I just returned from the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

I’ve been attending this show for the better part of 20 years, and I can honestly say this was one of the best shows I’ve experienced in a long time.

Not necessarily because of attendance. Not because of the weather. And certainly not because all of the challenges facing agriculture have suddenly disappeared.

They haven’t.

It was because of the conversations.

For what feels like a long time, much of our industry conversation has centered around the down market. Commodity prices. Interest rates. Input costs. Inventory. Farmer income. Uncertainty.

Those are real issues, and we’re certainly not out of the woods yet.

But something felt different in Boone this week.

People seemed ready to talk about opportunity again.

I heard positive conversations from manufacturers throughout the show. Several FEMA members talked about equipment selling right off their lots. Others told me orders were being written.

There was energy.

Maybe our industry is simply getting tired of talking about everything that’s wrong. Maybe companies are deciding it’s time to go find the opportunities that are still out there.

Whatever the reason, it was encouraging.

I’ve learned over the years to put a lot of value in what I hear when I’m standing in a booth talking to the people actually running these companies. And what I heard this week makes me optimistic about where we’re headed.

That same sense of momentum is happening inside FEMA.

Over the past several months, our staff has been working extremely hard to create excitement and, more importantly, value around our Fall Convention in New Orleans.

While walking the Farm Progress Show this week, one member stopped me and said something that made me smile:

鈥淲e’re getting your advertising. We promise we’re going to send a couple of people this year.鈥�

This is a member company that hasn’t attended a FEMA convention in more than 10 years.

That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.

We don’t simply want to hold another conference.

We want to create an event our members feel they need to attend.

As I write this on September 3, more than 230 FEMA executives are already registered for New Orleans.

We’re approaching record territory 鈥� and we still have nearly two months to go.

That’s a tremendous testament to our staff and the work they’re putting into this event. But I think it’s an even bigger testament to all of you.

Our member companies are showing us that they see value in FEMA. You see value in being together. You see value in the relationships, education, conversations and opportunities that happen when this industry gets in the same place.

When we combine FEMA registration with our partners at EMDA, more than 300 equipment-industry executives are already registered to be in New Orleans.

And we’re not done!

I’d love to see FEMA attendance approach 300 by the time we arrive in October and our combined attendance with EMDA push beyond 400.

But we’re not chasing attendance simply for the sake of having a big number.

Our staff keeps asking a much more important question:

How do we create more value for our members once we get them there?

That’s why I’m so excited about what we’re building in New Orleans.

We have a wonderful lineup of educational sessions and industry conversations. We’re launching our first FEMA Startup Pitch Competition, bringing emerging companies and new ideas directly in front of leaders from the farm equipment industry.

We’re also bringing universities into the conversation through our new FEMA University initiative, creating opportunities for manufacturers, researchers, faculty and students to build relationships and explore ways our industry and academia can work together.

And we’re continuing to look for new relationships, resources and opportunities that can benefit FEMA members.

I sometimes describe our job at FEMA as turning over rocks for our members.

What’s underneath the next rock?

A new customer?

A new technology?

A university research partnership?

A solution to a problem?

A relationship that creates an opportunity five years from now?

We don’t always know.

Our job is to keep turning over rocks.

I’m not ready to declare that our industry is out of the woods. There are still real economic challenges ahead, and none of us knows exactly what the next 12 months will bring.

But after spending this week talking with manufacturers, suppliers and leaders from across agriculture, I came home encouraged.

It feels like the conversation is changing.

Less about waiting for the market to save us.

More about finding opportunities.

More about creating momentum.

More about getting back to doing what this industry has always done incredibly well:

Building things. Solving problems. Taking some risks. And moving forward.

I think that’s good for our industry.

And I think it’s very good for FEMA.

If you haven’t registered for New Orleans yet, there’s still time. Come join more than 230 of your fellow FEMA executives and be part of what we’re building.

