Louisville Farm Show - Another Great Success
February 23, 2010

McCormick was part of the 45^th National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky this year. This is the largest indoor farm show and it had a huge turn out even though the weather was not the greatest. As always it was a great show, despite the snow on the ground. The snow didn't stop the faithful farm lovers. The schools were closed, which probably bought in more people and gave the students a fun place to go.

Max Armstrong joined us in our booth on Thursday and autographed all of the McCormick toy tractors that were raffled off. It is always a pleasure to be in Max's company. The crowd seems to gravitate to him. One of our good dealers, Danny Smith at Shaker Equipment Sales in Auburn, Kentucky, displayed a 1928 McCormick Deering 1020 in our booth that his son, Daniel restored. What a fine job Daniel did. Daniel hung around our booth and actually met and greeted several of our guests. We give many thanks to Danny and Daniel.

On Thursday evening we attended the Farm Industry News Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where our Vice President of Sales, Alan Hargis accepted the award for our CX Tractor Series which was presented by FinOvation Farm Industry News Senior Editor, Jodie Wehrspam. Wow, what an exciting evening!

I always look forward to the National Farm Show; meeting and greeting old friends, customers and of course, our dealers. Each year it gets better and better! Visit our Events page for some pictures of the show.

American Farm Girl -- A Must Read
February 05, 2010

In my position I get some truly great letters. I want to write about one of those, today. Whitney Barefoot is truly the "Farm Girl", that every parent of a farmer wants in their daughter, for their children and for all America. To hear from someone who loves American Agriculture and the history that is so intricately intertwined within it, is so very refreshing. I have many of these same memories, as you will, when you read her essay (click on the PDF link at the bottom).

To see her fulfill her dream of being married on the family farm on May 30, 2009, with the McCormick "M" in the background is really unique in so many ways. What a great picture of rural America and the things that have made it fun to be a part of. To hear a beautiful young girl say so many good things about her parents, grandparents and farming is what I truly enjoy about this great industry I am so pleased to be a part of.

Thanks, Whitney for sharing your story with so many and for brightening my day. Good luck in life and your marriage and I hope to someday meet you.

Click Here to Download PDF File

AG Connect a Great Success - More Farm Shows Ahead
January 26, 2010

The first year Ag Connect Show in Orlando, FL was a great success! The AEM's effort at an international show will bring the show that is desired for the USA in the coming years. It will be right here in Atlanta, GA next year. I will be able to attend and sleep in my own bed. I've pretty much never been able to do that before.

Now, we move to the Southern Farm Show in Raleigh, NC next week and the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, February 10-13. You can see my friend Max Armstrong in our booth at the show. He is always a big hit. Louisville is always a favorite for me as I have attended that show longer. It is closer to my roots of Southern Illinois and it is the largest of all farm shows here in the USA. I see so many friends from around the country as well as my brothers and friends from back home. It is a joy for me!

I also plan to stop and see my son, Reid, on the way to Raleigh next week. As mentioned before he is a freshman at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. He loves it there, but as a father I really miss him. Have a good week and good luck in whatever you are doing!

NEW -- AG Connect in Orlando
January 07, 2010

Well, the holidays are behind us, now. I hope you all had a great Christmas and enjoyed your family and friends. We now move forward with great expectations to the New Year and all that it will bring.

There is a new Ag show in town. AG Connect in Orlando, Florida next week (1/13 - 15), will be the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' (AEM) new release. This will be the beginning of a truly international show here in America, much like Agritechnica in Germany. Of course, the first year it won't be, but in the years to come it will. AG Connect offers many exciting innovations.

I look forward to being in Florida and leaving these cold temperatures behind. Many of you in the north have really been hit hard, but here in Atlanta it is unusually cold. We aren't expecting to get above freezing temperatures tomorrow and they are forecasting snow today. That is not normal for us. The forecast for the show days in Orlando is in the 60's and 70's so, here I come.

Please join me for an exciting show filled with great seminars and lots of technical folks on hand. A different aspect of this show is the great opportunity you will have to meet company executives. You can meet many executives and interact as never before. I hope you plan to attend and I will look forward to seeing you, there.

Christmas Stories and “Old Friends”
December 16, 2009

An old friend of mine Jim Muir hosts a show on WQRL-FM Radio 106.3 in Benton, Illinois from 8:00 -10:00 PM CST. Tonight's show, "Sound Off" will include callers telling their favorite Christmas memories of important people who made a difference in their lives. It is heart warming. Jim does a great job hosting the show as he is a professional. I would love to hear the show. It would be great if they streamed live on the web. Maybe Jim will send me a CD of tonight's show. I have so many great memories, like my Dad for sure, and so many others in Benton. Some of are my fondest memories are growing up at home with my parents, Gene and Emmagene Miller. Other people I would talk about are Noel Whittington, Bill B Smith, John Cherry, James Williams, and Don Crisp to name a few. I encourage all of you to reach out and tell the ones who are dear to you how much you appreciate them this holiday season.

