1950 – On October 14, 1950, a meeting is held at the Sheraton hotel where a vote is taken to form the Allied Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (AFEMA). The first president is Wendell Butler, Galloway Co., and the office is in Chicago, Illinois.

1950s – Arthur “Art” Hellbusch, founder of Duo-Lift, starts to irrigate his farm by using an irrigation pipe. He also designs and manufactures a trailer to transport the pipe to and from the field as well as a way to store the pipe during the winter. This product is still made today.

1950 – The self-propelled windrower is produced by Killbery Industries and marketed under the Grain-Saver brand. This Canadian company is later renamed MacDon.

1951 – Bush Hog demonstrates a new tractor-pulled implement near Selma, Alabama.

1954 – The number of tractors exceeds the number of horses and mules on farms for the first time in history.

1956 – The association drops the word “Allied” from its name and the FEMA office relocates to St. Louis, Missouri.

1963 – Iowa farmer, Eugene Sukup, establishes Sukup Manufacturing with the introduction of the Stirway stirring machine for on-farm grain bins.

1964 – Ace Pump Corp, Memphis, Tennessee, develops the first PTO-driven centrifugal pump for applying a newly developed wettable chemical.

1967 – Unverferth Manufacturing introduces the step-up wheel lug that allows farmers to adapt older tractors to the larger 38-inch diameter wheels and tires manufacturers are installing on newer tractor models.

1967 – H&S Manufacturing is founded by Mr. Lauri Heikenen and two partners to manufacture and sell self-unloading forage boxes to farm equipment dealers.

1968 – Bob Schnell starts his career with FEMA.

1969 – Servis-Rhino (now RhinoAg) patents the first 4-gearbox, flex-wing rotary cutter, the Flex 15.

1969 – Don Landoll, Landoll Corp., invents the first traveling axle trailer.

1969 – The familiar FEMA “winged” logo is adopted.

1970 – Gary Vermeer, Vermeer Corp., designs and introduces a modern baler to produce big round hay bales. By 1982, more than 57,000 balers are assembled.

1975 – FEMA celebrates its 25th anniversary.

1977 – MacDon introduces the Hydro Mac self-propelled hydrostatic transmission windrower.

1977 – Valmont produces the first linear center pivot irrigation system.

1980 - WIKOMI Company is re-incorporated as Worksaver. Worksaver remains committed to growth and innovation, continually advancing the manufacturing of agricultural, industrial, and construction attachments for diverse applications.

1984 – The Bush Hog Ro-Till is marketed as Precision Applied Tillage (PAT) and is considered the forerunner of strip-till rigs.

1984 – North Dakota farmer, Ardon Herman, develops the diamond disc blade to reduce breakage due to rocks. Summers Manufacturing, Maddock, ND, manufactures the blade.

1987 – Howard Martin, Martin Industries of Elkton, Kentucky, files a patent for the first ground-driven row cleaner for no-till.

1992 – Yetter Manufacturing releases the Residue Manager in Coulter Combination, one of several iterations in the market as residue management needs are becoming understood.

1993 – Howard Martin invents and patents the first spiked closing wheel for planters. The following year, the floating row cleaner is introduced.

1995 – Salford Farm Machinery Ltd., Ontario, Canada, introduces the “Wing Plow” to aid in introducing the popularity of soil conservation tillage.

1995 – Marion Calmer, Calmer Corn Heads, develops the first 15-inch narrow corn head.

2000 – FEMA celebrates 50 years of service to the shortline manufacturing industry.

2001 – Salford develops the Residue Tillage Specialist system for high-speed, no-till farming.

2007 – Paula Kaster, Kasco Manufacturing Co. Inc., is elected as the first female board president.

2009 – Vermeer Corp., introduces its cob harvester to collect corn cobs expelled by combines for conversion into ethanol fuels.

2009 – Long-time FEMA leader, Executive VP Bob Schnell retires in November after 41 years of service. He is replaced by Vernon Schmidt, another long-time FEMA staff member.

2012 – Art's Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., announces its acquisition of assets from Universal Harvester Co., Inc. of Ames, IA, for $3 million in cash.

2016 – Orthman Manufacturing introduces a new 115,000 square foot manufacturing facility built from the ground up during a downturn economy.

2017 – Vermeer introduces its ZR5 self-propelled baler that offers zero-turn capability, high speeds, automated baling sequence and faster bale chamber removal.

2021 – Ritchie Industries celebrates its 100th anniversary, honoring innovative spirit of the original owner C.D. Wilson, who once transformed a Model T Ford transmission into a lathe.

2023 – After a long and distinguished career, Vernon Schmidt, FEMA executive vice president retires in February.

2024 – Guss Automation LLC, introduces the world’s first electric, autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer. This innovation marks a significant milestone in agricultural technology.

2025 – FEMA celebrates 75 years of service to the shortline manufacturing industry.

Thank you to Spindustry for designing the 75th anniversary logo.