Demonstrating Quality: FAE USA Showcases Real-World Performance During South Carolina Demo Days
This July, FAE USA held its 2026 Demo Days in Belton, South Carolina. The demos were held over the course of two days, July 15th and 16th, and featured a range of FAE machines for guests to see and operate. Set on an expansive hunting property which was generously opened up to attendees and staff by FAE brand ambassador Edwin McCain, the location provided plenty of vegetation to demonstrate the machines at their best.
Jon Rakestraw, FAE Southeast Product Specialist, was heavily involved in the set-up of the event. He commented on the property. “We are extremely thankful to Mr. McCain for providing an enormous venue in which we could put on a safe and effective land management demonstration. We really couldn’t have done it without him.
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Further, Jon commented on the carriers which were graciously provided by dealers Dobbs Equipment and Harco Equipment. Jon said, “We are similarly grateful to our dealers, who coordinated with us to provide enough carriers to demonstrate a variety of attachments. Thanks to them, we were able to offer significant value to our guests. Working with the dealers and Mr. McCain set the stage for a great demo."
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Among the machines featured at the demo were a DML/SSL on a Wacker Neuson ST31, an RCU75, a PT200, a BL4/SSL skid steer mulcher on a John Deere 335P, a UML/SSL on a John Deere 335P, a BL1/EX on a John Deere 60 P, and an RCM/SSL rotary cutter.
Both days of the demo started bright and early with breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and an introduction by an FAE representative. After a brief but thorough safety overview, guests had the opportunity to see their machines of interest in action across four stations. FAE staff first provided demonstrations of the equipment before attendees got the chance to try out the machines themselves.
At noon, attendees broke for a catered lunch. Guests and FAE staff were able to chat about business, the industry generally, and their impressions of the equipment. After a short time, FAE product specialists provided a lunch-and-learn session, in which they demonstrated the proper procedure for sharpening mulcher teeth and performing FAE’s proprietary Sonic calibration. Following this, it was back to operating for the guests, who rounded out the day with plenty of time to try out the equipment.
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After the first day’s demo, guests were treated to a VIP dinner at Saskatoon Steaks, Fish & Wild Game in Greenville, South Carolina. A wide variety of exotic dishes were on offer, which guests enjoyed over good conversation and reflection on the day’s activities. FAE USA CEO Giorgio Carera gave a speech to all attendees, emphasizing FAE’s appreciation to the guests, including dealers and operators, and the great value that the demo provided, both as an occasion for FAE to share its enthusiasm for its products and to get invaluable feedback from experienced forestry and land management professionals.
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Throughout both demo days, guests expressed their enthusiasm about the machines. Of particular note were the PT200, a new product in FAE’s line of PT tracked carriers; the BL4/SSL, a mainstay of FAE’s skid steer mulcher line; and the RCU75, which was operated on a hilly area surrounding a pond. At the end of the second day, select guests tried out the RCM/SSL rotary cutter, an exciting new product in FAE’s forestry and land management line which allows for extremely quick, continuous processing of standing material up to 4 inches in diameter and intermittent processing of material up to 10 inches in diameter.
This machine elicited significant excitement from guests and produced positive feedback. Of the RCM/SSL, Chad Aliff, owner of Chad’s Land Management said, “Great head! I’m going to get one to do my fields. I think it’s going to be a nice addition to our repertoire.” Similarly, Bailey Russell of Tennessee Valley Equipment said, “That thing is a beast! It does a great job.” On this positive note, the demo ended, and staff and attendees closed up for the day, taking away valuable and informative experiences.
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For FAE staff, this demo proved to be among the most successful that the company has held in recent years. In this vein, Giorgio said, “In my opinion, this was the best demo we have organized in the last five years. Everyone contributed with tremendous effort, a willingness to help, and a true team-first attitude. The event was successful in every aspect.”
While Giorgio commented on FAE’s staff, Tom spoke about the guests: “We had outstanding participation from our dealers and end customers and even had people traveling across state lines from North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida to see and operate our equipment.” The hard work of the staff and the enthusiastic engagement of guests resulted in significant value for all, giving plenty of positive insight into the quality of FAE equipment and the opportunities that it provides for dealers, end users, and FAE staff alike. To conclude, Tom left us with a final message: “It's awesome to work at a place that provides real equipment solutions that make a difference for business owners.”
FAE has already begun plans for its next demo in South Carolina and greatly looks forward to many more exceptional events in the Palmetto State.