This coming Friday a group of us, including my son, Reid and others here at McCormick International plan to go downtown to the Phillips Arena and see our resurgent Hawks take on the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are coached by a fellow Southern Illinoisan, Jerry Sloan. Jerry is a farm boy from McCleansboro who has made it big. Jerry also is an avid collector of antique farm tractors, a passion I share with him. I am sure he has a few old McCormick tractors. We belong to the same local collector club and see each other occasionally at shows. He is a great guy. I hope to chat with him courtside, this Friday night.

Oh yea! I will have another chance to see an Illinois team on Saturday night with Reid, as Illinois takes on Georgia, almost across the street from my office at The Gwinnett Arena. Maybe we will see someone from our hometown there.

An Enjoyable Weekend AND Christmas Challenge
December 14, 2009

I enjoy many of the same things that most of you do, but I share a very unique bond with my fellow farmers, part-time farmers (like me) and those who grew up on a farm or just love farming. I finally finished shelling corn here in Georgia. I do not want to make it sound like work, because to me, it isn't. My small operation here is a tremendous stress relief and a great mind clearing experience from the daily work that feeds our families. I know all you part-time and farming advocates can relate. It is physical work, but I think the best way to describe it is "emotional therapy".

This summer I worked my weekends with some friends of mine, restoring an 815 IH combine. You can view a YouTube video that a friend, Jerome filmed, of me shelling corn with the restored combine and my assistant Jodi riding on that particular round. When you don't have a ton of acres every round is special and many of my friends have been able to share it with me.

I am enjoying this Christmas season. I hope you all, are also. I challenge myself and all of you to reach out and help someone this holiday season that is "out of the box" for you. God bless.

Wow, What a Great Thanksgiving!
December 01, 2009

I hope everyone was able to spend time with their family and friends this past week during Thanksgiving. Our jobs can bring on a lot of stress to us, all. The time spent away from work this holiday, I'm sure, was welcomed by all. I enjoyed having my son Reid, home from Liberty University for the week. I really miss him. My two daughters, wife's sister and her husband also joined Kendra and me. We, for sure, had a good time over-eating and fellowshipping. I got to spend quality time with lots of great friends over the long weekend. I greatly treasure those friendships.

This is the time of year for all of us to reflect and get back to the perspective on life, which is so easy to lose. It was especially time for me to do just that. At the end of the day our families, friends and relationship with our Maker are the only things that really matter in life. In the workplace we are all replaceable and if something were to happen to any of us life will go on for the companies we work for. We will hardly be missed by those companies. However, things are quit different when it involves our family and friends. I encourage each of you to keep these things in mind as we all deal with a tough economy. We can only do so much; much of it is out of our control.

An 18 year old boy died last night in a car wreck a mile from my house and it reminded me, once again, how fragile life is. Please keep in mind the important things as we travel through life. God bless each of you and may this holiday season bring lots of joy and inner peace for all of you.

C-Max Tractor in the Water
November 24, 2009

I really enjoyed these pictures and the story behind it. As you see there are some very different applications for our tractors, sometimes. I know McCormick tractors are built tough and strong and are used for many labors of love. One of our dealer's, Kari Mitchell at Mobile Ag & Industrial Supply, recently sent me some pictures of a unique way one of her customers is using his C-Max High Clearance tractor.

It seems Don Cash's, new C-Max has just one job; launching his boat into Bear Lake on the northeastern border of Utah, right outside the door of their vacation home. Don said he looked long and hard to find a tractor that met all of his needs. He had considered a "monster truck with giant wheels", but thought it might not be appropriate for their private community. He even bought one of the "other brands" and found it didn't work, at all.  

Don says he finally found his perfect tractor that fit all of his requirements at Mobile Ag in Bakersfield, CA. Due to the distance between him and the McCormick dealership, there were many phone calls made. He said Kari and their top mechanic, who knows McCormick tractors inside and out were amazing and dedicated to helping him on his odd request for a "boat launcher". But, Don wasn't done with his odd requests. He had to have the wheels painted white to support his Alma Mater, The University of Utah Running Ute's colors red and white.   

Our tractors aren't just built to play in the dirt; you can also play in the water. Don has demonstrated that. Don, we appreciate your business and know you will enjoy your tractor whether on land or water.

