Farm Show Snapshot
By Farms.com Media Team
"It's more important than ever to listen to listen to farmers." That was a key message from CLAAS's Eric Raby when Farms.com caught up with the president and general manager of sales at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville.
Raby is based in Omaha, Nebraska, but made the trip to Kentucky for some important reasons, outlined below.
CLAAS of America manufactures technically innovative hay tool, baler, self-propelled forage harvester and combine harvester products.
Farms.com: Why are you here in Louisville?
Raby: “This is the largest indoor show in North America. This gives us an opportunity, early in a new year, to engage with our customers and our dealers. Always, on an ongoing basis, we want to be connected to the marketplace. Over four days here in Louisville we accomplish that. We show farmers what we have to offer, but more importantly, we are here to listen to them, and learn from them.”
Farms.com: How’s business?
Raby: “We are in different segments. And there are challenges in all segments. We are certainly looking down the road to when commodity prices return to higher levels. It’s not a terrible market at this point. It’s slow, but it’s not terrible. And again, it’s more important than ever to listen to farmers and what they are saying.”
Farms.com: How is CLAAS connecting with farmers when you’re not at the show?
Raby: “There are a few parts to that answer. Certainly our social media and electronic communication efforts are a consistent, continual exercise for us now. Additionally we need famers to know it’s not merely a transactional relationship that we offer, or that we are interested in. We are doing a few additional things here at the show, such as sponsoring breakfasts, so that we can educate farmers about solutions other than simply purchasing a new combine. That’s all about educating customers on refurbished LEXION combines and what options they have.”