Ag Leader Hosts 5th Annual Supplier Event
“Suppliers, no matter what they provide, are key to the success of our business and our customers.” This quote from Purchasing Manager Kevin Salzburg perfectly sums up why Ag Leader hosted a two-day supplier event in Ames, Iowa, Monday, June 7 and Tuesday, June 8, 2011. In previous years, the supplier gathering was held for just one day. To commemorate the 5th anniversary of the get-together, Ag Leader invited the suppliers in for two days to provide them with a richer, more in-depth experience.
Ag Leader GPS Guidance and Steering Sales Manager, Jeff Bentley said, “Inviting the suppliers in the day before the golf outing and providing them the opportunity to demo our various products is a great way for them to see the big picture as far as how their particular product is a significant part of a high-tech system.”
Strive to be the Best
Day one was held at Ag Leader Academy. Supplier organizations including manufactured components, distributors, contracted services, freight companies, benefit and financial service providers enjoyed a tour of the Ag Leader facility, product demonstrations and a trip in our testing/training tractors so they could experience guidance and automated steering capabilities first-hand.
That evening, the suppliers attended an awards banquet and had the opportunity to learn more about Ag Leader’s history from President Al Myers. Those suppliers who received special recognition include:
Most Outstanding Inside Representative – Jon Hanson, Dee Electronics
Most Outstanding Outside Representative – April Johnson, Avnet
Most Improved Supplier – Inertia Dynamics
Most Outstanding Supplier, Distributor – Avnet
Most Outstanding Supplier, Manufactured Components – Lincoln Tool and Design
“Supplier recognition provides incentive to our suppliers to strive to be the best,” Salzburg said.
OpportuniTEE to Mingle
On the second day, 97 suppliers and 55 Ag Leader employees convened at the Ames Golf and Country Club for the 5th annual Ag Leader Supplier Golf Outing.
“The annual golf event started five years ago as a way to bring Ag Leader personnel together with our supply base to further develop closer working relationships and an understanding of how we all fit together in bringing the best products and services to the market for growers,” explained Salzburg. “The first year we had 64 participants, and this year we had 152. The event continues to grow each year in popularity.”
Bentley added, “The golf outing provides a good opportunity for Ag Leader employees to mingle with our suppliers in a fun setting and gain a better understanding of the wide variety of companies that we work with to make a finished product.”
Despite record high winds, the golf event was a great success! The winning team in the five-person best ball tournament included:
Scott Peterson – Harvey Vogel
Matt Mountain – Harvey Vogel
Dave Ricci – Harvey Vogel
Matt Pifkin – Ag Leader
Stuart Helming – Ag Leader