Satisfied Compact Tractor Owner
November 11, 2009

McCormick's products have been built "solid" for over 160 years, which is one reason we, at McCormick, have always felt that we have a superior product. Well, we aren't the only ones. One of our good dealers, Palmetto Equipment Sales in Williamston, SC has one very satisfied customer, Chris J. Travis.

Chris just recently purchased a CT41 from Ralph Woodson at Palmetto. Chris states Ralph was a "super dealer" to work with regarding his purchase. He also says, "After examining a number of tractors in the 35-45 hp range, the McCormick was by far the winner. Your price was good, but when comparing the meat of the tractors, engine, drive train, hydraulics etc., McCormick was the clear winner for me. . . I encourage you to push your CT line as you clearly have a good product and there is truly a need (particularly in our area where the "mini-farm" is booming) for a tractor in the 30-45 hp range."

We appreciate Ralph and the folks at Palmetto for providing Chris great customer service and for being one of McCormick's partners. Chris, I'm sure you will enjoy your compact tractor for many years to come.

FEMA Convention and the Good Guys
November 09, 2009

Last week I attended the opening reception for the 2009 Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) here in Atlanta. This is not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which by the way is another wonderful organization full of great people. It was good being there. We're all facing some challenges during these tough economic times and this event aided as a great stress reliever.    

I got to talk with two of my good friends, Matt Corniglia of Fastline Publications and Michael Libby of Insight Communications. These are just two good guys that I don't often get to spend time with. We discussed old times, where the industry is headed, as well as what 2010 might bring. I saw other "good guys" in the industry like Dave Kanicki and Mike Lessiter of Farm Equipment Magazine and Don Tourte of Farm Progress Magazine. I am so thankful to be in this industry and call guys like these friends. Thanks to FEMA and to all the "good guys".

Bar-B-Que at the Governor’s Mansion!
October 14, 2009

Sometimes you get to do some fun things in life. This week Kendra and I were invited to have supper at the Governor's mansion here in Atlanta with Governor Sonny Perdue and his wife Mary and others from the Georgia Center for Agribusiness. Gary Black has been heading the Georgia Center for Agribusiness for over 20 years and is also running for Secretary of Agriculture in Georgia next year.

First, let me say what an honor it was to be invited and to go to the Governor's mansion. Governor Perdue is not only a great guy and devote Christian, but also a "farm boy". That made it more special than I ever dreamed. It was like going over to one of our great friend's house, like Roger and Cheryl or Jerome and Tina's and just hanging out. Kendra and I were honored to sit with the Governor and Mary at their table and talk about kids, family, life and of course, farming and old tractors.

The only tractor that the Governor has of his Dad's is a McCormick IH 656. Wow, what a story he has! This is definitely going to be a restoration project. He was glad to meet a "red guy" as some of us at McCormick are referred to verses the "green guys" that seem to be so prevalent.

Governor Perdue grew up in central Georgia near Perry and owns some grain elevators and a fertilizer supply company as well as still farming. He has done much for Georgia farmers and has also been instrumental in national agriculture issues. It is so important to have voices in agriculture that can make a difference and defend the American Farmer, which is critical to the fabric of America. It is the core values of the farmer that make America the strong country it is today. Guys like Gary Black who are always defending the rural lifestyle we all are so grateful to be a part of are to be commended, also.

Thank you Governor, Gary and all of the defenders of agriculture for what you do and for letting Kendra, McCormick and me, be a part of your lives and hopefully help in these efforts.

Miller Family County Fair and Marriage
September 29, 2009

Last weekend my daughter, Mallory, who works in Inside Sales here at McCormick, and I got to show our heifer cows at the Gwinnett County Fair here in Georgia. Mallory has shown cattle since she was in the 5^th grade and really loves the experience. Since moving from Illinois over five years ago, it has been much tougher to pull this event off. We do not have the great facilities to raise cattle as we had in Benton, IL. However, last summer we bought some registered Angus and showed at the local fair for the first time. We had very little time to prepare and put weight on our animals last year. This year, however, we were much more prepared. The county fair experience, as many of you know, is really unique, wholesome and fun. I look forward to it every year and this year was no exception.

Even though Mallory has shown quite a lot and I have helped get the animals ready over the years, I have not personally shown cattle in many years, since high school, some 15 years or so. Well, maybe a little longer than that, ha-ha. It was so much fun being in the show ring. I had forgotten how much fun it was. Mallory finished 2^nd and I placed 3^rd in our class. This is a big jump from last year, were I placed last and Mallory's heifer got to compete for Grand Champion. She did not win, but it was fun to be in the running and too watch her show. Thanks for letting me share this slice of my life with you as I know many of you can relate to our experience. I hope you realize that you're never too old to show cattle and relive those childhood memories. I encourage you to do the same.

