Ideal conditions are being credited for a successful first day of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. The 68th annual farm show kicked off Tuesday near Loyal in Clark County, where attendees had a chance to get free skin care screenings, operate virtual equipment and test drive a brand new pick-up truck. Hundreds of vendors were also on hand to answer questions about their agricultural products and services. And high school students got the opportunity to participate in land judging and a tractor driving contest.
During opening ceremonies, State Agriculture Secretary Randy Romanski credited producers in the area for making the county second most in the state for cattle and number one for dairy production.
"Just like the show's theme of 'where tradition and technology meet,' Farm Technology Days is about the future, but it also connects us with the past," Romanski said. "We all have stories of coming to the show while we are young, yet we continue to take part in this event because it keeps up with innovation."
Dennis Roehl of the host family also gave a nod to the many volunteers who had a hand in making the show possible.
"They say it takes a village to raise a child," he noted. "I have come to realize that it takes an entire county to do this."
Meanwhile, Wednesday promises to be another eventful day. Educational sessions on using accurate weather forecasting while farming will be presented in the Rural Events Center. There will also be a ceremony to honor past hosts of Farm Progress Days and Farm Technology Days. Attendees will have another opportunity to take in field demonstrations. And the first-ever Farm Tech Fest will take place after the farm show concludes for the day, featuring country music legends Joe Nichols and Sawyer Brown.
The local weather forecast for today is calling for partly sunny conditions with highs in the low-80s.
Farm Technology Days runs from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. today and Thursday.
Categories: Wisconsin, Business, General