Dealership Minds Summit 2026
Event Date
August 4–5, 2026
Location
Springfield, IL
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe Dealership Minds Summit is a dealer-only conference for retail farm equipment dealers, hosted by Farm Equipment magazine (a Lessiter Media brand). Started in 2013, the Dealership Minds Summit is a limited-seating dealer-only gathering of retail farm equipment dealers of tractors and implements. The 2026 edition runs August 4-5, 2026 in Springfield, Illinois, bringing together top farm equipment dealerships from across North America for two days of learning and networking.
The program is built around collaborative, dealer-to-dealer learning. Focused 100% on delivering actionable strategies to educate, connect and empower dealership management, the Summit delivers insightful learning and networking during more than 20 targeted sessions spread out over two days. Attendees are typically director-level dealership leaders in sales, service, marketing, finance, operations and IT.
It is a strong fit for dealership principals and managers seeking proven, peer-vetted strategies to improve overall business performance. 98.9% of past attendees would recommend attending the Dealership Minds Summit to other dealers.
Show Highlights
The Summit's format blends several session types over its two-day agenda:
- Focused General Session Presentations — providing a roadmap for implementing leading ideas and technologies for equipment retailing and servicing success.
- Dealer-to-Dealer Panel Presentations — highly interactive sessions that provide practical, proven strategies in use by the industry's most successful dealerships.
- Informal & Interactive Roundtable Discussions — discover actionable dealer strategies — and answers to your specific questions — via an array of moderated yet informal roundtables.
- Unrivaled Networking & Knowledge Sharing — exchange successes, dissect challenges and vet out ideas with director-level farm equipment dealership leaders in sales, service, marketing, finance, operations and IT.
The National Strip-Tillage Conference is co-located with the Dealership Minds Summit at the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield DoubleTree Hotel & Convention Center and will take place Aug. 6-7, 2026.
Registration
Pre-registration is required to attend the Dealership Minds Summit, and a limited number of seats are available (all past Summits have sold out), so early registration is recommended. There are two ways to register:
- Register online through the official secure registration page.
- Register by phone — call Brand Manager Luke Weigel at (262) 777-2424 with your credit card handy.
Contact Luke Weigel (lweigel@lessitermedia.com / 262-777-2424) to discuss rates for groups of more than 5 attendees. If you only want to attend select days, you can purchase a 1-day pass for $449 by calling Luke Weigel at (262) 777-2424.
Registration includes access to all sessions and meals. Each attendee receives admission to dinner on Tuesday as well as breakfast and lunch on Wednesday, with refreshments provided throughout the event. It also includes a bonus resource package: a free 1-year digital subscription to Ag Equipment Intelligence; 12 digital issues of its Dealer Sentiments & Business Conditions Update; the annual Dealer Business Outlook & Trends Farm Equipment Forecast; the annual Big Dealer Report and Map; exclusive access to video recordings of general sessions and keynote presentations; and discounted registration to the co-located National Strip-Tillage Conference.
Cancellation/refund deadlines: Registration is 100% refundable through June 6, 2026; 50% refundable June 7, 2026 through July 18, 2026; and no refunds are available after July 18, 2026.
History
The Dealership Minds Summit was started in 2013 as a limited-seating, dealer-only gathering of retail farm equipment dealers of tractors and implements. It is hosted by Farm Equipment, a publication of Lessiter Media. Lessiter Media has hosted more than 60 national ag industry events, including the first Dealership Minds Summit in 2013. The event changes host cities annually, and the 2026 edition is held in Springfield, Illinois.
Venue & Travel
Venue
Bank of Springfield Center
Convention Center Plaza #1
The Bank of Springfield Center is a multi-purpose facility adaptable to a variety of events, including conferences, tradeshows, concerts and graduation ceremonies, as well as smaller professional training seminars, meetings and receptions. The center is connected by walkway to the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield DoubleTree Hotel, and the Dealership Minds Summit sessions are located on the Lower Level of the Bank of Springfield Center. The host hotel is located at 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield. It is less than a 15-minute drive from the host hotel, and the hotel offers a free airport shuttle. The host hotel and the Bank of Springfield Center are in downtown Springfield and are connected by an indoor walkway, making it easy to move between lodging and sessions.
