AGCO has celebrated the opening of The Fendt Lodge in Jackson, MN. The 16,000-square-foot customer experience center is adjacent to AGCO’s Jackson manufacturing facility and serves as the official home for Fendt in North America. It boasts a Fendt history center and will be the site of customer visits, launch events, dealer meetings, and corporate gatherings. The Lodge is also open for public visits.

“Farmers’ reception of the Fendt brand has been spectacular, and it’s a driving factor in AGCO’s growth the last few years. The Fendt Lodge represents AGCO’s commitment to farmers in North America, our faith in Fendt’s very bright future and pride in our Jackson teams and community.”

said Eric Hansotia, AGCO Chairman, President and CEO.

The lodge’s grand opening was celebrated over two days, including an insider’s preview on April 30 that highlighted longtime Fendt farmer-customers, dealers and AGCO employees. The May 1 ribbon-cutting ceremony attracted an impressive crowd of state and local officials, national and local media, AGCO leadership and employees. Attendees at both events were treated to tours of the new facility, comments from dignitaries, lunch, live music and guided tours of the Jackson manufacturing factory.

The Fendt Lodge is designed in the grand style of a traditional Midwestern lake lodge, complete with a theater and conference rooms, historical and educational exhibits, product displays and Fendt equipment simulators and a merchandise shop and coffee bar. It serves as the brand’s North American hub for dealer training, sales meetings and brand celebrations while also introducing farmers and visitors to Fendt’s unique brand values, product innovations and test track driving opportunities. Tours of AGCO’s Jackson manufacturing facility, where Fendt’s award-winning track tractors and Rogator applicators are built, are also available.

“Fendt is recognized as one of the industry’s most innovative and effective equipment providers, and The Fendt Lodge gives us a world-class facility to highlight our farmer-focused solutions. We’re excited to share the educational opportunities and exceptional brand experiences it offers farmers, students, dealers and our employees. Welcome to The Fendt Lodge!”

said Joe DiPietro, Vice President for Fendt North America and AGCO General Manager for North America.

Source: Fendt (AGCO Corporation)

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“This investment further demonstrates our commitment to our presence in Minnesota, while supporting the growth we are experiencing in the marketplace. We are dedicated to continuing to expand our capabilities and equipment product lines to empower our customers, and this new location will be an important part of this success.”  

said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America.

Bobcat anticipates the new operation – located at 19850 Diamond Lake Road South on 22 acres in Rogers – will be fully operational by fourth quarter of 2022. The facility will offer assembly space, shipping and receiving docks, employee parking, breakroom, offices and meeting rooms.

The location in Rogers, a growing suburban community in Hennepin County and the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, is ideal given the benefits of its unique location at the intersection of two regional roadway systems – Interstate 94 and Highway 101. This location will allow Bobcat to optimize manufacturing logistics by streamlining the company’s supply routes alongside other locations in the region, as well as create supply efficiencies that support both market demand and the company’s vigorous growth plans.

The addition of the Rogers facility will contribute to the company’s strategic manufacturing footprint plan and support its investments in facilities across North America, including a recent $26 million expansion at its facility in Litchfield, Minnesota, and $70 million expansion in Statesville, North Carolina. These efforts are part of Bobcat’s long-term strategic growth initiatives as a leading equipment manufacturer and supports its long-term commitment to employees and communities.

“We will continue to invest in our facilities, employees and manufacturing capabilities, so we can meet the future needs of our dealers and customers, while continually enhancing excellence across our business,”

added Ballweber.

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Doosan Bobcat is celebrating the completion of a $26 million expansion at its manufacturing facility in Litchfield, Minnesota. The 15-month project nearly tripled the size of the facility, from 70,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space to nearly 200,000 square feet, and will create a significant number of new jobs in the community.

The expansion adds new assembly lines and upgrades, conveyor systems, a new paint line, climate control systems, and more, all designed to add efficiency and provide additional manufacturing capabilities to meet the growing customer demand for the ever-expanding lineup of Bobcat products.

The Litchfield facility produces more than 250 unique attachments to equip Bobcat machines for specific tasks to enhance productivity and utility.

“This investment is about meeting the growing demand for Bobcat products from our customers and dealers, and I am incredibly proud of this project and our Litchfield team. We are pleased to expand our manufacturing footprint and continue to support our expanding product line and customer base,”

said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America.

