Schaumburg, Ill. - On August 11, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) hosted an agriculture policy roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at Bobcat of the Rockies in Henderson, Colo. Bobcat of the Rockies, a division of Berry Companies, is a long-time AED member and Jon Berry, CEO of Berry Companies, serves on the AED Board of Directors.
Participants in the roundtable discussion, led by Secretary Rollins and Congressman Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), included representatives from Colorado producer groups and agriculture companies. The focus of the conversation was on challenges facing farmers and ranchers, particularly the livestock industry, and policy solutions pursued by the Trump administration and Congress to provide certainty for the agriculture sector. Secretary Rollins and Congressman Evans also held a press conference and met with Bobcat of the Rockies employees.
“It’s an honor for Secretary Rollins to choose AED and one of our long-standing members to host such an important discussion at this critical moment for America’s farmers, producers, and ranchers,” said Brian P. McGuire, AED’s president & CEO. “Equipment dealers, by supplying and servicing the machinery necessary to feed, fuel and build the world, are an invaluable part of the agriculture supply chain. The Secretary selecting Bobcat of the Rockies is clear recognition of the significant role that AED has in agriculture policy discussions in Washington, D.C., and for that matter, across North America.”
Bobcat of the Rockies is headquartered in Henderson, Colo., and operates eight locations in Colorado and Wyoming. In addition to Bobcat of the Rockies, Berry Companies, a Wichita-based company, owns and operates nine divisions, including Berry Tractor, White Star Machinery, Berry Material Handling, Bobcat of Houston, KC Bobcat, Bobcat of North Texas, Bobcat of Atlanta, and Bobcat of Indy.
“Berry Companies would like to show our tremendous appreciation to Secretary Rollins and Congressman Evans for organizing such an important event at Bobcat of the Rockies,” said Berry Companies’ CEO and AED Board Member Jon Berry. “As a family-owned company serving the livestock industry and the broader agriculture sector, we are committed to ensuring America’s farmers and ranchers are successful and thrive. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and Congressman Evans for your leadership and for your commitment to Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.”
During the roundtable discussion, Ryan Strand, president of Bobcat of the Rockies, conveyed AED’s support for a new farm bill and the need for Congress to pass it before the end of the year. “The equipment and machinery that Bobcat of the Rockies and other equipment dealers supply and service is essential to the agricultural sector,” Strand conveyed to Secretary Rollins and Congressman Evans. “When our customers are faced with tough times, equipment dealers are also impacted. It’s critically important that Congress approves a multiyear farm bill before the end of the year. The uncertainty surrounding agriculture policy in Washington, D.C., impacts the entire supply chain—from producer to equipment dealer to manufacturer.”
