Visitors upgrade knowledge at Farm Progress Show

The 2024 Farm Progress Show marked off several goals to bring producers and farm vendors together during its three-day run Aug. 27-29.

Exhibitors and visitors came from around the world, and that diversity is a key to economic expansion goals globally and locally, said Matt Jungmann, national director of events for Farm Progress.

“Interest particularly from international visitors will continue to go up as the economy becomes more and more global and we at Farm Progress see it as our job to be leaders in helping that to happen,” Jungmann said.

People from China, Brazil and Germany were among the visitors who show up in bigger numbers to make more global contacts with show vendors as well as other networking opportunities, he said.

More than 30 countries were estimated at the show to review the latest ag products and visit specialists who developed, tested and designed them.

Economic and tourism groups organized the International Trade Center at the show to offer a comfortable location for international guests to relax, network, hold meetings, access the internet and make phone calls.

Jungmann said the show provides diversity in other ways.

“So many people here in Boone and central Iowa work hard to enable us to improve the show with a mix of ideas to show visitors — a look at the past (for instance, a variety of aged antique tractors), to views of the present with huge combines, bins and glances at related high-tech GPS equipment to allow producers to monitor crops and weather conditions from afar,” he said.

Big or small farm operators learn how they can monitor equipment or crops

thanks to ever improving GPS-based equipment, said Katie Quandahl, a CaseIH Precision equipment lead.

Quandahl lives in St. Louis. Whether she is there or at an out-of-state ag show, she can still monitor livestock and crop notifications for her family’s farm in northeast Iowa via her phone app.

When she sees something needing quick, up-close attention, she’ll text or call her family members to go evaluate the situation and resolve any problems, she said.

This year’s Boone show introduced a new, more efficient northern traffic route for attendees and offered advanced ticket sales online, providing a streamlined experience for visitors, Jungmann said.

Attendees watched field demonstrations as operators showed off capabilities of the massively big combines, planters and bins just outside the main grounds.

New seeds, crop protection solutions, fertilizer and more implement tools were showcased, offering insights into the advancements that are driving the industry forward.

Visitors also had opportunities to get behind the wheel. The Ride and Drive program returned and gave attendees a hands-on experience to test-drive the latest ATV and UTV vehicles.

A second Varied Industries Tent was used because of higher demand to show more new items. Both tents included an array of agricultural products and services, reflecting the varied needs of the ag community.

Extra heat with temps in the 90s reminded the thousands of visitors it was late summer. Consequently, organizers reminded show-goers to stay hydrated and posted signs directing people to two first-aid stations.