First popularized by John Deere, dealers of all colors can rev up their business by developing an on-the-property service program for consumers and rural lifestylers.

Lots going on these days. Weather challenges, rapidly advancing technologies, crazy markets, uncertainty on government programs and another year-end buying rush, to name a few. But just as critical as these things are to your operation, we, as a business magazine, also find an obligation to cover other management issues from time to time.

Rural Lifestyle Dealer was started in 2007 to help farm equipment dealers better understand consumers. New folks were moving from urban areas into the country, buying a dozen acres, and were finding their way onto the showroom of a farm equipment dealership.

Attractive to farm customers and consumers alike, ATV and UV sales are moving some ag dealerships to look like a cross between a motorcycle shop and a tractor store.

Small business owner Bob Garner found a piece of property that was literally worth moving over the mountain for. He had heard that a cattle ranching family's estate plan included the sale of 600 range acres.

John Duggan, Jr., 29-year old entrepreneur and owner of Duggan Bros., is proud of the way his business stands out along U.S. Highway 441 north of Ocala, Fla. Gleaming green and red tractors and assorted implements are lined up in perfect order.

When Rural Lifestyle Dealer interviewed George Dearborn, he had just finished installing new electrical wiring in a refurbished house on a 15-acre hideaway property he and his wife Beverly bought 4 years ago northeast of Ocala, Fla.

This 'tale of two customers' reveals the drawbacks of cookie-cutter sales approaches, since no two rural lifestyle buyers walking through your front door may ever be alike.