AGCO Names Levi Stefanson 2024 North American Technician of the Year

Mar 13, 2025

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, named Levi Stefanson its 2024 Technician of the Year on February 27 in Hesston, Kansas. This unique program recognizes North American AGCO dealer technicians for their diagnostic and maintenance abilities, dedication to continuous learning and customer service skills. Stefanson of Full Line Ag Sales Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was awarded the 2024 title and a $5,000 grand prize after a three-day, hands-on competition against five other finalists nominated by AGCO dealerships across the US and Canada.

“AGCO congratulates Levi and all our finalists for their outstanding performances and a great competition,” said Ash Alt, Manager of Technical Training, North America. “This event honors the often ‘unsung’ heroes at our dealerships – the technicians who ensure our farmers’ vital equipment runs smoothly. The finalists demonstrate the skills and values celebrated by Technician of the Year, benefiting both farmers and dealers.”

Maintaining equipment from AGCO’s Fendt® and Massey Ferguson® brands requires the skills of highly trained professionals, and AGCO works closely with its dealers and regional educational institutions to identify, encourage and equip talented technicians. The Technician of the Year competition and the AGCO Service Technician A.A.S. associate degree program at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, are examples of these focused efforts.

Click here to see more...

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.