Machinery Pete Podcast

50 years ago this week, on January 6, 1971, Vermeer Corp. of Pella, IA introduced the first large round baler to the ag industry. Pete talks with Jason Andringa, President/CEO of Vermeer and also grandson of company founder (founded 1948) Gary Vermeer about how the large round baler came to be. Pete, Andringa and Mark Core, Exec. VP, also talk about how Vermeer has handled the pandemic as well as how the company rebounded from the devastating 2018 tornado at their Pella, IA factory.

Show Notes

50 years ago this week, on January 6, 1971, Vermeer Corp. of Pella, IA introduced the first large round baler to the ag industry. Pete talks with Jason Andringa, President/CEO of Vermeer and also grandson of company founder (founded 1948) Gary Vermeer about how the large round baler came to be. Pete, Andringa and Mark Core, Exec. VP, also talk about how Vermeer has handled the pandemic as well as how the company rebounded from the devastating 2018 tornado at their Pella, IA factory.
  • [:30] - Machinery Pete gets right into today’s topic: Vermeer
  • [2:03] - 2020’s hot used equipment market
  • [5:27] - Interview with Jason and Mark begins
  • [6:05] - How Vermeer got started
  • [7:28] - Iconic invention of large round baler
  • [14:44] - Gary Vermeer the problem solver
  • [18:48] - Vermeer’s role in underground infrastructure
  • [22:03] - Family owned business and long term vision
  • [24:40] - Working through the pandemic and meeting demand in 2021
  • [31:00] - Tornado in Pella
  • [40:00] - The self-propelled baler
  • [42:29] - Final words from Machinery Pete

Machinery Pete was founded in 1989 and has grown from its humble beginnings to a full-fledged marketplace for farming equipment. Greg Peterson, founder and host, has also released Machinery Pete content across platforms including YouTube with his long-running Machinery Pete TV show.

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What is Machinery Pete Podcast?

Welcome to the Machinery Pete Podcast hosted by Greg Peterson, known to the industry as Machinery Pete. For over 30 years, Greg has been a trusted source of knowledge in the farming equipment industry. Starting with a gut feeling, Greg set off to bring more and better data to the agriculture space. He’s been a voice you can trust, no matter where you’re listening or reading.

In this podcast, Greg will be sharing stories and conversations from around the industry. The kinds of conversations that are longer and more meaningful than just a few soundbites. He’ll be adding context and color to stories from good people that make up the agriculture space. He’ll also be sharing the types of insights, trends, farming news and used farm equipment values from around the country that you’ve come to expect from him.

Founded in 1989 by Greg Peterson, Machinery Pete has come a long way since its beginnings in Greg Peterson’s home office in Rochester, Minnesota where he passionately researched, tracked and reported on auction prices. In 2014 Farm Journal and Machinery Pete partnered to provide a more efficient marketplace for buying and selling used ag equipment.


In July of 2015, MachineryPete.com launched its marketplace with leading-edge marketing solutions for dealers, informed and built with the online equipment shopper in mind and creates meaningful connections between buyers and sellers. The company is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

You can find out more at https://www.machinerypete.com/podcasts