11th Annual Dealership Minds Summit to Focus on Absorption

Mar 13, 2025

The editors of Farm Equipment magazine announced that the 2025 Dealership Minds Summit will be heading to Iowa City, Iowa., on July 29-30, 2025, for the 11th annual gathering of top farm equipment dealerships from around North America.

The annual Dealership Minds Summit is a dealer-only event that features collaborative, dealer-to-dealer learning over a 2-day, knowledge-packed agenda that is guaranteed to give attendees authoritative strategies from the most progressive minds at farm equipment dealers. Based on previous attendee feedback and the guidance of the Farm Equipment editorial advisory board and the Dealership of the Year Alumni Group, this year’s Dealership Minds Summit will center on a theme of absorption.

“The parts and service business is THE lifeblood of every farm equipment dealership. With new equipment unit sales expected to lag in 2025, the strength of a laser-focused parts and service business will never be more important to your operation.” says Farm Equipment Executive Editor, Kim Schmidt. “That’s why Farm Equipment’s Advisory Boards stressed the paramount need for a focused forum for ag machinery dealers to share and learn key strategies and tactics to optimize their aftermarket operations — and protect every fractional percent of margin that’ll be necessary to ride out the rough seas ahead for new wholegoods sales.”

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Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.