As summer begins to wind down, many of us are looking ahead to one of the highlights of the year 鈥� our FEMA Marketing & Distribution Convention in New Orleans. Before long, we’ll be gathering with friends, colleagues, and industry leaders for a few days of learning, networking, and conversations that continue long after we return home.

Every year, I hear members say, “I’m so glad I made the trip.” The value of this convention goes far beyond the educational sessions. It’s about the relationships we build, the ideas we share, and the opportunity to spend time with people who truly understand the challenges and opportunities we face in our businesses every day.

Our industry is constantly changing. New technologies, evolving customer expectations, and shifting market conditions require all of us to keep learning and adapting. One of the greatest benefits of FEMA is that we don’t have to do that alone. We have an association of members who are willing to share their experiences, offer advice, and help one another succeed.

Some of my favorite moments each year aren’t necessarily in the meeting room. They’re the conversations over coffee, catching up with longtime friends, or meeting someone new who offers a different perspective. Those connections often become just as valuable as anything you’ll hear from the stage.

Whether you’ve attended for years or are considering your first convention, I encourage you to join us October 27鈥�29 at the New Orleans Marriott. You’ll leave with practical ideas, new connections, and a renewed appreciation for what makes this Association so special.

Thank you for your continued support of FEMA and for everything you do to strengthen our industry. I look forward to seeing many of you in New Orleans this October!

Marc Ivey
FEMA Board President

We are pleased to share the wonderful news of the birth of Strother James Ivey, born on December 19, 2025, in Fairhope, AL, to Alston and McKenzie Ivey. Strother arrived weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.

Both mother and baby are healthy and doing well, and Alston is already jumping into all the new-dad responsibilities. Marc, who currently serves as President of FEMA, and his wife, Pam, are thrilled to welcome their first grandchild.

Share Your Story! As a close-knit Association, we love celebrating the personal and professional milestones of our members. If you have exciting news to share, send it to Gina@FarmEquip.org for possible inclusion in the Shortliner newsletter.

Wow, how time flies鈥� Christmas season is upon us!  As we wrap up another busy year鈥攁nd officially close out the 婷婷激情五月天鈥檚 75th anniversary鈥攊t feels like the perfect moment to pause, look back with gratitude, and look ahead with excitement.

The Christmas holiday season is my favorite time of the year.  Growing up, my parents both worked in education so we always had time together during the Christmas break. These next several weeks are a time to slow down and spend time with the people who matter most. We can easily overlook this fact in our highly commercialized and fast paced world.  It is imperative we take time to celebrate with family and friends and show appreciation for these relationships that carry us through highs and lows of the year. 

In many ways, that spirit reflects what this Association means to me. FEMA has always been more than a network of manufacturers and partners鈥攊t is a community built on trust and shared values. FEMA is family and that sense of connection has felt stronger than ever this past year as we celebrated 75 years of bringing people together.

Throughout 2025, our members continued to demonstrate the innovation, resilience, and collaboration that define this ag industry. Whether navigating new challenges or embracing emerging technologies, each of you continues to prove why the work we do matters鈥攖o agriculture, to rural communities, and to the future of food production around the world. It鈥檚 been an honor to serve as your President during this milestone year.

As we head into the holidays, I pray each of you find moments of rest, joy, and celebration. Thank you for the dedication you bring to your businesses, to this Association, and to the agricultural industry as a whole. I鈥檓 excited for what鈥檚 ahead, and I鈥檓 thankful to step into 2026 with this incredible community. 

Save the Dates for 2026:
We鈥檝e got two great events coming up next year鈥攎ark your calendars now:

鈥� Supply Summit & Showcase
March 24鈥�26, 2026
San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the Riverwalk

鈥� Marketing & Distribution Convention
October 26鈥�28, 2026
New Orleans Marriott

We hope you鈥檒l make plans to join us for both鈥攅ach promises meaningful conversations, fresh insights, and the chance to reconnect with your FEMA family.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the new year!

Marc Ivey, FEMA Board President

Grace Anne Ivey and Jackson Henderson were married on October 18, 2025, at Ivey鈥檚 Chapel in Sprott, AL, with a beautiful reception following at Sturdivant Hall in Selma. Grace Anne is the daughter of Marc and Pam Ivey. Marc currently serves as FEMA Board President. After celebrating their honeymoon in St. Lucia, the newlyweds have settled into their new home in Auburn, AL. The Association joins the Ivey and Henderson families in congratulating Grace Anne and Jackson on this exciting new chapter together.