Nearby Hotels
The official host hotel is the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield DoubleTree Hotel (a DoubleTree by Hilton):
- Address: 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701; phone (217) 544-8800.
- Rate: A discounted rate of $164 per night is available under block code LSP.
- Location & amenities: The hotel is in downtown Springfield, a short walk from the Bank of Springfield Center and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, with the Illinois State Museum, Knights Action Park and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport less than a 15-minute drive away. It offers a free airport shuttle, a pool, a 24-hour business center and a warm DoubleTree cookie on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 Dealership Minds Summit?
The 2026 Summit is held August 4-5, 2026 at the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois. Sessions take place on the Lower Level of the Bank of Springfield Center, which is connected to the host hotel by walkway.
Who can attend the Dealership Minds Summit?
The Summit is a dealer-only event for retail dealers of tractors and implements to learn and share strategies for running a successful business. Attendees are typically dealership leaders in sales, service, marketing, finance, operations and IT. Those who are not dealers but are interested can complete a short interest form to discuss available options.
How do I register and what does registration include?
Pre-registration is required and seats are limited, as past Summits have sold out. You can register online or by phone with Luke Weigel at (262) 777-2424. Registration includes all educational and networking sessions, meals, and a bonus package of dealer resources; a one-day pass is available for $449.
What is the host hotel and room rate?
The host hotel is the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield DoubleTree by Hilton at 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701. A discounted rate of $164 per night is available under block code LSP, and the hotel offers a free airport shuttle, a pool and a 24-hour business center.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Registration is 100% refundable through June 6, 2026, and 50% refundable from June 7 through July 18, 2026. No refunds are available after July 18, 2026, though registrations can be transferred to the following year or to a replacement attendee prior to the event.
From the blog
Recent guides and industry insights for exhibitors and planners.
August 6, 2026Trade Show Lead Capture: What Actually Works
Why scan counts mislead, the three questions that qualify a visitor in thirty seconds, and the 48-hour follow-up window where trade show ROI is won or lost.
Read more
July 30, 2026Drayage Explained: The Trade Show Cost Nobody Warns You About
What material handling actually pays for, why it is billed per hundredweight, the surcharges that double estimates, and six decisions that genuinely reduce it.
Read more
July 23, 2026How to Choose the Right Trade Show for Your Business
Attendance numbers are close to useless on their own. Five questions that tell you whether a show will work, and how to build a portfolio instead of a list.
Read more
July 16, 2026The 12-Month Trade Show Planning Timeline
Every deadline that matters, counted backwards from show open — including the advance-order deadline that saves 20–40% and the 48-hour window that decides your ROI.
Read more
July 9, 2026Trade Show Booth Sizes Explained: 10x10 to Island
What each booth size actually gives you, the height and setback rules that catch first-timers, and how to size a booth from your staffing rather than your budget.
Read more
July 2, 2026What Does It Actually Cost to Exhibit at a Trade Show?
A line-by-line breakdown of the nine costs of exhibiting — including drayage and staff time, the two that blow up budgets and never appear in the quote.
Read more
June 10, 2026Top Trade Shows in Las Vegas in 2026
A guide to the biggest trade shows and exhibitor opportunities in Las Vegas through 2026 — dates, industries, exhibitor counts, and what each show is best for.
Read more- September 2, 2025tradeshows.fyi
Trade Shows Demystified: Your Ultimate Guide to Exhibiting, Attending, and Everything in Between
Introduction to Trade Shows Trade shows serve as significant events in various sectors, acting as a focal point
Read on tradeshows.fyi 
November 14, 2024tradeshows.fyi10 Essential Tips for Successfully Attending Trade Shows
10 Essential Tips for Attending Trade Shows Attending trade shows offers a unique platform to showcase products, network,
Read on tradeshows.fyi- November 13, 2024tradeshows.fyi
The Ultimate Trade Show Exhibitor Checklist: Planning, Preparation, and Execution
Trade Show Exhibiting Checklist Trade shows present a unique opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products, network with
Read on tradeshows.fyi
Advertisement