Is there room for another ag tradeshow? The folks at AEM think so. That’s why they’re banking on Ag Connect to become North America’s true international ag show. Ag Connect appears patterned after AEM’s widely popular CONEXPO and MINExpo shows. Many feel it’s our answer to Europe’s enormous Agritechnica show.
As interested observers, R+K staffers Jim Haist and I attended the opening last week in Orlando. Temperature-wise, it felt like we never left Naperville. Mickey’s ears must have gotten frost bite as the mercury dipped below 30 degrees.
Here’s our take from the show:
Ag Connect resembled Commodity Classic-times-two more so than a mega-iron show. Crowd sizes seemed lighter and more geared to high-value prospects.
While the numbers of attendees were lower than expected, farmers there had good opportunity to ask questions of company reps, and many were taking advantage.
This was clearly an “iron” show, anchored by the usual players: Case IH, John Deere and AGCO. Each had different twists: Case IH’s used live events, and multi-lingual presenters, that packed its booth with onlookers; AGCO parked its traveling road show at its booth; Deere took a more traditional approach and enjoyed steady crowds. An elevated classroom over a part of their display was an interesting idea.
Perhaps most unusual to what we’re used to seeing at U.S. shows was the large number of unfamiliar names from overseas, most notably quite a few companies and distributors from China.
Several niche and short line equipment companies and engine manufacturers were prominent.
With crop input suppliers few and far between, Pioneer Hi-Bred’s relatively small exhibit stood out to us.
Other players, such as soil nutrient suppliers and specialty tool makers, got better attention than they may have at larger shows.
All the exhibitors we talked to were most excited with the international customers and prospects they met with. This international reach is what many said will keep them coming back.
As with any event, what’s most interesting are the people you meet. For us, one such person was Troy, a mid-sized farmer with a big-scale custom operation. Right after spring planting, this Midwest based farmer runs a custom forage cutting operation stretching from his home to Florida. And he takes the scenic route.
He roads much of his convoy of heavy equipment cross country. While the view from the cab may be nice, a road speed of 30 mph gives new meaning to the term “Are we there yet?” For his crew’s sake, we’re hoping he opted up for the XM radio.
Meanwhile, AEM, as well as its 300 exhibitors, are hoping to see operators like this custom harvester and many more of his friends - at next year’s show in Atlanta.