The North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (NAEDA) has announced that Josh Ahearn has been named to serve on its Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer Council. Ahearn is director of sales and marketing for Ahearn Equipment, Inc. in Spencer, Mass.

“NAEDA is fortunate to have a council made up of outstanding outdoor power equipment dealers,” says Joe Dykes, director of outdoor power equipment programs for NAEDA. “Josh is young, energetic and full of great ideas. His talent will be invaluable to NAEDA in helping the association develop strategies to address the needs of OPE dealers throughout North America.”

Ahearn Equipment is a family owned dealership, which includes Josh’s parents, Tim and Donna, and brother Jeremy. The dealership employs 40-50 staff members and provides sales and service for Kubota, Cub Cadet, Stihl, Exmark, and Terex/ASV equipment. Josh and his brother, Jeremy, also appear regularly on TV, radio and YouTube as “The Tractor Guys.” The dealership is a member the Northeast Equipment Dealers Assn.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer Council is made up of NAEDA-affiliated dealers who advise the association on matters related to the outdoor power equipment industry. The council also works with manufacturers and other trade associations on industry issues.

KYMCO USA announced today that they will partner with NHRA, the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body. As part of the agreement, KYMCO will become the official scooter and ATV of the NHRA. KYMCO will provide NHRA with scooters and ATV vehicles for use at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events and at its five owned and operated drag racing facilities.

As an NHRA official sponsor, KYMCO will receive visibility at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events as well as exposure throughout NHRA’s various media platforms.

“We are pleased to welcome KYMCO USA into the NHRA family of official sponsors,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “The quality scooters and ATVs that KYMCO USA provides NHRA will certainly help our Safety Safari team as well as our track officials do their jobs in a more efficient manner. In turn, we feel the partnership will offer exceptional exposure opportunities to generate awareness and recognition for KYMCO USA.”

This is the first sponsorship relationship between NHRA and KYMCO USA.

“We’re extremely excited to be partnering with the NHRA,” from KYMCO USA president/CEO Eric Bondy. “They’re a world class organization that provides tremendous entertainment for all members of the family. This partnership falls directly in line with our strategy of partnering with great organizations to build national awareness of the KYMCO brand. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

This year, more than 53,000 FFA students gathered in Indianapolis, Ind. to represent their areas of the country in various competitions during the 82nd annual National FFA Convention. For the 7th year, Stihl was a proud sponsor of the Nursery and Landscape Career Development Center.

“When you attend one of these conventions, you are amazed by the level of knowledge these future young professionals retain in their specialty areas,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for Stihl Inc. “Our sponsorship allows us to participate in developing future leaders in the areas of environmental stewardship and sustainability.”

Two U.S. congressmen have asked the Government Accountability Office to study the impact of boosting the amount of ethanol that is blended into U.S. gasoline supplies following a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statement that it may approve next summer an industry proposal to increase the volume of ethanol in gasoline by 50%—by going from 10% to 15% ethanol (E15).

Representatives Joe Barton of Texas and Greg Walden of Oregon, both Republicans who requested the GAO study, said there are concerns that automakers’ warranties may be voided if gasoline with more than 10% ethanol is used and that higher ethanol blends could also damage engines in lawnmowers, boats, chain saws and small tractors.

Honda’s Power Equipment Division has received a MarCom Platinum Award for its computer-based dealer service training programs. Specifically, Honda Power Equipment and Honda Marine, both business units of Honda’s Power Equipment Division, were recognized by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals for their technical training in the areas of service management, carburetors and technical updates.

Honda produced its online sales and service training solution in conjunction with Irvine, California-based Pacific Technology Solutions (PTS).  The training is used in Honda Power Equipment and Honda Marine dealership facilities nationwide.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today the agency needs more time to decide whether to approve an industry request to boost the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline.

The EPA was supposed to decide by Dec. 1 on a petition from Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers on whether to let gasoline contain up to 15% ethanol. U.S. gasoline is now approved to contain up to 10% ethanol, which in the U.S. is made mostly from corn.

But the EPA said it needs more time to review test data on the effects higher ethanol-blended gasoline would have on vehicles.