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Oct. 19, 2026 by Eric Hodson, Farm Equipment magazine Brookfield, WI -- Two equipment dealer trade associations announced on Sept. 24, 2026, they are merging. The North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (NAEDA) and Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) plan to merge, effective January 2027, and operate as Associated Equipment Dealers (AED), serving equipment dealers and distributors across the U.S. and Canada. Members and staff from the organizations were briefed online on Oct. 13, 2026, where current leaders of the organizations shared more details about the upcoming change and answered 25 questions from the moderator and attendees. Kyle Fulcher, chairman, NAEDA Board of Directors said the idea of merging the two associations has been discussed for years. In the end, what mattered was doing what was best for all dealers in North America. "We are doing what is best for all dealers in North America, combining the strengths of both organizations into a unified dealer organization to represent all dealers" Fulcher said. When membership rosters were compared, there wasn't much duplication between the two groups. Brian McGuire, president & CEO of AED said they found 50-55 overlapping dealer members. "That means we are bringing together distinct groups of dealer peers across North America into a truly unified organization," McGuire said. Benefits of Merging Marshall Anderson, chairman, AED Board of Directors, and executive vice president of RDO Equipment Co., said unification will give all dealers a "loud voice" and "more power" in their respective industries. "As I look forward, I've talked a lot during my chairmanship about the 3 pillars of AED, and I think we're adding a fourth with this unification," Anderson said. The pillars he described were: Advocacy: At the state, federal and provincial levels. Bringing NAEDA and all members into this group gives it a much stronger voice with legislators and policymakers. Workforce Development & Foundations: Recruiting talent into the industry, bringing service technicians into dealer businesses and supporting the lifeblood of departments and management across all organizations. Education & Networking: Operating as a combined, stronger group enhancing what the 2 associations are already doing. Dealer Advocacy & Industry Relations: Carrying on and continuing the legacy of dealer advocacy and industry relations NAEDA excelled at. Timeline for Merger Brett Davis, NAEDA executive, said due diligence has begun. "We drafted bylaws. We also have some additional documentation to finalize," Davis said. "From the NAEDA side, we must have a member vote, which will be open for 30 days." To read the entire articel click here. Tweet |
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