The expansion brings additional employment opportunities and economic growth to the area. Doosan Bobcat is actively recruiting to hire an additional 110 full-time, permanent employees with benefits in a phased approach through 2021 to join the operation’s current 140+ workforce.

This hiring plan includes a total of 150+ production, manufacturing engineering, and operations positions to be added since the expansion project launched in Nov. 2019. Production jobs currently being added at the Litchfield facility include fabricator, assembler, welder, and material handler positions – all of which offer initial and ongoing training, competitive and comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity for career advancement and leadership roles.

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A longtime education supporter and STEM advocate, Doosan Bobcat provided the equipment as part of the manufacturer’s continued focus on community outreach. M State is also one of eight Doosan Bobcat training sites in the United States.

“Providing new manufacturing professionals with hands-on training opportunities is critical to foster the natural talents of these individuals and help them establish a solid learning foundation they can use throughout their careers,” “Through our continued partnership with educational institutions such as M State, we are helping build a future pipeline of skilled manufacturing professionals.”

said Laura Ness Owens, vice president of marketing, communication and public affairs at Doosan Bobcat North America.

The donated equipment includes a 2005 Toolcat utility work machine, a 2013 T630 compact track loader and a 2015 T630 compact track loader, as well as a variety of parts that can be used for training modules. Donating equipment for these programs helps allow critical instruction for service technicians and students on troubleshooting, servicing, operating, repairing and maintenance for all machine components.

“We are thankful for the continued generosity and our strong, long-term partnership with Doosan Bobcat,”

said Jim Bainer, instructor and faculty member at M State’s Diesel Equipment Technology program.

“Our college has benefited greatly from the equipment, supplies and monetary donations from Doosan Bobcat; including the talent of the company’s dedicated employee volunteers and Mike Fitzgerald, qualitative customer insights specialist, who serves in an advisory support role for the program.”

Over the last 15 years, Doosan Bobcat has contributed over $620,000 in equipment, pledge amounts and supplies to the college. The company also provides three $1,000 annual scholarships to students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math programs. Additionally, they provide a $2,000 annual classroom investment for technology updates for a total commitment of $50,000 over the next seven years

“Thanks to Doosan Bobcat, our students have access to top-of-the-line industry resources, expertise and training, preparing them for success in a globally-connected workforce,”

said Karen Reilly, associate dean of marketing and outreach at M State.

“In addition, these donations serve as a prime recruiting tool for us; when prospective students see our wide variety of Doosan Bobcat equipment, they know they will get hands-on experiences that will equip them in their careers.”

Doosan Bobcat was honored with the Business and Industry Award through a nomination by M State in 2017 for their contributions to the college’s Diesel Equipment Technology program and commitment to future support.

Ness Owens continued,

“We recognize the diesel technology program as an outstanding training ground for students, and we take great pride in this partnership at Doosan Bobcat.”

Source: Doosan Bobcat

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Graco announces it has purchased approximately 100 acres of undeveloped land in Dayton, Minnesota. The parcels, which are part of the French Lake Industrial Center, are flanked by West French Lake Road to the north and east, and Brockton Lane North to the west.

Graco, headquartered in Minneapolis, also operates facilities in Anoka and Rogers, Minnesota as well as around the world. The Dayton campus is a couple of miles from each of Graco’s two existing buildings in Rogers. The land will support Graco’s sustained growth by allowing two of its three business divisions currently operating in Minneapolis to relocate.

“We’re thankful to be in a position to invest in this expansion and look forward to offering our divisions the space they need to keep designing, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing our leading technology to customers worldwide. Thank you to the City of Dayton, Greater MSP, and Xcel Energy for their assistance in making this project a reality.”

said Angela Wordell, Graco’s Executive Vice President of Operations and President of its Worldwide Oil and Natural Gas Division.

Graco intends to begin the development of a 500,000-square-foot facility along West French Lake Road to be completed by late 2022 as the first phase. Graco is currently collaborating on this project with general contractor McGough, architectural services firm HGA and project management services by Tegra.

Source: Graco

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A long-time champion of agricultural public relations/public affairs, Orwig is a founding inductee of the Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Agricultural Relations Council and Agri Marketing magazine. He has been an ARC member for decades and his former agency has been active in the organization through the years.

