Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Fifty years after laying his first spanner on a KUHN machine , salesman Mike Wilding is retiring from preparing, selling and fixing machinery. Mike started his career in agricultural engineering for Ludlow dealer FH Burgess before moving into sales.
A week’s work experience was enough to convince the dealer to hire Mike on a permanent basis in September 1974 – immediately after he left school. After 14 years preparing and servicing machinery, while building strong relationships with many local farmers, he progressed into sales in 1988. “I’d started selling and getting prices for people when I was servicing machines," he recalls.
"My boss at the time said I should start selling permanently so I took the opportunity and was given an Austin Metro to travel between farms. At the time, 2.4m power harrows and two drum mowers were popular, along with grass harrows as it is a mixed farming area.
” When FH Burgess ceased trading in 1994, Mike had the luxury of three job opportunities with local dealers. He eventually joined Teme Valley Tractors (TVT), who offered him the right package to be part of the Wigmore depot. “I have always wanted to do the right deal for the farmers and the dealer, which meant I wanted a basic wage without being commission-based," he said.
"Over the years I have found trust and respect between the farmers and I are the main qualities to a successful relationship. Agriculture .