Āé¶¹app

Matt Rice Joins Association as Membership Director

Matt Rice has joined the Farm Āé¶¹app Manufacturers Association as membership director.

Rice, of Godrey, Ill., comes from the office of Congressman John Shimkus (R-Ill.), where he served as director of projects and grants.

ā€œHis work on behalf of the residents of the congressman’s district gave him a unique understanding of the farm equipment industry, agriculture, and the rural Midwest,ā€ said Vernon Schmidt, the Association’s executive vice president. ā€œMatt has a great respect and appreciation for the companies this Association represents, and we are thrilled he has joined us.ā€

The Āé¶¹app, which is headquartered in St. Louis, represents about 700 companies from throughout North America that manufacture shortline equipment, a segment of the farm machine industry that designs and produces equipment to complement mass-produced lines—sprayers, for example, or tillage equipment. The Association serves as the collective voice and resource for companies in each link of the shortline supply chain.

ā€œI’ve always been curious about how things are made and have enjoyed visiting manufacturing plants to meet constituents,ā€ Rice said. ā€œI look forward to getting to know the people who are developing innovative, time-saving tools for farmers and working with them to provide Association services to support them as they thrive.ā€

For more information, contact Kristi Ruggles, director of communications for the Association, at Kristi@FarmEquip.org, or (314) 878-2304.