Joint Opening Breakfast Session: The Unstoppable You
Alex Weber
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Get ready to kick off the convention with energy, inspiration, and practical strategies for success. Alex Weber is an award-winning keynote speaker, champion coach, acclaimed author, NBC television host, and competitor on American Ninja Warrior. In fact, he is the only person ever to both host and compete on the show.
Known for his contagious enthusiasm and actionable insights, Alex helps individuals and organizations lead through change, overcome challenges, and achieve breakthrough results. Having inspired more than 5.5 million people worldwide and worked with leading organizations including Amazon, Apple, Fidelity, LinkedIn, RE/MAX, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Alex brings a unique blend of entertainment, motivation, and real-world strategies.
Through powerful stories, practical takeaways, and his signature The Unstoppable You framework, Alex will empower attendees to embrace change, conquer obstacles, and unlock new levels of personal and professional achievement.
General Session: Ag Autonomy’s “State of the State”
Chris Hunsaker, Founder and CEO Acuitus Ag
Wednesay, Oct. 28, 2026 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Chris Hunsaker grew up on a sugar beet and wheat farm in Southern Idaho. An Ernst & Young consultant, he later led farm equipment manufacturing operations for 17 years before launching his own ag tech company. In addition to starting Acuitus Ag, a technology company primarily working on operational infrastructure for ag autonomy, he leads FEMA’s Technology Council working to alert members on what’s ahead for businesses to leverage technologies and opportunities.
In his session, “Ag Autonomy’s ‘State of the State,” Hunsaker will provide an inside look at the rapidly evolving world of agricultural autonomy and the technologies transforming today’s equipment industry. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the latest advancements in AI, automation and software, along with the trends reshaping how equipment is developed, sold and supported.
Whether you’re a manufacturer, supplier or distributor, this session will offer a forward-looking perspective on the opportunities and challenges autonomy presents for the future of agriculture.
General Session: Economic Outlook
Patrick Luce and Jeremy Bess, Stantec Consulting Services
Thursday. Oct. 29, 2026 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
The dynamic duo of Patrick and Jeremy, both Principal Economists with Stantec, will focus on key factors impacting FEMA members, with economic outlooks including:
鈥 Trends in markets impacting the Farm 婷婷激情五月天 Manufacturing industry as they relate to domestic demand
鈥 The financial health of U.S. businesses and consumers and their capacity to drive investment
鈥 Cost escalation factors, particularly the rising costs of materials and production
Discover the vibrant and exciting side of Economics. Similar to the camaraderie found in the early 2000s sitcom Scrubs, these lifelong friends have collaborated for years, bringing genuine passion to the field of Economics. Their mission is to transform the perception of economics, turning negativity on its head. Yes, they have their degrees, have been published in print, featured as guests on podcasts, and have delivered countless keynote presentations. However, their most cherished achievement is resonating with diverse audiences, whether it’s senior executives, inquisitive Wall Street Journal readers, or casual presentation attendees who came for the coffee but stayed for the insights. With an abundance of news and information available, these hosts guide their audience to look beyond the headlines and focus on what truly matters. By delving into the intricacies of the business cycle, the duo unpacks the trends that matter, offering management solutions to help better plan for the future.
At Stantec, we stand out in the economic speaking arena due to our unique approach to understanding and interpreting the economy. Unlike other firms that specialize exclusively in either public sector policy or private sector analysis, Stantec brings a holistic perspective by having deep experience in both worlds. This dual expertise allows us to offer insights not only from a policy-making standpoint but also from a practical, business-focused lens. We believe this ability to bridge the gap between government policy and its direct impact on business practices provides true value for our clients.
While many economic firms focus solely on dissecting current trends, Stantec鈥檚 Market Economic Insights and Solutions team takes a forward-looking approach, providing actionable strategies that drive success. Our goal is to help clients anticipate challenges, plan effectively, and capitalize on opportunities to support long-term growth.
FEMA AgTech Arena Pitch Contest
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Learn about new innovations straight from the developer! This new event is an idea brought to you from FEMA’s Technology Council and is an exciting pitch competition for AgTech startups! See groundbreaking solutions in precision agriculture, farm equipment technology, automation, robotics, sensors, AI for machinery & more. A panel of judges will choose a grand prize winner. Attendees will choose a fan favorite!
Breakout Sessions
Protecting Your Bottom Line: Smart Liability & Risk Management Solutions
Matt Beigel, Trent Waltenberg, and Bryant Hintz of Sentry Insurance
Wednesday, October 28 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Sentry team will be back to talk all things insurance. They’ll discuss recent topics related to product liability, share information on safety inspections, and what you need to know to protect your property. Sentry Insurance is a fantastic resource for our members and will update members on training programs and resources available to our members.
As Territory Underwriters for our Farm 婷婷激情五月天 Manufacturers Program (FEMP), Matt Beigel and Trent Waltenberg work directly with manufacturers. This is an ever-evolving industry, so they approach every conversation with open ears and an open mind. They learn from customers, and in turn apply that knowledge to help them find opportunities to effectively protect their businesses and employees.
Matt and Trent thrive on seeing customers achieve understanding and peace of mind because of what Sentry can offer them. Matt and Trent are licensed insurance professionals and can therefore work directly with you for your coverage needs, or can work through your agent.
Bryant Hintz, a Senior Safety Consultant with Sentry Insurance, offers safety services to assist manufacturers with various lines of coverage placed with Sentry, including product liability, workers鈥 compensation and property. He works directly with manufacturers on services tailored specifically to their needs. Whether this includes product safety, employee safety or facility safety, these services are focused on improving safety, protecting businesses, and minimizing liability and loss exposure.
Tax, Tariffs & Technology: A Manufacturing Mashup, New Orleans Style
Mike Devereux, Wiplfi
Wednesday, October 28 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Manufacturers are navigating a rapidly changing environment where tax policy, tariffs, technology, and workforce challenges are increasingly interconnected. In this fast-paced, 鈥渕ashup-style鈥 session, we鈥檒l connect the dots between some of the most important issues facing farm equipment manufacturers today鈥攆rom tax credits and changing tariff policies to artificial intelligence, automation and the latest benchmarking data from over 450 manufacturing facilities participating in Wipfli鈥檚 manufacturing survey.
Rather than treating these topics as separate conversations, we鈥檒l explore how they intersect and what they mean for the future of manufacturing. We鈥檒l look at where manufacturers are investing, how they are responding to cost pressures and tariffs, how automation and AI are changing the factory floor, and where companies may be leaving valuable tax incentives on the table.
Using Wipfli鈥檚 survey data and real-world manufacturing examples, this session will provide a practical look at where the industry stands today鈥攁nd where leading manufacturers are headed next. Think of it as a manufacturing mashup: different issues, different challenges, and different opportunities, all coming together to create one bigger picture.
Mike Devereux currently serves as Wipfli鈥檚 Manufacturing Industry Leader. In that role, he oversees a team of professionals nationally who provide audit, tax, and consulting services to the manufacturing sector. Mike鈥檚 role is primarily focused on organic growth, increasing Wipfli鈥檚 national presence and identifying value for manufacturing clients and prospective clients.
He speaks nationally to various professional and industry trade organizations and associations about opportunities to reduce federal and state tax liabilities and has written dozens of articles for industry trade publications. Topics for his sessions have ranged from Taxes, Trade & Tariffs to ways companies can use technology to get more insights from operations and profitability.
Evolv
Thursday, October 29 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Jeremy Hewitt, TractorZoom
Thursday, October 29 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
