Following up on the awards from the American Business Press Editors Assn. earlier this year, the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) announced the recipients of its 2024 Award Program. The TABPI program recognizes editorial and design excellence in B2B and trade media. Farm Equipment was among a select few publications recognized with multiple honors.

The Farm Equipment team secured 3 awards, highlighting their exceptional editorial and technical contributions to the industry. Descriptions and links are included for each award below.

Best Single Issue (Top 25)

October/November 2023 Issue of Farm Equipment

October/November 2023 issue of Farm Equipment – Celebrating 55 Years of Farm Equipment History

The October/November 2023 issue of Farm Equipment – Celebrating 55 Years of Farm Equipment History earned a spot among the top 25 best single issues.

This 86-page issue, celebrating the 55th year anniversary of the magazine, featured a special history section that includes a novel approach to covering the last 55 years, and the profound achievements in a dynamic ag equipment industry. It included key milestones, dealer and manufacturer feedback/memories, personal anecdotes from current and former staff and insights from all corners of the industry – following an approach that helps subscribers “gauge the future by examining the past.”

Editor’s Column (Silver Award)

Stop Tolerating Jerks by Kim Schmidt

Kim Schmidt, Executive Editor

Kim Schmidt's July/August 2023 Farm Equipment editorial, "Stop Tolerating Jerks," was recognized with a National Silver Award in the “Editor’s Column” category. The judges praised Schmidt’s piece as an effective combination of humor and actionable business advice, noting, “Clearly this editor knows their reader well enough to have a little fun while making some serious business points. I think this strikes just the right tone for an editor’s column — humor plus actionable guidance.”

In this piece, still one of the most commented-on columns in the industry, Schmidt advocates for a strict "no a@$h@&*" policy in business, regardless of an employee’s performance. She shares compelling examples of companies that chose to part ways with high-performing yet toxic employees, leading to greater teamwork and bottom-line results. The column underscores the importance of prioritizing a positive work culture and collaboration over individual sales heroics.

Technical article (Honorable Mention)

Mike and Frank Lessiter

55 Years of Advancements in Farm Equipment by Mike and Frank Lessiter

The article, "55 Years of Advancements in Farm Equipment," compiled and written by Mike and Frank Lessiter, was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the Technical Article category. The in-depth timeline highlights the evolution of ag equipment over the past 55 years, with colorful reflections on the advancements that would go on to forever shape farming. For a new generation that has never operated machinery without guidance, this piece reminds all of the journey of the past and its key champions of innovation. This overview, intended to also show the possibilities that remain ahead, is a small excerpt of a larger "Timeline of Ag Equipment Firsts" compiled by the father-son duo over the past 15 years. It also invites readers to engage, challenge and discuss these innovations.

Additional awards were also bestowed to Lessiter Media’s Grower Division titles, No-Till Farmer and Strip-Till Farmer.

Noah Newman’s article “Strip-Till Innovators Boost Bottom Line & Soil Health with Twin-Row System” from No-Till Farmer also received an Honorable Mention for the Focus/Profile Article category. This article dove into the operation of award-winning farm operation in Michigan and how the award-winning farm gets the most out of every acre by combining conservation practices such as strip-till, twin-row planting and cover crops.

Strip-Till Farmer’s article “Build a Fully Functional Roller Crimper on a Budget” by Mackane Vogel and Michaela Paukner received the National Silver Award in the “How-to Article” category. The judges note, “Trade publishing at its best — a serious guide to helping readers to improve their business and a comprehensive step by step process with which to do it.”

Only a few months prior, Farm Equipment editors were also recognized by the American Society of Business Press Editors in the 2024 Azbee Awards of Excellence. These awards honor the best in B2B media across the U.S., with Farm Equipment and No-Till Farmer being the only agricultural media titles to receive recognition.

Farm Equipment's Editor/Publisher Mike Lessiter, Executive Editor Kim Schmidt, and Art Aiello earned a bronze national award for their special section on the inaugural Shortline Legends Hall of Fame in the September 2023 issue, which also received a gold award regionally. This special section honored pioneers in the specialty ag equipment industry, featuring research and interviews with figures like Roy Applequist and Jon Kinzenbaw.

Additionally, Farm Equipment won a regional bronze award for their comprehensive coverage of the 2023 Dealership of the Year, spotlighting Hutson Inc. and Noble Equipment, recognized in their respective revenue categories by a panel of judges.

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