Schnell Retires, Schmidt Takes Over As New Executive Vice President

Normally this first page is at least remotely associated with the subject of agriculture. (Or at least something this editor wishes to complain about.) This particular front page, however, will be personal.

Most know that, following the Atlanta Convention, Vernon Schmidt took the helm as this Association’s Executive Vice President and, after more than 41 years, I, Bob Schnell, will be entering the peaceful bliss of retirement.

In looking back since that summer of 1968 when, after a stint with Ralston Purina, I started with this Association, I’m not only proud of both the benefits that were started over the years for the members, but of our member-companies themselves.

Back in 1968, Regular Membership stood at slightly more than 200 companies and Associate Membership was about 130 firms. Today, Regular Membership has grown to more than 300 firms, Supplier Associate Membership stands at 260 companies, and 43 Marketing Associate Members and 12 Global Members have been added to the list of members.

During that period, the sophistication of both the members and the Association has grown. Many member benefits have been added in that 41 years. Just to name a few of the said benefits: Our website, FarmEquip.org has become an important asset to both members and farmers and ranchers; human resource and dealer attorneys are now provided for members; greater discounted shipping services are now provided; worldwide credit services are now offered; credit card payment systems are now available to members; Sentry Insurance has now expanded their Product Liability coverage to also include property, casualty and worker’s compensation insurance; a daily news report from Washington D.C. is now offered; members may purchase surplus material from each other through our website; and we have opened an exciting new international marketplace through AEM’s Ag Connect Expo. All these and many other services would have been considered beyond the pale of this organization back in 1968.

Most of all — it has been the members that have made these four decades the most rewarding. Yes, the marketing of farm equipment and agriculture in total have seen drastic changes during these 41 years. But one thing hasn’t changed — the integrity of all those involved in this industry.

As I said in my “farewell address” in Atlanta, although I am the product of an urban environment, after only a year in the agriculture school at the University of Missouri, and I knew that it was these rural people with which I wanted to associate with the rest of my life. And I have not been sorry since!

Throughout my four plus decades with this organization, I have had the opportunity to associate with many talented individuals — both with member farm equipment manufacturers, those involved with companies that supplied goods and services, dealers, wholesalers and reps, those in the press, the many individuals with other associations and, finally, all of the contacts I have made in the hotel industry.

Before I leave the subject of the many individuals who touched my life, I cannot forget the many people that have served on the staff throughout the years. It is these people who have helped to contribute making this Association what it is today.

And it is these individuals, led by Vernon Schmidt and amply assisted by Hannah Hamontree and Tricia Kidd, who will rightly lead this Association into the remainder of this 21st century.

It’s been my pleasure working for you and I’ll look forward to seeing each of you somewhere down the road.

Robert K. Schnell

“Most of all — it has been the members that have made these four decades the most rewarding.”