Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association - 
Robert K. Schnell Memorial Scholarship

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association has established a scholarship in agriculture in memory of the late Robert K. Schnell and invites contributions from Schnell's friends and colleagues to build the fund.

Bob, who served as the Association's executive vice president for 25 years, died Feb. 28, 2018. He was a graduate of the University of Missouri and dedicated his entire career to the Association and its member companies. Bob joined the staff of the Association in 1968 and was very successful in growing membership. In 1984, Bob became the second person to lead the Association as its Executive Vice President.

Under his leadership, the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association expanded services offered to manufacturing members, and it became an active voice in influencing legislation affecting shortline farm equipment manufacturers. The Association is committed to serving as a resource and advocate to manufacturers who bring choice, value and innovation to the farm equipment marketplace. Developing a skilled workforce is essential to this goal. It is our hope that this scholarship in Bob's memory will assist and encourage future leaders in the manufacturing industry with a focus on the agriculture sector. This scholarship will benefit students studying Agricultural Systems Management.

Please join us in honoring Bob's memory by donating to the fund in his name.

Click on the "Give Direct" button above to donate online, or make checks payable to the University of Missouri -  with a note that the gift is to the Schnell Scholarship Fund.

Mailing Address:

University of Missouri
Att: Brent McCauley - CAFNR Office of Advancement
2-4 Agriculture Building
Columbia, Missouri 65211

For more information, please give us a call at 314.878.2304

A Collection of Shared Memories

Bob Schnell's passing has brought responses from some of our Association's former presidents and others in our industry. Below is a collection of just a few of the shared memories - additional thoughts will be posted as they become available. 

John Tye, Association President 1991-1992
Since Bob and I arrived in the farm equipment industry at about the same time, I've known and worked with Bob for over four decades. While he could appear gruff and short at times, he was always ready with help and insight. His entire professional life revolved around the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and the industry. He retired leaving the Association much stronger and better structured to serve its membership than when he arrived. I felt fortunate to call Bob a friend. My sincere condolences go out to Marcie, the children and grandchildren.

John Malinowski, Association President 2010-2011
I remember the first visit in St. Louis with Bob and Marcie like it was yesterday. They took me out for supper, and we shared good conversation and a lot of laughs. He is likely smoking his cigar now amid much nicer scenery.

Tom Franzen, Association's Risk Management Consultant
I met Bob in the late 90s and immediately realized I was working with a true association leader. His love for the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and its members was overshadowed only by his love for his family. I learned a great deal from Bob and will certainly never forget the time I was able to spend with him.

Layton Jensen - Association President 1999-2000
Bob Schnell provided outstanding leadership for the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and was highly respected by all in the industry. His ability to provide insight and execute board directives for membership value is what propelled our Association into a position of strength.

Bob Atkinson, Association President 2000-2001
Remembering Bob always makes me smile. Not just for his legacy of making FEMA a premiere association in all areas, but for those of us who were lucky to know him well, for being such an interesting and fun guy.

Kim Rominger, Equipment Dealers Association
I was just speaking with Gary Manke last week about some of the most interesting folks that have been in our industry, and we both mentioned Bob in unison. While Bob was a true character, he was also a gentlemen of great integrity. Bob could put some of the most complex issues into the simplest of terms and provide a real picture of issues and solutions. He will be greatly missed.

Paul Kindinger, The Kindinger Group 
He could come across as tough or unmovable, but when an issue called for compromise, if one was possible, Bob would find it. He had a gruff exterior but a big heart. He was proud to represent the members of FEMA, and he was always looking out for their interests. The industry lost an individual who was a true leader.

Mike Lessiter, Farm Equipment/Ag Equipment Intelligence
Bob was very helpful to Dave Kanicki and me in understanding the implement manufacturing business after our company acquired Farm Equipment magazine in 2004. He was particularly helpful in explaining the challenges that manufacturers, and dealers, were having when it came to distribution opportunities for shortline equipment. The education he provided on this topic led to coverage in ours, and others’, publications.

Vernon Schmidt, Executive VP - Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association
I began my tenure at the Association under Bob's leadership. He was indeed a colorful character. My time working with him was as memorable as it was instructive. I am grateful for the opportunities he gave me to strengthen membership, meetings, and member services. More importantly, I will remember him for his deep understanding of the shortline industry and his fondness for the people who represent it. That commitment to the industry will be his legacy. On behalf of our Board of Directors and members of this Association, and staff that worked with Bob, I share our condolences to Marcie and Bob's family.  

Charlie O’Brien, Sr. Vice President (Retired) AEM
Back when I was just starting my role at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, I was new to working in the association world. Bob was always very welcoming as I visited him in his office in St. Louis and helpful to me to understand our roles as leaders of the two ag equipment manufacturing associations in the United States. It was always a pleasure to visit with Bob as he was always in tune with the current issues the industry was facing. He was always open to having AEM and FEMA work together on projects that could help the industry. He represented the membership of FEMA well. I certainly appreciated the time I got to spend with Bob as our paths crossed many times. He will be missed. Our sympathies go out to Bob’s family for their loss.

Jim Hellbusch, Duo Lift Manufacturing - Association President 1998-1999
For over thirty years Bob’s leadership addressed the needs of the Association and its members from the smallest to the largest. I was fortunate enough to meet Bob at my very first FEMA convention in Chicago in the fall of 1984. Since that time, Bob and I became friends in addition to our FEMA relationship. We spent many hours discussing the farm equipment industry through the good and bad economic years. For 11 years, we traveled to Sentry meetings together to Stevens Point and always managed to make a stop at the Allen Edmond shoe factory and left hard-earned money for the Wisconsin economy.  

David L Kahler, Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association
I met Bob when he was the convention director for Harold Halter and I was with the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association. Bob became the Executive VP in 1984, and I became the CEO in 1986. We developed a great relationship over the years. We became sounding boards for each other. My wife and I attended as many FEMA conventions as possible over the years. Bob even had me appear on a convention program representing the North American Farm Show Council. He always invited me to meetings to represent equipment dealers. When I retired from full-time employment in 2008, Bob was there to participate in my roast. He was a true friend in the industry.

Charles Glass, Association Board of Directors 2002-2005
Bob was a mentor, adviser, and very dear friend. He has left a lasting mark on the farm equipment industry that will be part of his legacy. Bob had that unique ability to convince you to take on an assignment and then gave gentle shoves to make sure that the assignment was carried out. He was a unique individual and will be greatly missed.

Kristi Schnelle Burmeister, Former Association Staff
Bob was instrumental in launching my career in ag nonprofit management. I will always be grateful to he and Harold Halter for mentoring this young country girl to take over Bob's original position in 1983 as he prepared to be the next executive vice president when Harold Halter retired. To this day, I still think of Bob and the "Shortliner" when I see that shade of green paper!