AFBF and AG CONNECT Expo team up: 2011 co-location set for Atlanta

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and AG CONNECT Expo 2011 announced today they are teaming up in 2011 with the co-location of the 2011 AFBF Annual Meeting and AG CONNECT Expo 2011, both to be held in early January 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The American Farm Bureau is the nation’s largest farm organization, and AG CONNECT Expo is North America’s new global agriculture exhibition. AFBF’s 2011 Annual Meeting will be Jan. 9-12, while the AG CONNECT Expo runs Jan. 8-10, with "Preview Day" on Jan. 7 by special admission.
 
The co-location will provide Farm Bureau members attending the 2011 AFBF Annual Meeting with the added value of convenient access to the AG CONNECT Expo show floor on January 8-10. The 5,000-plus attendees expected at the AFBF Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to participate in an event that offers the best in technological advances and showcases innovative agricultural equipment, inputs, components and services.  This unique opportunity for Farm Bureau members – a one-time exception in AG CONNECT's standard registration - became a reality after AG CONNECT Expo organizers approached AFBF about teaming up in Atlanta, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman.
 
"The cooperative arrangement will give Farm Bureau members an opportunity to participate in a world-class agricultural exposition while they are attending our meeting," Stallman said. "But it also gives the AG CONNECT Expo an opportunity to benefit greatly by having access to a diverse group of agricultural leaders - Farm Bureau members from across the nation who will be gathering in Atlanta to conduct Farm Bureau business."
 
Martin Richenhagen, the AG CONNECT Expo Management Committee Chairman and AGCO Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, said the co-location is welcome news for all AG CONNECT Expo stakeholders.
 
"AG CONNECT Expo provides one of the best opportunities for all in agriculture to interact with each other and build their businesses during the coming years.  We know that global food production will need to double in the next 40 years – a daunting challenge that can only be met with innovative technology and forward-looking, science-based agriculture.  AG CONNECT Expo is a showcase for prototypes, innovations and the best in efficiency-creating technology," Richenhagen said.

Charlie O'Brien, vice president, agricultural services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the show’s owner and producer, said that AEM has historically been deeply involved in the issues facing the agricultural industry, and AEM and AG CONNECT Expo work to foster relationships with leading industry organizations to advance agriculture. "We are very pleased to be able to work with AFBF, and this co-location offers value to all AG CONNECT Expo 2011 participants as well as the Farm Bureau membership."
 
AFBF’s Stallman adds, "We are excited to retain the popular Farm Bureau exhibits that have always been the hallmark of the AFBF Annual Meeting Tradeshow, such as the county Farm Bureau Activities of Excellence, state Farm Bureau exhibits, the Farmer Idea Exchange and our Foundation Silent Auction," Stallman said. 'But we are also pleased to offer our members the ability to view a greatly expanded offering of agricultural equipment, products and services."
 
AG CONNECT Expo is run for and by the industry, with direction from industry companies and organizations. This management philosophy puts manufacturer and customer needs first and earmarks show revenues to advance industry causes. For more information on AG CONNECT Expo 2011, visit www.agconnect.com.

About American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
AFBF is the unified national voice of agriculture, working through its grassroots organization to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities. Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being. Farm Bureau is local, county, state, national and international in its scope and influence and is non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-secret in character. Farm Bureau is the voice of agricultural producers at all levels.
 
About Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
AEM is the North American-based international trade group for the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. AEM membership comprises more than 800 companies and 200-plus product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the capitals of Washington, D.C.; Ottawa, Canada; and Beijing, China; and a European presence in Brussels, Belgium. For more information, visit www.aem.org.

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