The Dealer Advocacy Award is presented annually to a dealer whose efforts have contributed to positive policy outcomes benefiting the equipment dealer industry. This award recognizes not only those who actively engage in our association’ s government affairs initiatives, but also those who go above and beyond in their advocacy efforts.

NAEDA Sr. VP of Government Affairs, Eric Wareham( R), presented Mr. Paul T. Combs with the Dealer Advocacy Award.

That distinction certainly applies to this year’ s recipient, Mr. Paul T. Combs of Baker Implement Company, whose leadership and commitment exemplify the very best of dealer advocacy.

Paul T. Combs is President of Baker Implement Company, a family-owned retail farm equipment dealership with fourteen locations in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. He also serves as President of Combs Farming Company and Sunrise Land Company, which together own farmland in Dunklin, Pemiscot, and New Madrid Counties in Southeast Missouri. Crops produced on these farms include rice, cotton, soybeans, corn, and peanuts. He is a shareholder of the 4-Way Gin Company and a Director of First Missouri Bank of SEMO.

Mr. Combs serves as President of the Board of Supervisors of The Little River Drainage District, Vice President of the Board of Supervisors of The Elk Chute Drainage District, and as a member of the Board of Supervisors of the Varney River Drainage District. Mr. Combs, an Eagle Scout, is a member of the Executive Board of the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. He is also a member of the CaseIH North America Dealer Advisory Board.

Mr. Combs served two terms as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He is a past member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the USA Rice Federation and previously served as Chairman of the USA Rice Farmers. Mr. Combs has provided testimony on farm policy numerous times before the agriculture committees of the U. S. Senate, the U. S. House of Representatives, and the Missouri Legislature.

In 1995, Missouri Governor Carnahan appointed Mr. Combs to a six-year term on the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri System. During his tenure on the Board of Curators, Mr. Combs served as both Vice President and President of the Board.

Mr. Combs is a Past President of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce. He is past chairman of both the Trustees and Finance Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Kennett. He served as Treasurer of the Delta Children’ s Home. Mr. Combs also previously served as a Director of the SouthEastern Equipment Dealers Association.

Mr. Combs and his wife, Holly, became Principal Benefactors of the Mayo Clinic after establishing the Paul T. and Holly A. Combs Endowed Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

Mr. Combs earned his B. S. in Accountancy from the University of Missouri— Columbia. Prior to joining his family business, Mr. Combs was a tax associate at the Price Waterhouse accounting firm in St. Louis. Mr. Combs and Ms. Holly have two children and three grandchildren.

Even with this extraordinary resume, Paul T. has remained a dedicated supporter of the association. From testifying in the Missouri legislature to help defeat Right to Repair legislation, to being an early supporter of the NAEDA PAC, to participating in the D. C. Fly-In, Paul T. has consistently stepped forward to ensure the dealer’ s voice is heard. Through the strong relationships he has cultivated with state and federal legislators over the years, his voice carries significant weight.

That influence was evident during NAEDA’ s most recent Fly-In when we were able to secure a meeting with Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman of the powerful Ways & Means Committee, largely due to the strength of the relationship Paul T. has with him. During the meeting, we were able to reinforce the need to maintain the floor plan interest deduction and extend key business deductions such as 199-A and bonus depreciation, all NAEDA legislative priorities that were successfully incorporated in the final bill passed.

Paul T. Combs is a tremendous asset to the association and to the equipment dealer industry. His generous commitment of time, expertise, and leadership exemplifies the very best of dealer advocacy. NAEDA is proud to honor Paul T. Combs as Dealer Advocate of the Year.

WINTER 2025 • EQUIPMENT DEALER MAGAZINE 7