Friday, February 15, 2013
Victor Pichot and I returned yesterday from the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) at Louisville, Kentucky. We spent about a day and a half touring the exhibits at the Exposition Center. The weather on the drive down on Wednesday delayed our arrival, because of the snowfall. But even with the snowfall, the building was crowded. We stayed Wednesday until the exhibits closed for the day. We returned to complete our visit on Thursday morning. We did not spend much time on the large, major exhibitors, but rather Victor preferred to concentrate on the small booths, showing his specific interest in row units for fertiliztion and planting. He purchased a ‘Redball’ monitor for a 12-row planter. He interviewed extensively the vendor of the “Clipper” grain cleaner. He inquired with every distributor of replacement parts for tractors, combines, and tillage equipment. He wanted to establish connections that would enhance his implement business back in France. He told me on our arrival that he wanted to ‘see everything’, and I think we did!
Both of us found the extensive exhibits to be valuable to disover the specifics of new machines and new features on existing machines. I found some new information technology at John Deere that will be worth further investigation at our dealer.
As we traveled on Wednesday morning, we encountered heavy snow in Dubois County. We drove though a steady snowfall all the way to the show site in Louisville. But the roads for the travel home on Thursday afternoon were clear and dry.
There was a big crowd around this S690 John Deere combine
The Super-Duty Ford pickups are now offered in a “Platinum” model. Here is the interior of a new F-350 Platinum.
On Thursday, Victor was impressed with the number of pickups in the parking lot. It was apparent that most farmers arrived in their pickup.
Victor made many valuable contacts
We viewed up-close the pulling tractors on display in Broadbent Arena.
Back here on the farm today, John and Brandon are polishing the aluminum and chrome on the Peterbilt. It’s going to be very shiny! Vanna and the Vision will probably be next in line. I’m catching up the bookkeeping, and writing this week’s paychecks. Many of the annual payments on our farm machinery will be due on February 28. I will prepare to make them online today, for payment on their due date.
Today is also little Ella’s 6-month birthday! She is growing and changing… the tip of her first tooth is visible.
