If you’re a farm implements supplier like me, you know the hustle of balancing long days in the workshop, tweaking plow blades or calibrating seed drills to work better in clay vs. loam soil, and staying on top of the chaos that comes with planting season. Last year, I spent three weeks hauling a demo no-till planter 1,200 miles from my small shop in central Ohio to a regional farm show, only to find that half the big ag manufacturers had pulled out due to supply chain delays, and most small family farms I spoke to were already locked into old equipment deals. That’s when I started asking: Are there trade shows for farm implements that actually deliver—events where farmers need what we make, not just walk around for free swag? Farm Implements
After four years of attending, exhibiting, and even speaking at a half-dozen farm implement trade shows across North America and parts of Europe, I’ve learned the answer isn’t a single yes or no. It’s a list of shows that aren’t just big agribusiness conventions, but spaces built for the folks who fix their own tractors at 2 a.m. before planting, need implements that cost half of the big brand’s price, and want to test gear that works for their 200-acre corn and soybean operation, not a 10,000-acre commercial farm. Let me break down the ones that matter most, from the regional shows I swear by to the national and international ones that keep my shop busy all year.
First, the show that’s been my bread and butter for three years now: the National Farm Machinery Show, held every February in Louisville, Kentucky. This isn’t the flashy, overcrowded show you might picture from the 90s—they’ve cut back to exhibitors that actually sell implements, not just tractor dealerships pushing service contracts. Last year, I brought along our new adjustable row crop cultivator, designed to reduce weed growth by 30% without chemicals, and spent three days talking to farmers from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky who’d been complaining about the big brands’ cultivators being too rigid for their uneven fields. The best part? The show hosts host a daily “implement workshop” where farmers can bring their own busted gear and talk to suppliers like me about modifications. I landed three major orders from Louisville last year, and one farmer still calls me to tweak the cultivator’s settings after every growing season. That’s the kind of connection you can’t get from a cold email.
But Louisville isn’t the only one. There’s the Platform Specialty Show, held every spring in Des Moines, Iowa, which is exclusively for small and mid-sized farm implements—think seed drills, manure spreaders, and forage harvesters, not full tractors. What makes this show special is that it’s focused on innovation for operations under 1,000 acres, which is exactly the size of most farms where my business thrives. Last year, I launched our new compact no-till drill at Platform, and had to take 10 pre-orders on the spot because so many farmers said they’d been struggling to find a drill that works for their small vegetable and grain plots without costing $10,000. The show also has a “demo zone” where you can test every implement before you buy, which is a huge plus—farmers hate ordering gear that looks good on paper but doesn’t work in their soil. I’ve seen other suppliers waste thousands at shows where they can’t demo, so Platform is a no-brainer for me every May.
If you’re willing to cross the border, Canada’s National Farm Show in Brandon, Manitoba, is a gem. Winter in the Prairies is long, so farmers go to this show in January not just to buy gear, but to plan their entire season. I brought along our snow plow attachments for tractors last year, because Manitoba’s late snowfall often delays planting, and farmers were desperate for a reliable plow that fits small to mid-sized tractors. I ended up setting up a satellite repair shop during the show, because so many farmers’ existing plows had broken down the year before, and they couldn’t wait for a dealership to fix them. This show feels more like a community than a trade show—exhibitors and farmers sit together in the evening, drink coffee, and talk about what they actually need, not just what sales reps are pushing. I’ve made more referrals from this show than any other, because farmers here don’t just buy once—they tell their neighbors about good gear.
Now, don’t sleep on the regional shows, either. I used to skip these because I thought they were too small, but last year, I took a booth at the Ohio Ag & Equipment Show in Columbus, and sold $12,000 worth of implements in two days. These shows are perfect for testing new products in local markets, because farmers here have specific needs—Ohio has a lot of clay soil, so my cultivator with the adjustable tines was a hit, whereas it might not have been as popular in Iowa’s sandy soil. The downside? Regional shows are often less organized, so you have to show up with a clear plan, bring a demo team, and be ready to talk one-on-one. But for a small supplier like me, the cost of a booth is a fraction of a national show, and the return is often bigger because you’re reaching farmers who will drive 100 miles to see gear in person.
I’ve also tried a few international shows, like France’s SIMA in Paris, and to be honest, it’s hit or miss. SIMA is huge, with over 1,800 exhibitors, but most of the big brands have booths the size of basketball courts, and small suppliers like me get squeezed into a corner. The farmers who attend are mostly from large European operations, so they’re looking for high-tech, automated implements, which isn’t what we make. But last year, I met a distributor from Romania at SIMA who was looking for compact manure spreaders for small family farms, and we struck a partnership that’s now 20% of our business. So if you’re looking to expand internationally, international shows can work, but make sure you target the ones that focus on mid-sized operations, not just commercial ag.
Of course, every show has its pitfalls. Last year, I wasted $8,000 on a booth at a show in Texas that was billed as “the biggest farm implement show in the South,” but only 200 farmers showed up, most of them there for the barbecue, not to buy gear. That’s why I always do my research before committing: I check the show’s attendance numbers (target is at least 5,000 farmers, not just dealership reps), ask other small implement suppliers who’ve attended about their experience, and look at the show’s focus. If a show is more about tractors than implements, skip it. If it’s focused on large commercial farms, skip it too—save your money for the ones that cater to the mid-sized and small operations that make up 90% of the farm industry.
Here’s what I’ve learned in four years of doing this: farm implement trade shows aren’t just for big brands. They’re for suppliers and farmers to connect, test gear, and solve problems together. No, not every show is perfect, but there are more good ones than bad ones, and for a small supplier like me, they’re the backbone of my business.
If you’re a farmer who’s tired of dealing with big brands that don’t listen to your needs, or if you’re looking for a reliable supplier of farm implements that work for your operation, I want to hear from you. Whether you’re at planting season, fixing equipment during harvest, or just planning for next year, we can work together to build or modify implements that fit your fields, your budget, and your schedule. Feel free to reach out whenever works for you.
Car and Pickup Truck References
- National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA). (2023). Mid-Size Farm Trends: Implements and Equipment Needs.
- Platform Specialty Show Official Attendee Demographics Report. (2024). Small Farm Implement Buyer Insights.
- International Association of Agricultural Show Organizers. (2023). Global Farm Implement Trade Show Benchmark Report.
Qingdao Leonmec Mechanical Co., Ltd.
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