Eleven farms, six states, and one combine put to work in real harvest conditions
Harvest is where a full year of work comes together, and it’s also the best place to find out what a combine can really do. That’s the idea behind the Fendt IDEAL Harvest Tour. For its second annual tour this fall, Fendt took the IDEAL 8T combine on the road to 11 farms across six states, from Ohio to North Dakota, putting it to work in each farmer’s own fields and putting the spotlight on the farmers, families, and machines that power harvest season.
Each stop featured a different farming operation and family, bringing Fendt’s Farmer-First philosophy to life in real harvest conditions. For many of the participating farmers, it was a chance to experience Fendt firsthand, maybe for the very first time, as the IDEAL 8T helped bring in their remaining crop. Every stop became an episode in Fendt’s daily video series, which ran October 21–31 on YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook.
New This Year: Autonomous Grain Cart
New to the 2026 tour, a Fendt 1052 Vario tractor equipped with the OutRun by PTx autonomous retrofit kit pulled the grain cart at all 11 stops. That gave farmers a firsthand look at autonomous technology working alongside the IDEAL 8T in real harvest conditions.
The tour also celebrated the role that dealers, farm families, and local communities play in a successful harvest, and we were glad to be part of it.
Day 6: Severson Farms in Rockford, Illinois
Day 6 of the tour brought the IDEAL 8T to Marc Severson’s operation in Rockford, Illinois, where Marc farms about 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans. Ag business commentator Damian Mason joined the stop as well, and our team had the chance to spend time in the field with both of them
The conversation went well beyond how the combine performed in the field. Marc and Damian dug into the business side of harvest, including:
- Managing a growing operation and the hidden costs that come with farming at scale
- What Marc looks for in a combine and how equipment decisions affect the bottom line
- Finding ROI through efficiency, from fuel use and maintenance to overall operating costs with Fendt Gold Star
- Automation and the future of harvest, including the OutRun autonomous grain cart running alongside the IDEAL 8T
What Stood Out to Us
What stood out most was the mix of perspectives Marc and Damian brought to the conversation. Both are forward-thinking, willing to challenge the way things have always been done, and open to new ways of doing things.
That’s what makes a stop like this worthwhile. It isn’t only about getting a Fendt IDEAL into the field. It’s about getting to know the people behind the operation, hearing what they’ve learned, and seeing how new technology fits into the future of their farm.
A Closer Look at the IDEAL
The Fendt IDEAL is AGCO’s most technologically advanced combine, and the first thing most farmers notice when they climb into the cab is that there’s no steering wheel. For Model Year 2026, Fendt added several upgrades, including:
- Cyclone Plus cleaning system for improved harvesting performance
- Enhanced lighting for better visibility during early mornings, late evenings, and long harvest days
- PTx Yield Site, which lets operators run a PTx 20|20 monitor right in the combine and connect planting data with harvest results
Watch the Severson Farms Episode
See Marc put the IDEAL to the test and hear his takeaways in the full Day 6 episode: Fendt Harvest Tour Day 6: Severson Farms.
You can watch the rest of the series and follow the tour from Ohio to North Dakota on Fendt’s Harvest Tour page.
Thank You, Marc and Damian
A big thank-you to Marc Severson for welcoming the Fendt Harvest Tour onto his operation in the middle of harvest, and to Damian Mason for joining the conversation. We appreciate you both taking the time to visit with us.
Curious how the Fendt IDEAL could fit your operation? Reach out to your Parallel Ag salesman to talk combines, technology, and what’s next for your harvest.
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With sixteen locations throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, Parallel Ag will provide quality parts, various equipment sales, and 24/7 exceptional service across the agricultural industry. Visit us in person or online at www.ParallelAg.com for more information.