Another tidbit of information I'd like to share, actually a pretty big piece of information. Mallory got engaged recently and will be getting married next May. Kevin McClosky is the young man I look forward to welcoming into our family. Even though I have been very close to Mallory I feel I am gaining a son not losing a daughter.

Kevin is a very good young man who comes from a great family. I gave him a bit of a hard time (please forgive me) when he did the honorable thing and came to ask my permission before asking Mallory to marry him; something you don't always see in the young men of today, a quality I admire. Being the farmer that I am at heart I told him he had to re-finish one piece of old farm equipment, a 1250 IH grinder mixer, before taking her as his bride. Well, before you think I am too harsh, I think it could be a bonding experience for us and he can learn more about our life as farmers. I want him to learn about this great heritage many of us share in American agriculture, which I am honored to be a part of. He took it like a champ as I knew he would. I may let him off the hook. Welcome Kevin! Congratulations to you, both and may God bless your marriage.

Kendra and I are moving to another stage of life with my son going away to college and now one of our children getting married. I know it will be good, but the supper table is becoming very different. I know a lot of you can relate to what I'm feeling; a bit scared, but also excited as the house is becoming quieter. The hustle and bustle which has been brisk for so many years is slowing down. I am very proud of Mallory as I am with all of my children and also very thankful God has blessed Kendra and me with good kids.

Rejuvenating Ohio Farm Science & Science Review!
September 25, 2009

I can't think of a more exciting farm show than the Ohio Farm & Science Review this week in London, Ohio! It was invigorating! The weather was great and there were lots of good folks there. I got to talk to so many folks about some of my favorite subjects: McCormick products, agriculture and even a few old, antique tractor stories. You know I can't pass up the opportunity to talk tractor stories. I also got to meet so many retail customers and tons of prospects; boy, was that a good experience.

Wow, we are fortunate to have some great dealers! I would have to say that I really enjoyed spending time with some of our valued dealers like: Dave Rader of Rader Equipment, Don Shipley of Agri-Trac Equipment, James and Jim at Planet Off-Road, John and crew at D & J Sales and Service, Howard Violet of H. G. Violet and others. Discussing the challenges we face as a group and also the opportunities we have was really fun and rewarding. I can do my job much better when I have direct dealer input that helps me make better decisions.

The past few weeks had been filled with stress, but after this very exciting farm show, I have been uplifted and revitalized! Thanks guys for all you do and for believing in McCormick and me. We are better because of you; I'm thankful for that.

Growing Up With McCormick
September 17, 2009

I recently received a picture from one of our good dealers, Robert and Rachel Mais of Fritz Implement in Monett, Missouri, of their three year old grandson, Addison on his toy McCormick XTX tractor. It seems Addison already has a love for tractors; McCormick tractors. According to his Grandma, McCormick tractors have been part of Addison's life every since he was a baby.

Robert and Rachel attended the 2004 Dealer Awards Program in Doncaster, England and bought a McCormick story book for little Addison. It is through this book that he has known about McCormick since he was a baby. And to show you how much he really knows about tractors, his daddy, Rodney recently asked Addison if a passing motorcycle on the highway was like the one his Papa rides. Addison replied his Papa drives a tractor.

Dave Stotts, Fritz Implement, Parts Manager attended our 1^st annual Parts Fair in December 2008 and won the XTX toy tractor. Dave gave the tractor to Addison who has been riding it every since. But, Addison was no stranger to tractors. He loves to visit the dealership and ride with his Papa on the big McCormick tractors. You've got to love little Addison. He's kid after my own heart that I hope to meet some day.

Thanks, Robert and Rachel for the picture and congratulations on Fritz's upcoming 30^th anniversary. I truly hope the planned banquet is a success. Thanks for partnering with McCormick. We appreciate all that you do.

An Interesting Marriage Carriage
September 14, 2009

We have a very good dealer, B&D Equipment in Erin, Tennessee owned and operated by father, Ronnie Whitaker and his son Daniel. I have known Mr. Whitaker (Ronnie) for many years. He does a great job. We are very thankful for all they do to promote McCormick. On April 26, 2008, Daniel got married. That in itself is not unusual, but his choice of transportation from the church was; a McCormick CX 105.

This sort of thing was probably not unusual for Daniel, who grew up on a farm, but it probably was for his wife, Jennifer, who did not grow up on a farm. Now, that is an understanding bride and a dedicated groom. I just had to share these photos with everyone and thank Jennifer for being such a good sport. Daniel is now a stepfather of two children and is having fun teaching them the ropes in the tractor business. Thanks, Daniel for sharing and good luck in your marriage.