World Ag Expo--What a Day!

This past week we were able to go to the World Ag Expo. This is reportedly the largest agricultural show in the world. It takes place over three days in a town about 25 miles from home. I've been in the past a few times, but Maureen and the two children that came along had never been before. We also attended with grape growing brother-in-law and his son. This is a yearly show for ag companies to exhibit their new products and wares. People come from around the world to sell, buy and look at any product that is remotely ag related. Everything from Big ag to small startups. Politicians and celebrities are there to talk and look. I have never attended any Las Vegas trade shows, but they can't be any bigger than this. One thing gladly missing is the bikini clad women hawking disc blades. 

Usually it's raining for the Farm Show, but this year it was a gloriously warm day, which was nice as the show is HUGE! We walked for more than five hours and didn't see half of the exhibits and displays. The picture above shows about 1/2 to 2/3's of the show. The big white building near the center is for dairy products only. To the right of the dairy building is the truck and atv driving areas. Yes, you can try out different vehicles including the eight tires articulated tractors that dwarf a human. The building above the dairy building was the only building we walked through. This was for small implements, soil products, fertilizers and software companies. Brother-in-law needed to go here for some clients and we were able to learn about some products we can use on our vegetable gardens.  To give you a size idea of this building, we were inside for over an hour and talked to only about a dozen vendors. More stuff than a person could imagine.

Maureen and I were looking for tiny home displays as we had heard there were some at the show. Unfortunately none were present, but as brother-in-law was arranging to pick up a trailer we talked to the owner and sales rep about trailer specs. We discovered an organic fly attractor and trap that will allow us to feed the dead flies to the chickens. We learned the chemical makeup of a snail and slug product we use, and that we don't need the expensive "plus" version. We wanted to look at some fruit trees and talk to someone about them, but they were at the other end of the show and we never got there. We talked to some shipping container companies looking for storage options. I'm sure I've forgotten other products and sights.

A big highlight of the farm show is the food booths. Multiple variations of tri-tip sandwiches, or other meat products. Ice cream and food on a stick also. One school gives the students the week off and the students help in the food prep. It should be noted that the school nets $61,000 for the three day show. That's a good amount of money to supplement your programs. 

During and after the show I wondered about what I was experiencing. Large farming machinery from large companies seemed to dominate the landscape. But part of that was because the machines and implements literally took up large blocks of land. Technology was everywhere. The large tools had it evident, but software was used in every aspect of farming. Regular aircraft and drones with their ability to read what is happening in a field had many vendors. Systems that helped plants grow, cows get milked or land get leveled were found. It truly was a spectacle if you weren't up to date with ag practices. 

It was  good day and next year I will wear comfortable shoes.