Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Rural Lifestyle Equipment Dealers & 2013

My friends at Rural Lifestyle Dealer have just released their latest "trends and outlook" report for rural lifestyle equipment dealers and the bottom line says, "Solid & Stable".

While that headline doesn't say much about "growth" we think it is a reflection that, overall, the economy, while sluggish in some areas of the country continues to improve.  Nearly 37% of the dealers who responded believe revenue in 2013 will grow by two to seven percent.  Meanwhile, 35.8% see little or no change in this year's revenue projection.

So what equipment do rural lifestyle dealers see as being "sellers" in 2013?  Here's a listing:

• Under 40HP Tractors - Nearly 60% of the dealers see this area as being revenue positive;
• Rotary Cutters - 47% see increased sales here;
• Utility Vehicles - Nearly 48%;
• Tractors 40 to 100HP - Almost 40% of the dealers indicated sales of these tractors will boost their bottom line.

In addition rural lifestyle dealers are looking for new products to add to their existing floor-plan of equipment offerings.  The survey indicates that one-third or more of the dealers will add compact tractors, skid steer loaders and utility tractors.

Finally "after market" parts and products are seen as revenue builders to the majority of dealers.

Our friends at Rural Lifestyle Dealer, executive editor Dave Kanicki and president Mike Lessiter have always been spot on when it comes to learning about and sharing economic data important to the growth and sustainability of Rural America...even when that means only a couple of acres.

For the entire story about 2013 Trends & Outlook from Rural Lifestyle Dealer..here is that link.

If you would like to leave a comment here, feel free or let's join up on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio.  Thanks for dropping by! 

Farm Crawl 2012

Coming up tomorrow morning (Sunday 7 October) just Southeast of Des Moines is Farm Crawl 2012. We've had the pleasure of going each year and wander through the (this year) eight family owned farms.  Visitors from the country and city get to visit with producer show are dedicated to sustainable agriculture as well as buy some...good food.

Here's a quick video we did of Farm Crawl from a two years ago...gives you an idea:

 

Farm Crawl 2012 is a great family adventure and the weather looks to be FANTASTIC. Turn your Sunday Drive into an adventure and visit Rural Iowa.  You'll have a great time.

Causing a Buzz in Rural Iowa

We all know of companies/organizations who would do "almost anything" for earned
media. You know, bring in somebody famous in the hope that famous person would cause a buzz and a newspaper, TV or radio station might pick up on the event and say some nice things.

Sometimes it works.  The key word is "sometimes".  Far too often the story has a focus on the "famous person" and much of the message is lost.  And, getting a "famous person" dislodged to be a point person can be expensive. Plus...it's a "one time shot".  What happens if the message is garbled or, worse, the event is ignored?

So what do you do if you've got a small budget but a great story...and that story is about a tiny town in Rural Iowa? You phone friends.  Friends who are connected to social media and who can, at a fraction of the cost, help your event become successful by writing and distributing content to their readers.

Enter Deb Brown of Greater Franklin County, Iowa

Last year Deb, who is a connected social media professional, had this idea to invite bloggers to Hampton and Franklin County so they might experience life in Rural Iowa...even for just a weekend.  Spending a fraction of what it would cost to bring a "big name" to town she turned to other "connected social media experts" to help share their experiences through words, photos and video.

The result was a treasure trove of content, which was shared far and wide, about what's available living a rural lifestyle in...Franklin County.  Brilliant.

While, according to Deb, the general community is still working through exactly what a "Bloggers Tour" is there no doubt Greater Franklin County has caught the attention of many.  So many that this weekend the Second Annual Harvest Tour takes place with writers coming from as far away as New Hampshire and public television from...Japan...to experience Greater Franklin County.

Not bad.

For more head over to Greater Franklin County Harvest Tour 2012.

If you would like to leave a comment here, feel free or let's connect on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio or our advertising/communications Facebook Page which is...right here.  

Some Stories from Business and Agriculture

It's been a busy week for agriculture and Rural Life Radio has been hanging with several. Here is a "Friday Wrap" of some things we've covered and some things coming up.  Enjoy!

Target Marketing - It Works...

We share this simple fact all the time, "Know Thy Consumer".  Know where they are and what they want...well before the sell.  Here in Iowa we just concluded two major events, The Iowa State Fair and Farm Progress Show.  One event brought brought in one-million people the other a fraction at 200,000.  However which worked best for the target audience?  "Practical Target Marketing - It Matters" is right here. 

Agriculture and Main Street

There is a common disconnect between the rural and urban understanding of the 2012 USDA Farm Bill.  The impact of agriculture on urban centers, and some rural towns, needs to be addressed and here in this piece with Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture for Iowa we look at the controversy of the "feeding programs" as well as crop insurance and...uncertainty in an uncertain profession.

