‘Trust and respect were key to relationships with farmers’: Retiring Mike says goodbye after 50 years in the farming industry

Fifty years after putting the first wrench on a KUHN machine, salesman Mike Wilding is leaving the industry of preparing, selling and repairing machines.

Mike began his career in agricultural engineering with Ludlow dealer FH Burgess before moving into sales.

One week of work experience was enough to convince the dealership to hire Mike permanently in September 1974 – right after he graduated from high school.

After 14 years of preparing and servicing machines, building strong relationships with many local farmers, in 1988 he began selling.

“I started selling and getting prices for people while I was servicing machines,” he recalled.

“My boss at the time said I should start selling permanently, so I jumped at the opportunity and got the Austin Metro to travel between farms. At that time, 2.4 m power harrows and two drum mowers were popular, as well as grass harrows, as is now the area of ​​mixed farming.”

When FH Burgess went out of business in 1994, Mike had the luxury of three employment opportunities with local dealers.

Eventually he joined Teme Valley Tractors (TVT) who offered him a suitable package to work in a warehouse in Wigmore.

“I always wanted to get a proper farmer-dealer deal, which meant I wanted a base wage, not commission-based,” he said.

“Over the years I have found that trust and respect between farmers and me are the main characteristics of a successful relationship. Agriculture has changed a lot in my time, but these values ​​are still so important when it comes to selling machinery.”

Over Mike’s 36-year career in sales, he has seen an increasing shift toward machine technology.

KUHN power harrows, seeders, round balers, tedders, rakes and mowers are in great demand, as are feed wagons and mulching machines.

But demand for the humble hay, of which Mike and TVT could retail more than 30 a year in the 1970s and 1980s, has declined, and 2024 was the first year they didn’t sell a single one.

KUHN machines have always been valued locally for their longevity, which was highlighted during the recent exchange.

“I remember around 1974 I had to PDI a 2.4m power harrow for Mr Jones at Sparchford Farm, near Ludlow Racecourse,” Mike said.

“We recently purchased this particular machine as part of a trade-in. His son now runs the farm and wanted to upgrade to a 3m wide rotary harrow combination drill for better performance.

“As part of the transaction, an old power harrow that had been in operation every year since it came to the farm was sold. It even had a piggyback frame, adapted for a seed drill to establish grain crops, so it worked hard throughout its lifespan.

“It’s a 50-year-old machine that, after being replaced, only sat in the TVT yard for a few months before another local farmer bought it for light work. This shows the quality of KUHN machines and how well they are built.”

Mike will be retiring in the coming weeks, but until his last day he continues to prepare quotes and machines for retail sale.

However, he has no intention of slowing down too much once he gets out and said: “I have a dozen antique tractors and a few conventional balers to keep me busy and I’m hoping to build a shed for them to live in.

“This year I made 1,440 bales locally from my own land and outsourced some to local people, which I will continue to do. I also like motor sports, and my daughter takes part in off-road rallies, so I’m very interested in it. in the races he takes part in.

“I would like to thank KUHN UK, regional sales manager Dave Rose, TVT and all the staff, as well as all my customers for their support, cooperation and friendship.”