The 2025 Dealership Minds Summit is just weeks away, and the list of those coming from across the US and Canada reads like a “Who’s Who” in the ag dealer industry. In addition to well-established leaders are Farm Equipment Dealer Hall of Fame inductees and Dealership of the Year Alumni, as well as the newest Dealership of the Year honorees from Farm Equipment, Rural Lifestyle Dealer and Precision Farming Dealer’s Most Valuable Dealership.

With full credit due to the stellar lineup of session presenters — if you’ve not taken a look at the program, no better time than the present — the Summit has clearly established itself as a “Got To” on the collective To Do lists of ag equipment dealers of all shapes and sizes.

I’m excited to attend my first Dealership Minds Summit as I’m told that networking has become such an enormous benefit to those attending the annual dealer-only gathering. Connecting, learning, sharing challenges and triumphs alike is, in and of itself, a type of core curriculum from which these peers gain and leverage knowledge.

How’s this year’s event shaping up? With just weeks to go, here’s a snapshot of who, what and how the event’s programming and people are certain to deliver powerful ROI.

Roll Call of Industry Rock Stars

Here’s just a sampling of companies whose top executives and key managers are already booked for Dealership Minds Summit.

Mazergroup, Lowe & Young, Broadhead Equipment — Dealerships of the Year for FE and RLD, H&R AgriPower, Titan Machinery, Claas Farmpoint, Johnson Tractor, Birkey’s Farm Store, 21st Century Equipment, Parallel Ag and scores of others will make their way to network and gain insight to improve both operations and perspective. From CEOs and presidents to service and parts managers, industry consultants and technology leaders, no shortage of wisdom and surely plenty of wit to be had. Watch this space.

Program Highlights

A special workshop, “Maximizing Profitability Through Expense Absorption: A Hands-On Workshop for Agricultural Equipment Dealers” featuring George Keen kicks off the event on day one, July 29, at Dealership Minds Summit.

“Diagnosing Dealership Success — Boosting Absorption by 30 Points in 10 Years” by Sam Ives and “Upselling Parts & Service” by Dean Devore round out the general sessions.

Next up, roundtables, where the magic happens amongst and between moderators, speakers and participants. The range of topics, 7 in total, make for the type of high value information exchange from which real solutions and long-term relationships are built.

1. Top Tips for Getting Techs to Write Thorough & Complete Work Order Stories
2. Extended Warranties & Influencing Absorption
3. Best Bets for Improving Parts Sales
4. Parts Department Recruitment — Where to Find Your Next Best Parts Person
5. Maintenance Plans that Work for You & the Customer
6. Strategies for Moving Used Equipment
7. When to Increase Your Retail Labor Rates & How Best to Do It

If you’re worried about missing out, our team has you covered, as moderators meet up again with all attendees after these are completed to offer 2-minute roundtable recaps.

All of that wraps up before 4 p.m. on day one, followed by a general session, “Troubleshooting from a Centralized Location,” and pre-ceremony networking reception ahead of the Dealership of the Year award ceremony and dinner. If there are still people with whom you’re looking to connect, don’t fret — there’s a post-dinner networking reception for that!

Stay tuned for more about the Summit and the ways and whys of networking to leverage all of the learnings that dealers across the country have to offer.