Ag Sales Are
Steeped In History

Agricultural equipment is nothing new to Texas-based HOLT CAT®. After all, it was 100 years ago when Benjamin Holt and his Holt Manufacturing Company introduced the first steam-powered Caterpillar tractor. Today, Peter M. Holt, CEO of HOLT CAT® and a fourth generation member of the Holt lineage, relies on Kevin Davis to continue a legacy of agricultural equipment sales. "Our owners feel the need to be very diversified to meet the needs of our varied market," says Davis, who serves as the company's ag business manager based in Victoria, Texas. "And with the agricultural industry being as strong as it is in Texas, the Challenger line fits that objective very well, especially when you consider that our roots go back to agriculture."

Having started with HOLT CAT® as an ag equipment salesman five years ago, Davis was asked to take the lead when AGCO acquired the Challenger brand in 2002 and introduced a full line of ag products. Prior to that, Davis recalls that the company "sold out" of the older Model 55 and 95 track tractors on several occasions. "We currently have seven salesmen devoted just to the ag market, and we've been adding more as we've been able to find the right people," he says. "In the meantime, we've been steadily growing the agricultural business ever since we developed the relationship with AGCO."

Davis says most of the ag sales today involve large tillage tractors, row-crop tractors, combines and tillage equipment. However, his ag salesmen also represent the Caterpillar line to their customers, which means they're occasionally selling a telehandler, skid-steer loader or dozer, as well. "The smaller tractors are beginning to take off and the sales of MT400B, MT500B and MT600B tractors continue to increase," Davis relates. "We've also incorporated a number of the wheeled tractors into our rental fleet, which has really proven successful. It's getting the tractors out there in front of the public where they get some exposure to other potential customers."

According to Davis, the new Challenger product introductions have also been good for business in more ways than one. "We've had tremendous interest in the new MT900B four-wheel-drive tractor and the new 680 class VIII combine," he says. "In fact, we have one guy who has told us he wants the first MT900B tractor that becomes available. "But even if a customer doesn't have a need for the newest models, Challenger is proving to them that they're growing the product line with planned structure and new technology. And, that helps strengthen the whole brand in our customers' minds."

As a member of the Challenger dealer panel, Davis says he has also been privy to some of the new technology on the horizon. "The interest in the new 'B' models has been very strong and I think we're going to see even more exciting things in the future, particularly as the rest of the 'B' Series combines come onto the market," he says. If there's one other factor that plays in Davis' favor as an ag salesman, it's the fact that he's a Texas native, as well as a cow/calf owner himself.

Sharing his small 88-acre ranch near Goliad, Texas, are his wife, Kim, his 7-year-old son, Rhett, and his 4-year-old daughter, Ashlyn. While Davis admits the 15-cow herd was established as a side-line business, he says it also provides an nice avenue for stress relief. As a hunter and an "avid bass fisherman," Davis says he also finds time to relax on the lake when he's not pursuing a sale.

Now, if it would just rain in Texas, Davis says he would have everything he needs to grow the business even more.