem. Even amid recovery, lawns are often left untended.