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Our Story

Leading the Way

At New Leader Manufacturing, we pride ourselves in designing and building the best equipment possible. Through innovative solutions, we have shaped our success as a trusted, industry-leading manufacturer of precision spreaders and equipment for farmers and municipalities around the world.

Our History

Company Founded

The Highway Equipment Company is founded by Roy Gaddis

1939
First Hi-Way Product

Model P consisting of a hopper and hand-operated spinner

1939
First New Leader Product

Today it would be called a snowmobile. It is used to pull a sleigh carrying people and provisions, replacing a dog team, thereby becoming the “New Leader”

1940
New Ownership

Cliff Jordan purchases company from Roy Gaddis

1958
A New Partnership

New Leader Manufacturing partners with Ag-Chem, a leading manufacturer of off-road equipment used to fertilize agricultural crops

1960
New Ownership

William T. Rissi and Columbus “Cal” Basile purchase the company from Cliff Jordan

1978
A New Partnership

New Leader Manufacturing partners with Case IH, a leading manufacturer of agricultural equipment systems

1990
New Leadership

Current owners Matt Rissi and Rocki Shepard assume operational control of the company

1991
G4 Spinner Assembly Arrives

Revolutionary G4 spinner assembly released

2000
A New Partnership

New Leader Manufacturing enters into a new partnership with Oxbo

2000
New Location

Company moves from 4-acre location on D Ave to current 50-acre location on 76th Ave

2002
XT3 Arrives

The Hi-Way XT3 multi-purpose dump body with a pre-wet system is released

2002
A New Partnership

John Deere logo


New Leader Manufacturing and John Deere’s Nutrient Application Division partner

2004
A New Partnership

New Leader Manufacturing and RBR enter into a new partnership

2007
Xzalt Arrives

Hi-Way Xzalt Precision Applicator released

2010
G5 Series Arrives

NL5000 G5 with 16-section swath width control released

2017
Brazil Expansion

First international facility, New Leader Comércio de Equipamentos Agrícolas e Serviços Limitada, opens in Assis, São Paulo, Brazil

2018
Testing Facility

Company finishes construction on 32,000 square foot testing facility, a one of a kind in North America

2018
New Name, Same Company

Company rebrands to New Leader Manufacturing

2019
85 Years of Building the Best
New Leader Manufacturing continues to make exceptional products with our exceptional people.
2024
NL7 Series Arrives

NL720 with 120-foot spread width released.

2024
NLM logo

1330 76th Ave SW 

Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

319-363-8281

Office Hours:

7:30 AM – 4:00 PM CST

New Leader Manufacturing is a producer of agricultural and highway equipment committed to providing a high-quality product that exceeds all expectations in a passionate, continuous improvement-oriented environment that promotes integrity, honesty and well-being to all.

Latest Blogs

Spreading Reinvented: The NL7 ROI Calculator

New Leader 2025 Trade Show Schedule

Maximize Efficiency & Control: Hi-Way E2020A2 and XT3 Type III A2

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