Marketing and Distribution: Our Focus in Kansas City

When describing our Fall Marketing and Distribution Convention to new members, we often share some of the meeting’s history and the story about how it has evolved since the early 1950s.

Much has changed over the decades, but the meeting’s focus has not. Its purpose remains to create a forum in which manufacturers of shortline farm equipment meet with wholesalers, independent sales representatives and others who focus on marketing farm equipment.

Our goal is to provide industry leaders opportunities to build on existing relationships and find new avenues for distributing equipment that brings the outstanding choice, value and innovation that farmers and ranchers expect from shortliners.

The late author and educator Peter Drucker had this to say about business: “Because it is its purpose to create a customer, any business enterprise has two—and only these two—basic
functions: marketing and innovation.”

You may have seen this quote recently in our Ag Innovator magazine. We thought it was worth using twice because Drucker’s words seem especially relevant as the Association prepares for its Fall Convention in Kansas City.

While the Fall Convention includes educational sessions and great speakers, it’s structured to give manufacturers and distributors casual opportunities to get acquainted. When a potential business partnership emerges, the convention offers the time and space for more substantive conversations.

Those casual opportunities are front-loaded into the convention schedule, and a handful of the events will bring together this Association’s members with members of EMDA—the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association. These joint sessions add depth to opportunities for manufacturers to meet marketers. Here are highlights of those opportunities; you can find the full schedule at FarmEquip.org/FC.

MarketPlace and Contact Sessions: Our Association and EMDA will set up spaces for manufacturers to introduce themselves to distributors following our Joint Opening Meeting on Wednesday morning. These are not busy social events but rather designated spaces where distributors are stationary and identify themselves by the geography they cover and the products they distribute. It is a first look at opportunities.

Our joint Thursday morning breakfast is informal by design. Meeting participants from both our Association and EMDA come and go on their own schedules, reconnect with colleagues, and meet new ones.

Joint Industry Reception: After days filled with meetings and fun, this Thursday evening reception brings together members from both associations for a final social event.

A word of caution: Veterans of the Fall Convention know that distributors’ time is at a premium and now is the time to schedule meetings to make the most of your time in Kansas City. Our staff is eager to answer any question you may have now and will be at your service during the entire Fall Convention. S