Rural Lifestyle Dealer

Why I Don’t Walk A Lot…

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Last week we were cleaning out the farmhouse we are planning to move to, when I discovered an old envelope filled with photo copies of service records of Private Leeper Dobbins who served in the Civil War.

Is it real, or is it Memorex?

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Is AI "dumbing down" this generation, or are they just as ingenuitive as older generations?

Discernment of a Real Expert

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Discernment of a real expert usually boils down to the asking of relevant questions, and being able to say I don't know but I will find out — and does.

What March Madness and Others Might Have Been...

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Tennessee's Vanderbilt Univ., once known only for its academia power, is now showing success on the athletic fields and the hardwood.

Seats on the Bus

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

William Ellison Jr., a farm equipment shortline manufacturer, perfected and sold a machine that changed the history of these United States, and possibly the world, more than any other single piece of farm equipment.

Maturing Process

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever looked, but not seen? When you make a mistake like this you have to be ready for the ribbing you get for the rest of your life.

Paradigm Shifts in Ag?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Paradigm shifts in agricultural thinking will be coming. How many times have we thought that before?

An Inconvenient Lie(s)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

"We just need some pure journalistic investigation to get to the bottom of self-serving, agenda-driven news that — when one follows the money — finds the lies and exaggerations that rob our pocketbooks and the future of our children faster." —Tim Brannon

Stopping by a Dealership on a Snowy Day

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Tim Brannon turns a Tennessee snow day at the tractor lot into a playful, Frost-inspired reflection on work, weather, and rural life.

Harvey’s Garage

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Rain, honking horns, and $7.50 customer service—Harvey’s Garage shows how dedication and a sense of humor built loyalty in small-town America.

High Tech Under the High Arch in St. Louie

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Tim Brannon shares how AI, precision tech and even a few glazed-over moments in St. Louis convinced him that high-tech farming is no longer optional.

My W roaDster

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

From a dusty trade-in to parade-ready low rider: a WD Allis gets a wild second life. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

Loretta Lynn, National Farm Machinery Show and a Tractor Pull to Remember

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

He told me to get the AC 8550 from the Loretta Lynn Farm, get a set of rules, and prepare it to pull in the new 4WD class at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. I said, “Do what?” Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

Customer Service & Tribal Knowledge Set Dealers Apart from ‘Big Box’ Competition

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We, as independent dealers, must provide extra service and expertise to compete and win over the box stores and bigs. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

A Dealer’s Ode to Thanksgiving

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Thanks to the farmers, the ranchers and hobbyists who make us a living and keep us the jolliest. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

A Lesson from the Legends

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0500

Just prior to our participation in the “Dealer Panel,” several founders of farm equipment companies were inducted into Farm Equipment’s Shortline Legends Hall of Fame — with several things in common. A vision, hard work and a “stick to it” work ethic that resulted in successes that have lasted for generations. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

A Tale of Two Farmers

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Never in our history have we experienced the diversity in agriculture as to the productivity of row crop vs. cattle producers. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

One Size Does Not Fit All with Dealers and Shortlines

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Shortline equipment has long helped dealers stay profitable and adaptable — but as majors push “purity,” the tension between innovation, dealer needs, and manufacturer control is only growing. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

Who Moved the Cheese?

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In today’s ag market, the “cheese” has been moved again—are you adapting like Scratch and Sniff, or stuck hemming and hawing? Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.

I Shed a Tear

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A touching reflection on watching a grandson step into the family business — and the emotions that come with seeing him grow up behind the wheel.

Thoughts on D-Day and Ag

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Thanks to D-Day our farmers still feed ourselves and a lot of a hungry world that would otherwise fall victim to one of those 'what ifs.' Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Memorial Day Reflections

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

To keep from getting in too much trouble I suggested we go to the new movie Platoon, a Vietnam war movie on a free night. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Are We in an Economic “Shift” Again?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Amid global uncertainty and rising trade tensions, dealers face a high-stakes reality check. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Dealers Bridge a Mechanical World and a Field of Dreams

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How one dealer chose to bridge the gap between a mechanical world and a field of dreams. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

On the Topic of Preemptive Absorption

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The point is that today we dealers and manufacturers have no idea on parts pricing on all our parts as to correct pricing, and whether our competition is getting our sales due to price. Could AI help? Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Running a Tight Ship and Staying Afloat this Spring

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:00:27 -0400

Tim Brannon reflects on a recent uptick in sales of both new and used equipment, attributing this positive shift to favorable weather conditions and increased customer traffic. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

AI? All In

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:20:27 -0500

Concerns over China's AI advancements, warning of potential misinformation and the need for vigilance in distinguishing reality from AI-generated content. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Sell Sell Sell

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Selling isn't just about the product—it's about understanding the customer, anticipating objections, and adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

New Year’s Resolution — Lose Some Wait

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:27:00 -0500

That is not a misspelling; it's one dealership's resolution to "lose some wait" by reducing delays in service, parts, and sales. Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by Bobcat Company.

Thoughts on the National Bird

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:08 -0500

America’s new National Bird is officially the Bald Eagle, unanimously voted by Congress—a choice that symbolizes strength, resilience, and the spirit of the nation, despite the unexpected nostalgia for the indomitable Road Runner.