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Farmfest ready to roll for Aug. 5-7 run at Gilfillan Tuesday, July 29, 2008
GILFILLAN, Minn. -- Minnesota's largest outdoor farm show promises another great year of exhibits, forums and demonstrations.
Farmfest is Aug. 5-7 at Gilfillan Estate in Redwood County. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 7. Admission is $7 per person for those 18 and older. Parking is free.
Farmfest became an annual tradition in 1982. Prior to that, it was held sporadically in different locations in Minnesota.
Since 1994, Farmfest has been held at Gilfillan Estate, near the corner of Highway 67 and County Road 13. The event attracts more than 35,000 people from Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Gilfillan Estate was willed to the Redwood County Historical Society to be kept in memory of Charles Oswin Gilfillan, who gifted several buildings in the area. His father, Charles Duncan Gilfillan, purchased 13,000 acres of land in Redwood County and raised livestock for export to Great Britain.
The estate comes to life during Farmfest with public tours, horse and buggy rides and root beer floats. Old-time engines and antique farm machinery will be on display. Threshing, shelling and grinding demonstrations are held. Music flows from the stage while Farmfest-goers catch a break in the shade of large trees in front of the stage.
Next door to Gilfillan Estate will be the state's largest display of what's new in farm equipment.
More than 500 companies exhibit their latest and greatest on more than 50 acres. There's something from A to Z at Farmfest. Exhibitors include animal health companies, dairy equipment companies, agricultural equipment companies and wood burning heater companies. There will be information on fertilizer, fencing and financial services. There will be marketing consultants and agricultural consultants. There will be cattle handling and cattle feeding equipment. Check out the Exhibitor List inside this special section to see if the vendor you're looking for will be at Farmfest.
You can also see some of the equipment in action. Field demonstrations will be held daily on the east side of the show grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About 40 acres are reserved for field demonstrations. The field demonstrations include a sprayer ride-n-drive, a tractor ride-n-drive and haying demonstrations. These take place across Highway 13 to the east of the show site.
Check out how the crop is doing as you enter Farmfest. Twenty-six seed plots, each 60 feet by 120 feet, line the entrance. There are 4.3 acres in plots and a total of 6.5 acres of seed plots and company displays. Companies with plots include: NC+ Hybrids, Wensman Seed Co., Albert Lea Seed House, Inc., Mycogen Seed, Enestvedt Seed Co., Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Crow's Hybrid Corn Co., Stine Seed Company, Garst Seed Co., Gold Country Seed Inc., Dahlco Seeds, Inc., Golden Harvest, Monsanto, Na-Churs Alpine Solutions, NK Brand - Syngenta, Croplan Genetics, Legend Seeds, Trelay Seed Co., Midwest Seed Genetics, Pannar Seed Inc. and Producers Hybrids.
Show-goers who take the time to visit the Minnesota Soybean or AURI booths, Nos. 618 and 612 respectively, have the chance to register to win $500 worth of biodiesel. The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute have partnered to provide four $500 prizes. You must be 18 to enter and winners will be notified by telephone after the show.
There will be special events each day of the show.
On Aug. 5, National Farmers Union President Tom Buis will join Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson and Minnesota Farmers Union Communications Director Katie Pass in representing MFU in the Department of Natural Resource's 2nd annual "Buffalo Chip" throwing contest at Farmfest.
If you plan to visit Farmfest on Aug. 6, get there early. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is sponsoring a free pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. inside the Forum Tent for the first 1,000 people. The program will feature several special guests from the University of Minnesota and the agricultural industry, as well as music by The Great Pretenders. This recognition event is jointly sponsored by Farmfest and the University of Minnesota.
Aug. 6 is Farm Bureau Day at Farmfest. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman will attend the pancake breakfast and serve on a panel at the 10:30 a.m. forum "Beyond the New Farm Bill ... What are the Next Big Policy Issues Facing Agriculture?"
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, along with the University of Minnesota Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Program, Minnesota AgrAbility and local Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Chapters are sponsoring a Safety Scavenger Hunt during all three days of Farmfest. The Safety Scavenger Hunt offers hands on education for children and families. Participants in the Safety Scavenger Hunt will have the opportunity to learn about avoiding farm dangers and how to be safe while on the farm. Stop by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation booth 008 on the north side of the grounds to start your adventure.
