By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — While any sight of snow is still months away, many Hoosier farmers were out doing some early “Christmas shopping” in the large, large farm toy category in early August.
During MacAllister Machinery’s two-day Challenger Days, hundreds of farmers showed up to “get behind the wheel” of some of the newest Challenger implements on the lot this year. The event, took place on July 31-Aug. 1 in Lebanon, Ind.
“I’m just out looking today,” said Chuck Revell, a grain farmer from Lebanon, who farms 3,800 acres in corn and soybeans and already owns a 2004 Challenger MT765B. “We definitely need another tractor, but we’ll see what fall brings.”
Hoping for a bountiful fall harvest despite damage from the summer drought, the staff at MacAllister are also hoping other farmers take a second look at the golden Challenger tractors next time they’re out shopping, Christmas or otherwise.
“Certainly, we believe Challenger offers a lot of advantages, number one being compaction, Challengers are proven to reduce the amount of compaction on the ground yet still have enough power to pull large tillage tools,” said Jay Shininger, MacAllister’s Agricultural Division manager. “However, the point of our event was not only to introduce new products, but to introduce our staff and meet some new people.”
“The people at MacAllister are really good to work with, their service is unbeatable,” said Revell. “We’ve been really happy with our Challenger, it’s so smooth everyone wants to ride in it.”
Revell, a local farmer, along with farmers from across the state attended the steamy-weathered event to meet with MacAllister staff and test drive a variety of new Challenger models such as the MT575B, MT665B, MT765B, MT865B, MT500B, MT600B, MT800B and MT900B.
Experts from nearly every MacAllister ag store shared new product details and offered guidance for potential Challenger buyers during the event. The premier item, seemingly garnering the most attention, was the all-new MT900B four-wheel-drive tractor. Shininger, who grew up on his family’s grain farm in northern Ohio, said this implement is ideal for pulling deep rippers, large harrows, air seeders or towed scrapers.
“The MT900B Series tractor provides farmers and custom operators with a very reliable high horsepower option amidst the Challenger models,” he added.
While the MT900B turned several heads, Shininger also noted the dual attention received by the Sunflower 19-shank disc chisel as farmers prepare to reinvest for 2008 spring planting.
And with fall harvest around the corner, MacAllister also introduced the newest combine model series during the event on Aug. 1. The 670 combine pulled in ready to work according to Shininger.
In addition to new Challenger tools and tractors, the event offered the experience of testing out new precision farming tools from Orthmann and White planters. Providing an advanced technical perspective, MacAllister staff discussed the newest precision farming solutions and Auto-Guide Navigation systems available on Challenger equipment.
Producers were also invited to register for one of two 100 hour “demos” on a Challenger tractor of his/her choice. Although, the winners names were not released yet, the announcement was sure to put a smile on a couple farmers’ faces while preparing for harvest this fall.
As a company, MacAllister Machinery covers 68 counties with 13 stores, four of which carry agricultural equipment, according to Shininger. The Indiana ag stores are located in Ft. Wayne, Washington, Lafayette and Indianapolis.
“Agricultural business is a large growth opportunity for our business,” explained Shininger, noting that the company’s ag business is 10 percent of the construction business. “We’ve definitely grown in the construction division with CAT, but we are not the market leader in ag equipment.”
Wrapping up a successful event, Shininger said that 39 leads resulted from the Challenger field day in central Indiana, and “it was with a lot of people we’d never met before.”
During Challenger Days, farmers were able to learn why service and customer support is said to be number one at MacAllister.
“MacAllister is committed to providing the quality parts and service farmers need, when they need it the most,” Shininger closed.
For more information, visit online at www.macallister.com
This farm news was published in the Aug. 22, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