Share Your Story! As a close-knit Association, we love celebrating the personal and professional milestones of our members. If you have exciting news to share, send it to Gina@FarmEquip.org for possible inclusion in the Shortliner newsletter.

by Marc Ivey, FEMA Board President

As the title of 鈥渋ncoming FEMA President鈥� sinks in, I am truly humbled to have the privilege and honor of serving you and our member companies as part of our Association鈥檚 leadership team.

I was blessed to grow up in the small rural community of Perryville, AL, where my maternal grandfather row-cropped a few hundred acres mixed with cattle and hog production. This was my introduction to the wonderful world of agriculture. Following college at Auburn University (War Eagle!), I was fortunate to hire on with Bush Hog as an entry-level design engineer. What an incredible opportunity鈥擨 actually got paid to design some really cool stuff while working with the greatest folks on earth in the agricultural community.

From farmers and ranchers to land managers, and contractors, to dealers and suppliers, we all shared a common bond: working to truly make the world a better place.

After 33-plus years in the ag industry, my passion and appreciation for the field continue to burn strong. I look forward to serving this coming year as your FEMA President.

Now to the work ahead. Our industry is currently facing one of the most challenging yet exciting times in recent history. From economic concerns like tariffs, low commodity prices, high input costs, and higher interest rates, to staffing and manpower shortages, the obstacles for today鈥檚 ag community are real.

On the flip side, emerging and evolving technologies鈥攍ike artificial intelligence (AI), automation and robotics in the field, and precision agriculture, to name a few鈥攁re breaking down barriers and opening new opportunities every day for our farmers and dealers.

FEMA has been鈥攁nd will continue to be鈥攁 unifying force in our ag community. One of the greatest and most universally valuable benefits of our Association is the chance to connect with the best and brightest minds in agriculture through your attendance at one of our biannual conferences.
As I noted in this message鈥檚 title, we are stronger together. But you have to be present to tap into the personal relationships, classroom learning sessions, and鈥攎ore often than not鈥攖he conversations in the hallways or over a meal that bring incredible value to you and your firm through your involvement with FEMA.

Fortunately, we have a great opportunity to connect with our FEMA family this coming October in Las Vegas at the 2025 Marketing and Distribution Convention. From October 27鈥�30 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, we鈥檒l have the chance to explore exciting emerging technologies, make new business connections with fellow manufacturers and suppliers, and鈥攑robably most importantly鈥攄evelop and grow friendships with our ag community.

As an added bonus, we are celebrating FEMA鈥檚 75th anniversary this year, and your FEMA staff is planning an exciting and memorable experience for us in Las Vegas.

Registration is now open, so be sure to get your name on the list of attendees! Go to to sign up. I look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in October!

Blog by Marc Ivey, District Manager at Bush Hog

My personal interaction with FEMA started in the early 2000s. I was a young engineer/product development leader looking to expand my professional network and learn about the next best thing in ag technology that would help me help my firm develop a better mousetrap. For the past 20-plus years, I鈥檝e been blessed to meet and make hundreds of connections through my FEMA interactions. Manufacturing and distribution partnerships have developed out of those connections, as well as new component suppliers being added to my company’s vendor list.

Lifelong friendships with many of those FEMA connections are truly the highlight of my experience with the association and I look forward to many more in the years to come.

Thank goodness we can celebrate 75 years with FEMA in the life and fabric of agriculture. I shudder to think what 鈥渕ight not have been鈥� if those early ag leaders had not taken a chance on creating a voice for small manufacturers.

I am excited to be part of today鈥檚 FEMA. With challenges at every turn, we can rest assured knowing that together we are stronger because of the bonds created by this association.

Here鈥檚 to the next 75 years of FEMA 鈥� may it be as transforming and impactful for agriculture as the first 75 years have been.

Join the Conversation! Email your answer to the question: “What would be the industry impact had FEMA never come to exist?” to MLessiter@lessitermedia.com.

Source:

鈥淲hen it comes to convincing a manufacturer of the value of membership, the word of another executive has impact,鈥� said Association Executive Vice President Steve Hathaway. 鈥淜enny鈥檚 conversations with customers are clearly making an impression.鈥�

Lee received the award during the 2023 Marketing & Distribution Convention in Kansas City from Marc Ivey, who is chair of the Association鈥檚 membership committee. Ivey reinforced that the Association gains strength when it broadens its membership base.

鈥淲ith every new member, we gain greater visibility in the industry and greater presence in national conversations on legislation and regulation,鈥� Ivey said. 鈥淲e gain the opportunity to meet more manufacturers, more suppliers, and more distributors, and learn from them.鈥�

The C.P. Nicholson award celebrates the legacy of a member and past president who was especially passionate about building the Association.