WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2016 - At first, it might seem a little
baffling that some of the world’s biggest ag companies would have a presence at
a convention where almost no one in attendance has the wherewithal to buy their
products.
But that was the case last week at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis,
where John Deere reps could be seen manning a booth just across the walkway
from Syngenta and around the corner from DuPont Pioneer. The booths had a
different focus than what one might see at a farmer-focused show like Commodity
Classic, so instead of rows of combines and tractors for their tire-kicking
pleasure, FFA members – mostly high school and college students wearing their
distinctive blue jackets – were greeted with virtual farming experiences, a
drone obstacle course, and information about what it’s like to work for some of
these companies.
Luke Zerby, a past FFA member who now is a marketing manager
for New Holland’s agriculture division, told Agri-Pulse that he sees the
displays as a way to “get the younger generation thinking about the future of
agriculture, and not just from an ag equipment standpoint,” but to also “open
up their minds about what the possibilities are.”
Maybe, Zerby said that could lead to an inspiration for a
new product, or possibly the desire to work for a company like New Holland in
the future. In addition to the product and technology displays, the
convention’s expo, formerly referred to as the career fair, also offered a
bumper crop of swag – T-shirts, sunglasses, drawstring bags and writing
utensils – that proved popular with the crowd of more than 65,000 FFA members,
advisers and guests.
While ag companies and colleges remain the dominant forces
at the expo, a handful of Washington-based ag groups including ethanol trade
association Growth Energy had displays. Standing in the shadow of a 42-foot
ethanol-powered racing boat, Cory Harris, an executive coordinator with Growth
Energy, told Agri-Pulse the expo offers a unique audience with long-lasting
benefits.
“If we can instill in them the importance and the value of
engine performance, we can really create a core group of future industry
leaders that are invested in the product and want to give back to the industry
and see the value of it and want to help it grow,” he said. Growth Energy’s
booth also had materials on engine performance, which led to discussions with
FFA members about how the fuel might be used in their lawn mowers and
chainsaws.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, CropLife America, and
the National Corn Growers Association were also among expo participants. NCGA
had information on a scholarship as well as the traditional giveaways, but also
literature on policy issues like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Zach Kinne, a
past national FFA president who now serves as a director of public policy with
NCGA, said even though some of the attendees aren’t yet of voting age, FFA
members still showed interest in some of the policy issues.
“As you look around, this is the future of our industry,”
Kinne told Agri-Pulse. “There’s a lot of decisions being made right now that
really do impact the future of these students.”
The convention returned to Indianapolis this year after a
three-year stint in Louisville. Just over 64,000 people attended this year’s
event, which will return to Indianapolis next October.
#30
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