I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

Joe Sampson
Executive Vice President
婷婷激情五月天

My specialties include professional napping, herding my family to either the basement couch or the living room couch, and taking the occasional walk…provided it’s not one thousand degrees outside. Personally, I’m a 70-degrees-all-the-time kind of dog. If there’s humidity involved, I’ll be waiting for you inside.

My dad, Joe Sampson, is my favorite scratching machine. He’s always petting me. Honestly, sometimes I think, “Okay Dad…I love you, but I was trying to nap.”

My mom Tory is pretty great too. She’s in charge of meals and walks, which automatically puts her high on my list of favorite humans.

Then there’s my siblings, Emery and Bode. They’re the best because they let me share their beds at night. I like to think they sleep better knowing I’m there protecting them from…well…absolutely nothing.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another nap to take. 

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聽| FEMA Member Since 2025

FEMA serves as the voice, advocate, and resource for more than 615 companies across the farm implement supply chain, including manufacturers, component part providers, service providers, and equipment marketers.

鈥淥ur partnership with Embo is about building momentum for our members,鈥� said Marc Ivey, Board President of FEMA. 鈥淛oe brings decades of sales leadership and a deep understanding of what drives success in manufacturing. Together, we鈥檙e focused on helping FEMA move faster, connect better, and deliver more value to every member.鈥�

鈥淔EMA represents the best of what happens when manufacturers and suppliers work together,鈥� said Joe Sampson, Founder & CEO of Embo Sales Consulting. 鈥淭his partnership is about simplifying, sharpening, and amplifying what already makes FEMA special 鈥� its people, its purpose, and its ability to create real results for its members.鈥�

The collaboration will focus on advancing FEMA鈥檚 growth initiatives and strengthening its role as the voice and hub for innovation in the farm equipment supply chain.

As part of this collaboration, FEMA will also leverage Embo鈥檚 media and marketing platforms 鈥� including The 鈥� to spotlight member success stories, elevate FEMA initiatives, and expand visibility across the farm equipment industry. Embo will support FEMA鈥檚 marketing strategy, event communication, and member-facing content to help accelerate engagement and strengthen the association鈥檚 overall brand presence.

About Embo Sales Consulting
Embo Sales Consulting helps manufacturers and suppliers in agriculture grow through proven sales strategies, leadership development, and process optimization. Founded by Joe Sampson, Embo partners with organizations across North America and internationally to strengthen revenue-generating activities and build scalable growth systems.

| Member since 2025

Good day and best wishes to you and your family as we quickly approach the holiday season. We recently celebrated 75 years of FEMA鈥檚 success in Las Vegas, and what an awesome time it was to look back on the contribution and impact our Association has made in the field of agriculture over that period.

Our Executive team and Board are continually looking for new and meaningful ways to strengthen our Association while delivering even more value to you, our members. In combination with our search for our next executive leader, FEMA has partnered with , to focus on activities that generate member benefits and to ensure FEMA鈥檚 message is effectively communicated to all ag audiences.

We recognize how important it is to stay connected and responsive to our members’ needs as the industry evolves.

Embo Sales Consulting is led by Joe Sampson, founder and CEO, longtime FEMA member, former Supplier Board member, and host of the . This partnership is unique because FEMA benefits from the expertise of Joe and his team, who are deeply passionate about FEMA鈥檚 mission and ongoing success.

We are excited about this opportunity, and we wanted each of you to share in the excitement! Happy holidays to you, your families, and our member companies!

Sincerely,
Marc Ivey, FEMA Board President

Date: Wednesday, July 30 Time: 1:00 PM CDT Guest Speaker: Jeremy Groeteke, Digital Ag Lead at Syngenta

Artificial intelligence is already making a difference in agriculture鈥攆rom branding and marketing to operations and sales. In this free webinar, Jeremy Groeteke will share practical examples of how ag businesses can begin using AI in simple, strategic ways.

Whether you’re just starting to explore AI tools or looking to scale your use, this session offers valuable insights to help your business move forward with purpose.

Attendance is free, and registration details are available on Embo Sales website at