Editor's Note: FEMA is collaborating with Lessiter Media, publisher of Farm Equipment magazine, to commemorate their 75-year history. As part of the FEMA anniversary, we're asking the question: "What would be the industry impact had FEMA never come to exist or perhaps failed to find traction and permanence?" Send your answer to this question to mlessiter@lessitermedia.com and your response may appear online.
Full disclosure. I was excited about the new blog series that answered Farm Equipment’s Mike Lessiter's question: “What would the ag industry look like had the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) never existed?” What better way to commemorate the 75th anniversary of FEMA?
When he asked if I’d contribute a blog to address the question, I was humbled. As you think about the industry giants throughout the annals of the shortline manufacturing history, you begin to understand my humility.
As I began to write these words, I recalled the cult-movie classic Back to the Future. Marty McFly must triumph over Biff to make sure his younger-version parents fall in love. Otherwise, no Marty.
These were the true innovators and entrepreneurs, and who developed their respective companies through plain old hard work. Every one of them symbolized the American dream.
So, what if there was never a FEMA?
Influential in My Career
My first experience with FEMA only goes back over 20 years ago when I first attended as part of a contingent from my then-employer. I was in awe of the caliber of the members I got to know. These were the true innovators and entrepreneurs, and who developed their respective companies through plain old hard work. Every one of them symbolized the American dream.
In the first installment of this series, Charlie Glass did an excellent job of presenting how FEMA put a much larger voice to the developmental, legislative, and operational needs of specialty manufacturers, who would’ve otherwise been relegated to individual or regional efforts.
Improved Dealer Relations, Better Standards
Charlie also portrayed the results of the hard work done by FEMA’s Dealer Relations Committee. I remember the commitment that folks like Charlie, Hiniker’s Vince Tomlonovic, and many others put into this committee (I can’t tell you how many times I have used the Dealer Buy-Back Laws tool). Without the work of this committee, many state legislative statutes designed to engage the major manufacturers would have also unintentionally included shortline manufacturers.
A relatively new focus puts technology innovators in direct contact with the iron innovators.
Another committee whose efforts have prevented many adverse outcomes for shortline manufacturers is the Safety Standards Committee. When I first arrived on the scene, Duo-Lift’s Jim Hellbusch was the chair. His passion spilled onto the rest of the committee, which then led to smart safety standards, and not merely standards where the shortliners would’ve been burdened to carry the onus of what was being pursued (braking, lighting, hitch pin requirements, etc.). This committee has always done a fantastic job of ensuring that shortliners have practical, common-sense safety standards that give each of us the tools to build some of the safest equipment in the world.
Future: Linking Technology to Iron
That’s enough looking back. I’ll let others do more of this in their blogs.
But what about the future? No worries there. FEMA will always be an association for the innovators of the world, and an association that will continue to add value for its members. A current example of this is the association’s focus on technology – both in manufacturing technology and the precision technology available to enhance our products. This relatively new focus puts technology innovators in direct contact with the iron innovators. The world is changing rapidly, and labor demands are changing with it. We must be and will be at the front end of that change.
It is daunting to think about the challenges we shortliners would have experienced without FEMA. So, to quote the timeless words of Doc Brown, “Great Scott! What if there had never been a FEMA?” (I might have embellished there a bit.)
Read more from Reflecting on 75 Years of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association
Join the Conversation! Email your answer to the question: "What would be the industry impact had FEMA never come to exist or perhaps failed to find traction and permanence?" to mlessiter@lessitermedia.com.
In the midst of celebrating its 75th Anniversary, the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) has partnered with Lessiter Media to chronicle the Association’s past through an in-depth multimedia project that will culminate at FEMA’s Marketing & Distribution Convention in Las Vegas, NV., on Oct. 27-30, 2025. Key pieces of this special collaboration include a comprehensive history book (pictured right) on the association that highlights the significance of the organization and its independent shortline members and their innovations. The media group will also film, edit and produce a video documentary that will entertain, educate and inspire the industry about the accomplishments and mission of FEMA. Both projects will debut to attendees at the 2025 Fall Convention, and later to the entire industry through Lessiter Media’s ag division properties.
