This wasn’t the year for groundbreaking new products at the recent Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+Expo), but manufacturers at this year’s show still unveiled impressive enhancements and innovations.

GIE+Expo kicks off tomorrow in Louisville, Ky., with its Dealer Days, where dealers get a first look at new products. It’s an important show for our industry, and I’m pleased to see the number of exhibits and attendees grow every year. At this year’s show, there will be 750 exhibits and more than 18,000 participants, including dealers, manufacturers, landscape contractors and others.

Dealers often tell us one of their biggest challenges is finding good employees, especially service techs, and how this dilemma is limiting their growth.

College sports is big business with a fan base just as big. The NCAA says it generated nearly $900 million in revenues during the 2011-12 season (the most recent figures released). Farm equipment manufacturers like Kioti and Mahindra are tapping into this trend to reach new customers.

There is no typical rural lifestyler, but it seems many choose life in the country for one or all of these three main reasons: To have more space, to get closer to the land or to raise animals, especially horses.

The March 27, 1969 issue of The Delhi Dispatch featured an advertisement announcing Delhi Implement Co., Delhi, La., receiving the “South’s first shipment of John Deere’s new custom colored weekend freedom machines.”

Start making mistakes and start succeeding. Inc. magazine columnist Carey Smith warns against seeking business expert advice without factoring in what you can learn from making mistakes.

Rural Lifestyle Dealer recently announced our new partnership with Bob Clements, who is recognized as the premier management consultant for outdoor power equipment, agriculture and power sports dealerships. We’re teaming up with Bob and his company, Bob Clements Intl., to provide real world and “must do” strategies for making your dealership more profitable.