FIMDA tours USA: Kansas

13 October 2022

Pictured, from left: VACC Industry Policy Advisor Michael McKenna, Heritage Tractor Director of Sales Jeremy Knuth and President of Heritage Tractor Ken Wagner

As part of the Farm and Industrial Machinery and Dealers Association (FIMDA)'s USA tour, VACC Industry Policy Advisor Michael McKenna visited Heritage Tractor in Baldwin City, Kansas. President of Heritage Tractor Ken Wagner, and Director of Sales Jeremy Knuth hosted the visit.

Primarily a John Deere entity, Heritage Tractor employs over 575 people across 21 sites. With an annual turnover of more than USD$600 million, Heritage Tractor is one of the world's top 10 largest John Deere operations. The diversity of products impresses; the organisation selling over 6,000 John Deere lawnmowers annually. Additionally, it holds a record of retailing 78 round balers in a month.

An active North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) board member, Ken Wagner is a legend among farm machinery dealers in the USA and Canada. Reflecting on the operation's success, Mr Wagner listed key areas that play a pivotal role: servicing and retaining the current customer base (sitting at 165,000 customers), ensuring the over 600,000 inbound desk phone calls have a Heritage employee at the end of the line, and making sure that dealer-manufacturer communication is constant and honest. The intention should always be a result that is a win for the dealer, a win for the manufacturer, and a win for the consumer.

The Chamber thanks Brent Harness and the team at NAEDA for arranging the visit – FIMDA members will benefit from the time VACC spent with Heritage Tractor leaders.

Next stops, Illinois and Iowa.