贵贰惭础鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention, October 27鈥�29 at the New Orleans Marriott, brings manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and industry leaders together for three days of ideas, connections, technology and opportunities to look ahead.

This year鈥檚 convention is about more than sitting in a meeting room. It鈥檚 about discovering what鈥檚 next, connecting with the people shaping the industry and bringing home ideas you can put to work.

Big Ideas. Real Conversations.

The convention lineup features a mix of main-stage programming designed to give attendees a broader view of the industry and the forces shaping its future.

The Joint Opening Breakfast Keynote, The Unstoppable You, by Alex Weber, will kick off the convention with inspiration, energy and practical strategies for personal and professional success.

The Ag Autonomy鈥檚 鈥淪tate of the State鈥� session with Chris Hunsaker, Founder and CEO of Acuitus Ag, will explore the rapidly evolving world of AI, automation, software and agricultural autonomy and what it means for the equipment industry.

The Economic Outlook, presented by Patrick Luce and Jeremy Bess of Stantec Consulting Services, will provide insight into the economic conditions affecting equipment manufacturers and the broader agricultural industry.

Additional breakout sessions will give attendees opportunities to dig deeper into the topics that matter to their businesses, with sessions focused on Risk Management, 婷婷激情五月天 Market Trends & Data, and Payments & Cash Flow. More session details coming soon.

The FEMA AgTech Arena and Pitch Contest will put emerging technology and innovation front and center, featuring live presentations from innovative companies, a $10,000 Grand Prize and a $1,000 People鈥檚 Choice Award – plus food, drinks and plenty of opportunity to connect.

Three Days. One Room. A Lot to Take Away.

Whether you come to learn, network, explore new technology, gain a better understanding of the market, or simply reconnect with people who understand the equipment business, the 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention is designed to give you plenty of reasons to be there.

Click Here to See Who鈥檚 Attending

There are conferences you attend.

And then there are conferences where you somehow return home three days later with 47 new ideas, 16 new contacts, approximately 900 unread emails and a serious need for comfortable shoes.

贵贰惭础鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention is shaping up to be the latter.

From October 27鈥�29 at the New Orleans Marriott, FEMA members will gather for three days of education, networking, business conversations, new ideas and鈥攊f history is any indication鈥攁 fair amount of laughter along the way.

The future may be in the room, but knowing how to make the most of your time there is half the battle.

With a full schedule, here鈥檚 your unofficial survival guide to making the most of your time in New Orleans.

1. Don鈥檛 try to do everything.

This may be the hardest rule of all.

With educational sessions, networking opportunities, the AgTech Arena, the Pitch Contest, the Showcase and plenty of opportunities for impromptu conversations, it will be tempting to fill every minute of your calendar.

顿辞苍鈥檛.

Leave some breathing room in your schedule. Some of the most valuable conversations at a FEMA convention happen in the hallway, over coffee or when you sit down next to someone you didn’t originally plan to meet.

The goal isn’t to attend everything.

The goal is to leave with something valuable.

2. Show up for the big ideas.

The convention opens with a joint Opening Breakfast featuring keynote speaker Alex Weber, whose presentation, The Unstoppable You, will kick off the event on Wednesday morning.

Consider this your first opportunity to put the phone down, grab some coffee and actually be present.

Because sometimes the idea you need most isn’t the one you came looking for.

3. Bring your curiosity to the AgTech Arena.

Technology continues to change the way agriculture鈥攁nd the equipment industry鈥攄oes business.

The FEMA AgTech Arena will put that innovation front and center, including the convention’s AgTech Pitch Contest, where emerging companies will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas.

You don’t have to be a technology expert to get something out of it.

Just be curious.

What are these companies developing? What problems are they trying to solve? And what could those ideas mean for your business five years from now?

Pay attention. Today’s startup could become tomorrow’s industry partner.

4. Make room for the economic reality check.

Innovation is exciting, but somebody still has to make the numbers work.

The convention’s Economic Outlook session with Patrick Luce and Jeremy Bess will provide a chance to step back and look at the broader economic environment affecting manufacturers, distributors and the agricultural equipment industry.

Bring your questions.

And maybe your calculator.

5. Network like you mean it.

“Networking” can sound like one of those things you’re supposed to do at a convention.

But at FEMA, it’s often one of the biggest reasons to be there.

Talk to someone you don’t know.

