In 1950 a group of manufacturers visiting their distributors in Chicago decided they had two things in common. None were major companies, and each were meeting a specialized need withing the burgeoning farm equipment market. They recognized the need for a common voice that could connect them with one another and represent their interests. That same year, they founded The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association with 46 member companies. Today, the Association is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with its own staff of full-time professionals.