The whole idea of farm shows was to attract customers.  You don't get customers by ignoring them.  Farm shows are not sports events, or rock concerts, where you are an observer.  You, as a potential customer, are lured in by new paint and demonstrations of ability of the product on display.  If you, as a potential customer, cannot ask questions or provide input to the distributor or manufacturer, the vendor does not get customer feedback.  There have been changes to a product line due to field performance or customer feedback from these major shows, so individual attention is one of the valued results for many.

Several times I have met with highly placed individuals at farm shows, they used to be there to sound out customers about their product.

Gerald J states a good point, he should expect individual attention and his comments could well be appreciated by farm show vendors.

Your comments as to why he is any different were uncalled for, he is different, as are all people involved in production agriculture.  Not everyone has the ability or means to do this important job.  Farming is no longer the realm of those who can do nothing else, perhaps it never was, contrary to the opinion of some.