Sit at a different table.

Introduce yourself to a new member.

Reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a year.

Ask another manufacturer how they’re handling something you’re struggling with.

The best conversations aren’t always the ones listed on the agenda.

6. Wear comfortable shoes.

This is not optional.

You will walk more than you think you will.

You’ll walk to sessions. You’ll walk to breakfast. You’ll walk to the Showcase. You’ll walk to talk to someone who is “just over there.”

And then you’ll walk some more.

Your future self will thank you.

7. Don’t forget the Showcase.

Set aside time to attend the industry showcase and see what’s new, meet exhibitors and explore products and services that could help your business.

Even if you aren’t actively looking for something, take a lap.

You never know what鈥攐r who鈥攜ou might discover.

8. Put your phone to work鈥攂ut don’t let it run the convention.

Yes, take pictures.

Yes, connect with people on LinkedIn.

Yes, check the FEMA app for schedules, information and updates.

But don’t spend the entire convention looking at the screen in your hand instead of the people standing in front of you.

The people in the room are the reason you’re there.

9. Bring business cards. Or at least be ready to connect.

You may not exchange a single business card.

That’s okay.

Just make sure your LinkedIn profile is current, your contact information is easy to find and you have a way to follow up with the people you meet.

Because making a great connection is only half the job.

Following up is where the real value begins.

10. Leave room for the unexpected.

Maybe you’ll meet a potential customer.

Maybe you’ll discover a new technology.

Maybe you’ll hear an idea that changes the way you look at your business.

Maybe you’ll reconnect with an old friend.

Or maybe you’ll have a 20-minute conversation over coffee that turns out to be the most valuable part of the entire convention.

You can’t schedule those moments.

You just have to leave room for them.

Your FEMA Convention Survival Kit

If you want to be fully prepared, pack:

• Comfortable shoes
• Business cards鈥攐r a charged phone
• A notebook or notes app
• Questions you’ve been meaning to ask
• An open mind
• A willingness to meet someone new
• Your sense of humor
• And, ideally, a little extra room in your suitcase for all those new ideas

Most importantly: Show up.

A convention is only as valuable as what you put into it.

So come ready to learn. Come ready to connect. Come ready to share what’s working鈥攁nd what’s not.

Because the future of this industry isn’t happening somewhere else.

The Future Is in the Room. Will You Be?

贵贰惭础鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention
October 27鈥�29, 2026

Register here by August 31 to save $100 on your registration fee.

贵贰惭础鈥檚 new AgTech Arena Pitch Competition is designed to connect emerging agtech companies with the manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, investors and industry leaders who can help turn promising ideas into real-world products and businesses.

Five startups will be selected to pitch live at 贵贰惭础鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention in New Orleans, with a $10,000 grand prize and a $1,000 People鈥檚 Choice Award up for grabs.

The competition is open to innovative startups working in areas including AI, robotics, automation, autonomous systems, precision agriculture, sensors, software and advanced manufacturing. University teams and researchers with strong ideas are also encouraged to participate.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN – Complete your application today!

Want to learn more about the competition, eligibility and when to apply?

鈫� Get the Complete AgTech Arena Details

Presented in collaboration with AgTech Alchemy.

Presented by FEMA’s Technology Council, the new AgTech Arena Pitch Contest will debut on Wednesday, October 28, during the Marketing & Distribution Convention in New Orleans. This exciting competition will give convention attendees the opportunity to hear directly from the innovators developing tomorrow’s agricultural technologies.

Startups specializing in AgTech, precision agriculture, and farm equipment innovation will showcase their latest ideas and technologies in front of industry leaders and decision-makers. Attendees will discover groundbreaking solutions in precision agriculture, automation, robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence for machinery, and other emerging technologies shaping the future of the industry.

A panel of expert judges will evaluate each presentation and select the Grand Prize Winner, while convention attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the Fan Favorite Award.

Interested in showcasing your innovation? The Call for Abstracts will be announced soon. Startups and emerging technology companies will be invited to submit their ideas for a chance to pitch on the AgTech Arena stage.

Stay tuned to the Shortliner for submission guidelines, important dates, and additional details on how to participate.

This exciting new event is just one more reason you won’t want to miss the 2026 FEMA Marketing & Distribution Convention. Come discover what’s next in farm equipment technology鈥攁nd meet the innovators bringing it to life.