Farm show provides information
about new equipment,
methods
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
Thousands of Midwesterners battled chilly winds
and cold rain on Tuesday at the 47th annual Farm Progress Show.
Agricultural companies and organizations carried
on with the show despite the harsh conditions.
Dennis Flanagan, a professor of agriculture at
Purdue, said that weather did affect the number of people that traveled
through the tents displayed by various Purdue organizations.
"When it rained, people tended to come in more,"
said Flanagan.
Flanagan was in the Purdue Extension exhibit tent
demonstrating erosion, using a geographic information system to simulate.
Flanagan said that even though weather conditions
may have been the reason fewer people came through the show, Purdue
still reaped some rewards.
"There is a large presence of Purdue at this show,"
said Flanagan.
Flanagan said a main attraction to Purdue's contribution
to the Farm Progress Show was the corn-made maze, titled 'The Boiler
Mazer,' a rainfall simulator and a large tornado simulator.
Brent Cox, a sophomore in the School of Agriculture,
said he came to the show to see all of the new equipment presented by
companies such as New Holland, John Deere, Case DMI and Caterpillar
Inc.
"I really wanted to see the new John Deere 8520,"
said Cox.
Cox comes from a family farm in Benton County and
said the show benefits his farm because it enables him to see what's
new and up-to-date in agriculture and technology.
Cox said he had been to the Farm Progress Show
before for similar reasons.
New agricultural equipment and technology are not
the only amenities presented within the show.
Amanda Spencer, a Purdue equine community practice
veterinarian, came to the show to discuss and demonstrate hoof care
and hoof trimming for horses.
A roping demonstration is given on the grounds
of the show for experienced and inexperienced ropers by the Rickey Green
Roping Clinic every day of the show. Green uses his own skills to teach
the surrounding crowds.
Craig Cameron, a man known for his talents with
horses, gives demonstrations throughout the day about training horses
and making them compatible with people. His demonstrations will be held
today and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Livestock Tent on 8th
Avenue.
In addition to roping and horse-handling demonstrations,
tilling demos are presented to the public to deliver the newest conservation
practices. Manufacturers are on hand to answer any questions about improving
drainage systems and how to best implement a system in the lands of
Farm Progress Show goers.
Seed varieties are also presented to farmers looking
for the latest in seed genetics. Test plots are available for viewing.
Next year the 48th annual Farm Progress Show will
be held in Alleman, Iowa. The show, which will run Sept. 24 through
Sept. 26 2002, will be hosted on the same host farms of the 1987 Farm
Progress Show. The farms of Jack and Steve Holland, Den, Ray and Del
Stall, Steve and Todd Twedt will be joined by Harold Lande's family
farm in their efforts to host the 2002 show. Each of the families lives
near Alleman, Iowa, which is located approximately 30 minutes from Des
Moines.
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