On Aug. 7, more than 65 Farm Families of the Year will be recognized at 1:30 p.m. in the Forum Tent.
Kent Thiesse, Farmfest forum coordinator, has once again lined up a full schedule of interesting forums that you won't want to miss.
A special forum at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 is "Understanding Minnesota's TB Regulations and Testing Requirements." The forum is hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
At 10:30 a.m. Aug. 5, the fur may be flying as Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and challenger Al Franken, a Democrat, take the stage for the "U.S. Senate Candidate's Forum On Agriculture and Rural Issues." A panel of agriculture reporters for radio and newspaper will pose questions to the U.S. Senate candidates on a variety of issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.
At 1:15 p.m. Aug. 5, Gov. Tim Pawlenty will give a keynote address, followed by a "Congressional Candidate's Forum On Agriculture and Rural Issues" at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 5. All Congressional Candidates from Minnesota's First, Second, Third, Sixth and Seventh Congressional Districts have been invited to participate. Questions on a wide range of agriculture policy and rural issues will be asked by a panel of agriculture leaders from various agriculture organizations and commodity groups.
Also on Aug. 5, you're invited to help choose the region's Most Eligible Single Male Farmer and Single Female Farmer. Audience attendees have a chance to be selected to participate in the show, which is 3 p.m. Aug. 5 on the Forum stage.
At 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, has tentatively agreed to join Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau president, and Tom Buis, National Farmers Union president, to discuss agricultural policy issues in a forum titled, "Beyond The New Farm Bill ... What are the Next Big Policy Issues Facing Agriculture?"
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson will take the stage at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 6 for the forum, "Food and Fuel ... Where is the Balance for Renewable Energy?" The panel for this forum will include five experts of varying backgrounds on this topic, including: Brian Buhr, new department head at the U of M Applied Economics Department; Jim Sartwelle, livestock economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation; Randy Spronk, National Pork Producers Association board member; Steve Kramer, Minnesota Corn Growers Association secretary, and Newell Searle, vice president of Second Harvest Heartland.
The First Annual Auctioneering Championship will be at 3 p.m. Aug. 6 in the Forum Tent. Trophies and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. All proceeds from the event are donated to 4-H.
The last Farmfest forum of 2008 will be at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7. Mark Drabenstott, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute Center for Regional Competitiveness at the University of Missouri, will deliver the keynote for the forum, "Creating a New Vision for Rural Minnesota's Economic Future." The response panel will include: Marc Knisely, CEO of United Farm Credit Services; John Monson, vice president of rural development for AgStar Financial Services, and Bob Byrnes, mayor of Marshall and U of M regional Extension director.
Each day, the Linder Farm Network will broadcast the Noontime Ag Jamboree live from the Forum Tent with special guests the Great Pretenders. The all-male singing group also performs at 9:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Aug. 5; 8:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Aug. 6 and 9:30 a.m. Aug. 7. They will also entertain during the Farm Family of the Year recognition.
A Pedal Pull will be held daily at 1 p.m. between entrance gates 2 and 3. Children ages 4 to 11 are eligible to compete and the top three in each bracket win an award.
New this year is the Agripreneurship Pavilion, which is located just inside the entrance between gates 1 and 2. It will focus on ways that farmers can generate additional income on their farm. Topics including alternative energy, conservation development, orchards, alternative animal farming, organic agriculture, sustainable agriculture and vineyards will be discussed.
The Home and Garden Pavilion is also new this year. It is located just inside the entrance between gates 1 and 2. The pavilion will include items related to home improvement, home decor, landscaping, gardening, home decor and home improvement loans.
The Conservation and Habitat Pavilion is back this year. It's located just inside the entrance between gates 1 and 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 7. This pavilion offers a variety of products and services related to conservation, habitat development and outdoor activities. Some highlights include: Land owners help desk, free wood duck house building for children, buffalo chip toss competition, hunting and fishing tips and the National "Archery in the Schools Program" kids range.
Prairieland Fly Wheelers will display antique machinery in the northeast corner of the show grounds and the Craft and Toy tent features homemade items and farm toys, quilts, paintings and other unique items for sale.
With so much to do, you'll want to get something to eat. All Star Catering, B. