Keep the Bad News at Bay, Focus on Possibilities at Spring Conference
I visited with Association members and friends in Iowa recently, and our conversations often led us to the upcoming presidential caucus. It became clear to me that even those who are very involved in the political process, at some point, become tired of the polling, mailings and non-stop negative political ads.
The nature of such intense campaigning and media hype can lead to distorted ideas about what’s happening in the U.S. and around the world. The truth of that goes far beyond politics; it is relevant in the farm equipment manufacturing industry, too.
Specifically, if we focus only on monthly sales reports or financial statements from OEMs, we see reasons to worry. At moments like this, we must remind ourselves to also see possibilities. I heard a comment from a member years ago that I have not forgotten. He said when news is bad, he tries to spend less time listening to media reports and more time talking to customers, because what he can learn in those conversations can lead to innovations and new markets.
With that in mind, I invite you to step away from the numbers in April and engage in conversations that will inspire new ideas for your company and this industry.
The 2016 Spring Conference & Supplier Showcase is built upon the knowledge that these are difficult times in agriculture, and by coming together to learn from industry experts and one another, we can position ourselves to emerge from this economic downturn equipped with tools to withstand it and prepare to capitalize on the stronger market that awaits us.
As always, the Spring Conference is a balance of structured sessions—the ag economy, fraud risk, workers’ compensation—and casual time to network. This casual time is designed so you can expand upon conversations that began in educational sessions but also simply learn from one another.
Most of you will meet farmers and ranchers in coming weeks during the winter farm show season. However, it is unlikely you will make it to every farm show. This is where the value of membership in the Association, and attendance at Spring Conference, is evident. Our members excel in recognizing customers’ needs and working with industry colleagues to best meet those needs. Shortline manufacturers are simply in a better position to respond quickly to market demand, and while you are competitors, you also are genuinely interested in the overall success of the industry and eager to share ideas.
Such information-sharing and industry conversation are at the heart of the Spring Conference. Members at the meeting may be interested in buying new product lines; others may be interested in selling. Some will be there primarily to visit with the majority of their supplier partners and to share forecasts.
To help facilitate that interaction among members, we’re adding a series of roundtable discussions this year. You can find a list of topics, as well as information about keynote speakers, at FarmEquip.org/SC. We will also share conference information with you in the winter issue of Ag Innovator, which mails next week, and the next Shortliner.
As always, we want to hear your thoughts. You have a standing invitation to tell us what you want to learn about the industry and the Association.
Vernon Schmidt
Executive Vice President
Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association
Vernon@FarmEquip.org
Office: 314.878.2304 Cell: 314.775.8899 S