<p>
Wow, this show is huge and plenty of fun. There’s still time for you to come on over to the Louisville Exposition Center … the event runs through tomorrow and ends with the tractor pull of all tractor pulls. I will be heading back to Kansas in the morning though … as much fun as this is, I really like to spend time on the farm.</p>
<p>
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I was lucky enough to get some time with friend Rodney Miller late yesterday afternoon. Rodney is a rock star of the agricultural equipment world … his title is CEO of <a title=”McCormick International USA” href=”http://mccormickusa.com/” target=”_blank”>McCormick International USA</a>, but he is still an Illinois (and now Georgia) farm boy at heart. Rodney and I share a passion for vintage International Harvester equipment. Check out <a title=”Rodney’s blog” href=”http://www.mccormickusa.com/desk_of_ceo.php#7″ target=”_blank”>Rodney’s blog</a> about spending a precious few hours away from the office putting his International 1206 to work in a Georgia county where farm fields are few and far between.</p>
<p>Rodney and I also believe that developing strong relationships with customers is important in life and for the health of any enterprise. It was a joy to watch Rodney greet folks interested in the McCormick tractor line, enthusiastically autographing pieces of literature, T-shirts and other pieces of memorabilia. How often do you find an incredibly busy and successful corporate CEO in the show booth for eight hours a day several days in a row?</p>
<p>I also spent some time with Peggy Horkan and Paul Williams at the <a title=”Kubota” href=”http://kubota.com/f/home/home.cfm” target=”_blank”>Kubota</a> booth. They gave me a tour of some cool new machines … including a big new M-Series farm tractor, a new RTV with a couple of bench seats, hydraulic dump bed and a mess of other very nice features. I will devote future blogs to some of these products individually. As always, it was fun to visit with folks who are so passionate about their products … and their company. With that kind of enthusiasm, it is hard not to get excited about their brand.</p>
<p>
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The good folks at <a title=”Kioti” href=”http://kioti.com/” target=”_blank”>Kioti</a> introduced me to their brand new DK50 Hydrostat. This dual-pedal-control hydro features a 49-horsepower Daedong diesel powerplant that meets or exceeds current and near-future emissions rules. This largest cab-equipped hydro in the Kioti lineup comes with tilt-wheel, cruise control, stereo, air conditioning, heat and deluxe suspension seat. It’s not a bad place to spend a few hours by any measure … imagine listening to your favorite Bach fugue while knocking down the weeds in the meadow.<br />
<br />
Robert Mullett, president of TYM’s Overseas Business, kindly walked me through the <a title=”TYM tractor” href=”http://www.tym-tractors.com/” target=”_blank”>TYM tractor</a> lineup and company history. TYM is the second largest tractor maker in South Korea, and they had been supplying tractors OEM to Mahindra and several other makers. A relatively new brand in North America, I expect to see plenty of interest in this bright red lineup, particularly in the compact and subcompact tractor markets.</p>
<p>
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<br />
<br />
Well, it is time for me to head back out to the show floor … I need to catch up with the folks at John Deere and Bobcat and … so many machines, so little time.<br />
<br />
See you Monday.<br />
<br />
</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
<br />
I was lucky enough to get some time with friend Rodney Miller late yesterday afternoon. Rodney is a rock star of the agricultural equipment world … his title is CEO of <a title=”McCormick International USA” href=”http://mccormickusa.com/” target=”_blank”>McCormick International USA</a>, but he is still an Illinois (and now Georgia) farm boy at heart. Rodney and I share a passion for vintage International Harvester equipment. Check out <a title=”Rodney’s blog” href=”http://www.mccormickusa.com/desk_of_ceo.php#7″ target=”_blank”>Rodney’s blog</a> about spending a precious few hours away from the office putting his International 1206 to work in a Georgia county where farm fields are few and far between.</p>
<p>Rodney and I also believe that developing strong relationships with customers is important in life and for the health of any enterprise. It was a joy to watch Rodney greet folks interested in the McCormick tractor line, enthusiastically autographing pieces of literature, T-shirts and other pieces of memorabilia. How often do you find an incredibly busy and successful corporate CEO in the show booth for eight hours a day several days in a row?</p>
<p>I also spent some time with Peggy Horkan and Paul Williams at the <a title=”Kubota” href=”http://kubota.com/f/home/home.cfm” target=”_blank”>Kubota</a> booth. They gave me a tour of some cool new machines … including a big new M-Series farm tractor, a new RTV with a couple of bench seats, hydraulic dump bed and a mess of other very nice features. I will devote future blogs to some of these products individually. As always, it was fun to visit with folks who are so passionate about their products … and their company. With that kind of enthusiasm, it is hard not to get excited about their brand.</p>
<p>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The good folks at <a title=”Kioti” href=”http://kioti.com/” target=”_blank”>Kioti</a> introduced me to their brand new DK50 Hydrostat. This dual-pedal-control hydro features a 49-horsepower Daedong diesel powerplant that meets or exceeds current and near-future emissions rules. This largest cab-equipped hydro in the Kioti lineup comes with tilt-wheel, cruise control, stereo, air conditioning, heat and deluxe suspension seat. It’s not a bad place to spend a few hours by any measure … imagine listening to your favorite Bach fugue while knocking down the weeds in the meadow.<br />
<br />
Robert Mullett, president of TYM’s Overseas Business, kindly walked me through the <a title=”TYM tractor” href=”http://www.tym-tractors.com/” target=”_blank”>TYM tractor</a> lineup and company history. TYM is the second largest tractor maker in South Korea, and they had been supplying tractors OEM to Mahindra and several other makers. A relatively new brand in North America, I expect to see plenty of interest in this bright red lineup, particularly in the compact and subcompact tractor markets.</p>
<p>
<br />
<br />
Well, it is time for me to head back out to the show floor … I need to catch up with the folks at John Deere and Bobcat and … so many machines, so little time.<br />
<br />
See you Monday.<br />
<br />
</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