“The Foundation can now invest this and earn additional dollars for the endowment. We hope that the returns at some point will allow the ARC Foundation to increase the value of the scholarship each year and become even more meaningful to the recipients.”

Orwig said.

The scholarship program has honored seven students since it was re-instituted in 2015. The scholarship assists a college student enrolled in an ag communications program.

“This is an extremely generous gift and will help the ARC Foundation immensely. Lyle’s generosity through the years – from a time, talent, and financial commitment – cannot be measured. We are thrilled with this gift and know that Lyle remains committed to the mission of ARC.”

said Kristy Mach, ARC executive director.

The ARC Foundation established the endowment a couple of years ago, with major commitments from Orwig, along with Gardner & Gardner Communications, through a financial gift from Den and Sandy Gardner. Den managed ARC through his company for 10 years until turning over the reins to his former associate Kristy Mach 18 months ago. His firm annually underwrites for ARC Gardner & Gardner Communications Internship Program.

ARC plays a key role in increasing the professionalism of its members through its annual meeting, regular webinars, Golden ARC Awards, and more.

“This is a vital organization for our industry. We encourage other leaders in the industry to step forward and be regular funders of this foundation and the endowments.”

added Orwig.

Gardner noted that ARC nearly disbanded a dozen years ago. Now it has about 200 members and recently had its largest number of entries in its awards program in decades. He still serves the association as a senior counselor.

“ARC is strong today because a handful of PR professionals stepped up many years ago to revitalize the organization. Now it’s time to take that next step in its journey to provide leadership in ag PR.”

he said.

The ARC Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Other regular contributors to the endowment are Agri Marketing magazine (led by Lynn Henderson), through an annual contribution to the Agricultural Public Relations Hall of Fame, G&S Business Communications, Truffle Media, Jim Evans, and Richard Howell.

ARC continues its search for endowment partners for such annual professional development efforts as:

• Its webinar series
• The Golden ARC Awards
• The Founders Award
• Keynote speakers at ARC’s annual meeting

ARC is also open to other ideas to promote agricultural PR and public affairs careers through its organization.

Source: Agricultural Relations Council

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A&B Packing Equipment, Inc. for the last 20 years has specialized in fresh and process equipment for the small fruit & vegetable industry with a focus on high speed packing equipment for consumer packaging. A&B’s flagship line of equipment is the Evolution series of high speed weigh and fill packing machines, which have the ability to pack clamshells, punnets, bags and boxes all with one machine. “The Evolution has dominated the mainframe fresh packing market for the past five years and continues to grow into other markets and industries worldwide” according to Fred Pieplow, A&B President.

Lakewood Process Machinery has specialized in process industry for a wide variety of products for over 50 years. During this time they have been responsible for many innovations in sizing, de-stemming, conveying, washing and drying of the agricultural and food processing industry.

Both companies are extremely proud of the quality of their equipment, the quality of their personnel, and the quality of their service. “Customers can expect the same focus, the same high quality service and the same team effort that you have come to know” says A&B founder and CEO Bob Williamson. A&B Packing Equipment, Inc. will now be a company of more than 100 employees, with offices in Lawrence, Michigan, Hartford, Michigan, and a presence in Holland, Michigan.

Source: A&B Packing equipment

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The winner of the contest will be invited to sing the national anthem at Gate 2 on the opening day of Farmfest, Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 8:00 a.m. Central. The performance will livestream on the Farmfest social media pages. The winner will receive free entry to Farmfest for him/herself and up to three guests.

Interested singers can visit the Farmfest website to apply. A YouTube video of the applicant singing the national anthem must be submitted for consideration. The winner will be notified in late July. Any individual performer can enter the competition, but if the applicant is under the age of 18, parental consent is required.

“We could not be more thrilled to have the community take part in this annual contest,” said Niki Jones, IDEAg marketing manager. “Every year, Farmfest celebrates agriculture and the rural lifestyle, and we look forward to integrating the community and showcasing the local talent.”

Minnesota Farmfest will feature approximately 500 companies showcasing the latest innovations available to farmers in the upper Midwest. The show is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 7-8. Ticketing information can be found on Farmfest.com.

Source: Farm Bureau

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