Business is built on relationships. In an industry like farm equipment, where manufacturers, distributors and sales representatives depend on one another, there is still tremendous value in sitting across the table from someone, having a conversation and figuring out what you can accomplish together.

That is what makes FEMA鈥檚 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention more than another industry event.

From October 27鈥�29, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and industry leaders will gather at the New Orleans Marriott for three days of networking, business development, education and conversations focused on the future of the shortline equipment industry.

Come to Build Your Business

The convention is designed to help members expand their market reach, strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities. It is an opportunity to connect with current business partners while also meeting people who could become your next customer, distributor, supplier or strategic partner.

And sometimes, the most valuable connection isn’t the one you scheduled.

It could be the conversation over coffee. The introduction made at a reception. The person sitting beside you during a session. Or the industry colleague who has already solved a problem you are facing.

Those conversations can lead to ideas, partnerships and opportunities that continue long after everyone leaves New Orleans.

Make Three Days Count

A successful convention starts before you arrive.

Review the attendee information. Identify the companies and people you want to meet. Reach out and schedule time together. Then leave room in your calendar for the conversations you cannot plan.

The goal isn’t simply to attend every session or collect as many business cards as possible.

The goal is to leave New Orleans with something you didn’t have when you arrived.

Maybe it’s a new distribution opportunity. A potential customer. A solution to a business challenge. A new supplier. A better understanding of where the industry is headed.

Or simply a relationship worth developing.

New Orleans Is Part of the Experience

Of course, there’s another reason to make the trip.

This year’s convention takes place in New Orleans, giving attendees the opportunity to connect in one of the country’s most memorable cities. The New Orleans Marriott is located near the French Quarter, putting restaurants, entertainment and the city’s distinctive culture just steps away.

The convention also includes opportunities to connect outside the meeting rooms, including the Industry Showcase and a special evening aboard The City of New Orleans on the Mississippi River.

The People in the Room Matter

FEMA’s convention has always been about more than presentations.

It is about people who understand this industry.

People who face many of the same challenges. People who have ideas to share. People who can open doors. People who may become customers, partners, mentors or friends.

That’s the real value of getting together.

The Future Is in the Room. Will You Be?

FEMA’s 2026 Marketing & Distribution Convention
October 27鈥�29, 2026
New Orleans Marriott | New Orleans, Louisiana

Ready to Join Us?

[REGISTER HERE] and start planning your trip to New Orleans.

If you鈥檙e not familiar with Topgolf, it鈥檚 a fun, interactive game where players hit golf balls with technology chips that track their shots and score them automatically. But don鈥檛 worry if you don鈥檛 want to play 鈥� you can still attend, enjoy the dinner, drinks, and plenty of networking opportunities.

Your registration includes food and drinks, and you鈥檙e welcome to just come and socialize, whether or not you鈥檙e golfing.

There are still spots available, so to sign up, reach out to Tricia at Tricia@FarmEquip.org or call the office at 314.878.2304.

We hope to see you there!

Each Summit comes together in partnership with the Supplier Board of Governors, who host the networking opportunities and think creatively about new ways to engage. Here鈥檚 what’s in store in Albuquerque.

Receptions

Attendees gather as a complete group for the first time at the Welcome Party and Dinner in the evening Wednesday. Feel free to arrive casually dressed. This is a travel day for many, and others will have spent it at the golf course or shooting range.

First-time attendees are invited to join Association leadership for a pre-reception to get to know one another and ask questions about the Summit, the Association, and membership.

Golf

University of New Mexico鈥檚 Championship Course has been named by Golf Digest as one of the top 25 public courses in the country. It is a 7,248-yard, par 72 course.

Attendees pay $120 to golf and more to rent clubs. If you need to rent clubs, please let the Association know in advance.

The golf course prefers that golfers wear shirts with collars; jeans and shorts are OK. The Association will provide transportation. See who鈥檚 signed up to golf at .

Trap

Albuquerque Trap Club offers eight trap fields, 50 clay targets, and 12- or 20-gauge ammunition.

The club has a limited number of guns available to rent. Attendees who bring their own are allowed to store them in their rooms at the Albuquerque Hyatt. If you plan to bring your own shotgun, please contact the office at (314) 878-2304, or email Tricia at Tkidd@FarmEquip.org.

Participants pay $99 to shoot. The club will provide ear and eye protection as well as shells. The Association will provide transportation and lunch.
See who has signed up for the trap shoot, or sign up yourself, at .

Walk/Run

Thursday is a long day for Summit attendees. Start yours with the shot of energy that comes from a little fresh air, a brisk walk, conversation with others in the industry, and a continental breakfast. Participants receive a t-shirt. There is no additional cost.

Crawl

Albuquerque has unveiled a new entertainment complex that developers believe is the first of its kind in the nation, and members of this Association will be among the first to raise their glasses in it during the Summit鈥檚 fifth annual exploration of nightlife, otherwise known as 鈥渢he crawl.鈥�

Developers literally raised the roof on this former Sports Authority and invested more than $12 million to transform it into an under-one-roof entertainment venue.

Participants in the crawl will socialize at Draft Day Sports Bar, The Lobby Bar, and Uptown Funk Dueling Piano Bar. (For members who were on the crawl in 2017, you were part of an especially memorable stop at a piano bar in Little Rock. We have been looking for another ever since.)

Attendees pay $25, which includes transportation and a t-shirt. The t-shirt entitles you to happy-hour prices all night.

Ax Throwing (Pre-Summit)

In its pursuit of hosting fresh and fun networking events for members, the Supplier Board of Governors has organized an ax-throwing event for early arrivals in Albuquerque. The group invites you to ABQ Ax on Monday.

(About the timing of this event, the Association is always striving for the right balance when it schedules conventions. Everyone鈥檚 expectations are different. So, in the spirit of trying new things and preserving time-tested favorites, we have stretched the schedule this year to test interest in this trend.)

To join ax-throwing, call the Association at (314) 878-2304, or send an email to TKidd@FarmEquip.org.

Because this event is outside the classic Summit schedule and organized independently, details such as cost will be handled separately.