 

Viral Video & Iowa Public Television

One of the this summer's biggest internet hits (nearly 7 million views) came from a trio of Kansas Brothers in a parody called "Farming and I Grow It." Our friend Paul Yeager visited the location for PBS's Market to Market. The goal of the video was to inform Greg's city friends about life on the farm. Shooting took 3 weeks to complete and had to be done around the farming work day. They had some help from their sister Laura in filming some of the memorable shots. At first the other two brothers, Kendal and Nathan had to be convinced to keep shooting. But, after a few days they started having fun and knew they have a good product.  Why am I sharing with you?  Because this is a lesson in connecting with your target market in a way that blends lots of angles for an industry that's had difficulties with a younger demographic.  The story will be tonight at 8:00PM and Sunday at 12:30PM during Market to Market. Here is the video but make sure you tune in for the back-story with Paul.

 

Media on Media

The Farm Progress Show for 2012 is history so what were the take-a-way items beyond Secretary Northey?  Here we talked to Chuck Zimmerman from AgWired about what he is hearing.  Media talking to Media...I think this is a solid idea for future features.

 

Rural Iowa Scores the Debate

We visited this week with Deb Brown of the Greater Franklin County Chamber who has secured a moderated debate with Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and his challenger former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack for mid September.  It's something Ames nor Clay County could get done.  How did it happen and what are the details?  Here you go.

 

Thanks for coming by.  If you want to comment here feel free or we can connect on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio and here is our advertising/communications agency Facebook Page. Have a great weekend! 

Farm Shows vs. State Fairs

A number of years ago my writing assignment was to visit the farm equipment/products section of several state fairs and write a cover article for Acreage Magazine.  I packed up my notebook (what lap-top?) and 35mm camera and made the rounds. Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa all had state fairs (Michigan has since closed shop) and what I found surprised me.

Gone were the large displays of farm and ranch equipment. At the Michigan State Fair I didn't see one tractor over 30hp.  In Illinois the total number of farm related displays, located in a valley of the fairgrounds, amounted to about 35 vendors all dealers.  Gone, at nearly each fairgrounds location was any large manufacturer support.  If John Deere was there they were in the guise of a dealer, not the manufacturer.  In their place were things like the underground "Pet Protector", to house critters if a tornado strikes, with founder Ernie.

That's why the article from my friend Dan Piller, "Agriculture Shows Outstrip Fairs' Impact" in the Des Moines Register didn't much surprise me.  It's been this way for years. The reason?  Target marketing.

While the Iowa State Fair boosts attendance of over 1 million the vast majority are folks who don't know a plow from a planter. (OK, Jake knows this an Case Combine, Jovie doesn't have a clue.)  This week Boone, Iowa will host the Farm Progress Show outside of the small town on the relatively new permanent grounds. The show will attract over 200,000 folks who will wander among 577 exhibitors many of whom are manufacturers/distributors of farm equipment and goods.  A few days later these same exhibitors will head to the Husker Harvest Days event in tiny Wood River, six miles west of Grand Island, NE.

These two shows, managed by the same company, are among the largest of hundreds of farm shows across the country and are vastly different than state fair offerings. For weeks ahead of these events agri-business companies have been inviting growers to stop by their booth to see what's new and perhaps attend special parties and events all designed to get farmers to "kick the tires" and actually buy.  It's a controlled environment that is dedicated to agriculture and they have gotten bigger and better.

None of us who cover farm news will forget when Farm Progress was a "traveling event" and camped out in various cities.  One year, in Springfield, IL it rained for days ahead of the show and exhibitors were forced to wade through mud bogs shin high.  That's all coming to an end with permanent sites and paved streets.  According to Dan's story the 50 acre Boone site will be used by the Iowa Department of Transportation for a "paving experiment" meaning the grounds will have "real roads" by 2014.

Agriculture is big business here in the Midwest and  while the farm shows lack the "flavor" of state fairs they have become a major marketing tool for the industry.  But, will they have double bacon-wrapped corn dogs?  Nope...and that's a shame. 

By the way, the hashtag for Twitter is #FPS12 just in case you want to keep up and connect with others during the show. If you want to comment on this story here, feel free. We can also connect on Twitter @RuralLiferRadio.  See you in Boone!

The Power of Relationships

This past week I wrote about a couple of friends and a horse clinic taking place in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Horses, Craig Cameron & Broken Bow detailed the event and gave readers a reason to consider. (Photo: Craig & I 15 years ago. I've changed...he hasn't!)

This morning I got a call from Gary Kubicek, Sales & Marketing Manager for Running Horse Feeds telling me, "Michael, you are not going to believe it. We've got over 170 reservations for the first and second Craig Cameron clinics and over 80 for the evening clinic.  The folks at Evans Feed Company are shocked at the early success of this event. Thanks for your help!"

Two Thoughts

There is real power in maintaining solid relationships with all parties.  I didn't have to write a short piece about Craig Cameron and I didn't have to use the power of social media to spread the word.  Didn't have to...but did because of the long term relationship I've got with Gary and Craig.

Craig Cameron is a paid spokesperson for Running Horse Feeds but that does not mean the company takes Craig for granted.  Beyond the business deal Gary sees to it that he keeps in constant contact with Craig and his bride Dalene Cameron.  They are friends who just happen to have a business arrangement.

The point here is that far too often we forget about the personal relationships we have with those folks we do business with.  But, in the end that is the "magic bullet" that provides success...long lasting success.

If you want to comment here, feel free or let's connect on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio and here is our Advertising Agency Facebook page.  Thanks for coming by! - Michael