By NATE KING
Salina Post
Local volunteers are working diligently to prepare for one of the largest spring farm shows in the Midwest. For over half a century there has been a farm show in Salina. The first show was comprised of small displays showcasing only local manufacturers. Fifty-seven years later, the Mid America Farm Expo, March 22-24, will offer attendees a close up look at 300 exhibits representing approximately 275 companies from across the United States. The show is free to the public and is expected to draw people from all across the Midwest.
The first farm expo
Carl Garten, chairman of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce's agricultural committee, said he was a sixth grader when he attended the first farm show 57 years ago.
"I went with my dad to Kenwood Hall at the fairgrounds, and the show was just a few displays," Garten said. "When the show first started it was strictly for Salina manufacturers only."
According to the chamber, the expo began 57 years ago as part of a Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce project. It was named the Salina Materials Handling Show and had 44 exhibits on display on the Saline County Fairgrounds, now called the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.
Garten said the largest percentage of expo visitors this year will come from western Kansas.
"We usually get a big draw from the northwest part of Kansas and to the west of here," Garten said. "We'll draw some from down south towards the Oklahoma border, and then north into Nebraska."
Attendance for this year's expo is expected to be as large as 8,000.
K-State Research and Extension
Cade Rensink, director for K-State Research and Extension's Central District said Extension's role in the expo focuses primarily on securing speakers for the event and advertising the event.
"We [K-State Research and Extension] have a pretty good network of folks to reach out to," Rensink said. "We travel enough throughout the state and throughout the country, that we know which folks are the premier experts on a certain topic."
Rensink said agricultural transition planning, where agricultural land, in part or in whole, changes hands, will be an important topic at this year's expo given the average age of agriculture producers is 66 years old.
"It's been a topic on people's minds for 20 years. People are always unfortunately, passing and farms have to transition. So it's always been something that's been talked about," Rensink said. "But we are in an ag cycle right now where at any given moment, there could be just this massive exodus from farming."
Rensink said K-State Research and Extension serves as a resource for ag producers who want to begin the process of transition planning.
"We want to help people and make sure they are well equipped when making this decision," Rensink said.
Shannon Ferrell, professor in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, will give a presentation about transition farming at at the farm expo later this month.
Other topics that will covered at this year's expo include:
● Mechanics of building a farm legacy: transactional tools
● Carbon credit programs
● Ag economy-"How are we looking?"
● Grain and livestock market outlook
Volunteers lend a hand
Each year 50 – 75 volunteers including area wide school groups and FFA and 4H students, help to move into the venue space and set up. In the weeks prior to the event expo volunteers of all ages come together to go over event details and what all needs to happen in order to claim this year's expo a success.
Brandon Baugh, Bank of Tescott agriculture lender, said he has helped with the past six Mid America Farm Expos.
"Everybody getting together to put on a good show," Baugh said. "If you don't put on a good show every year, then it's really easy to lose it. So what it takes is help from everybody to make it all come together."
Baugh is a graduate of Fort Hays State University with dual degrees in general agriculture and agribusiness.
Volunteer coordinators, Raymond and Julie Bilson of Salina, said since retiring, volunteering has become their favorite activity.
"You gotta keep busy when you're retired," Raymond said. "You can't just watch the world out the window. It's a wonderful show and we enjoy working with all the volunteers and staff every year."
This will be Raymond and Julie's sixth year volunteering with the expo, and their first time coordinating volunteers.
"Nobody has volunteered all 57 years of this show so far," Raymond said. "I mean, there are people who have done this for years and year and it makes our job easier."
Southeast of Saline's FFA chapter will be also be at the Expo on Wednesday, March 22nd. Students will present their projects and provide details about their chapter.