Fall Marketing & Distribution Convention Updates

If you have not already done so, now is the time to start making plans for our Fall Convention in Las Vegas, which opens in less than eight weeks.

With executive registrations for this meeting running far ahead of prior years’, we increased the number of rooms reserved for our attendees. Still, we have fewer than 70 rooms remaining at the special rate of $99 per night. While it’s unlikely Las Vegas will run out of rooms during our meeting, we have talked with several members who noticed airfares are moving higher and some flights are already shown as unavailable.

Even if you are among the nearly 300 executives already registered, this is a good time to review the scheduled program and confirm appointments with distributors and independent reps. To assist you, we have opened our improved mobile application at m.FarmEquip.org, which, like our desktop site, allows you to add any part of our convention schedule directly to your calendar.

While the majority of our members will be onsite by Tuesday afternoon, some attendees will arrive as early as Saturday. With a full program on both Wednesday and Thursday, many attendees are extending their stay and scheduling appointments through Friday morning. Regardless of the length of your stay, please remember that scheduling appointments early is always advised.

Our U.S. members should be aware of an important conflict with the Federal Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 4. While many states offer early voting, some do still require an application for an absentee ballot. If you are unsure of your state’s requirements, please call us in the Association office. We will be glad to provide information on your state’s process and deadlines and supply any needed forms.

While our Fall Convention focuses on Marketing & Distribution networks, a quick look at our schedule will reveal why many member companies find it necessary to send several executives to this meeting.

Please note the following adjustment to the schedule:

On Tuesday afternoon, our Towed Implement Council and Standards Awareness Councils will meet together. This meeting will update members on legislation and regulations pertaining to the movement of farm equipment on public roadways.

Staff will provide a brief update on our ongoing efforts in Wisconsin, while our special guest speaker, Michael Senneff, will address the role voluntary industry standards play, explaining how those standards are developed and how member companies can make their voices heard in the process.

Senneff owns and runs Product Safety Help, LLC, which he formed after retiring from a 35-plus-year career with John Deere, where he was responsible for implementing and overseeing product safety and regulatory compliance programs for off-road machinery, primarily in the agricultural harvesting equipment sector. Today, he’s a much-sought-after consultant, trainer and speaker on the topic of the Machinery Directive and product safety. Senneff remains active as both a leader and a contributor in the development of national and international industry safety standards for agricultural machinery.

This is just one of many excellent sessions planned for our Las Vegas meeting. Visit FarmEquip.org today, check the full schedule and start making those important appointments with fellow attendees. S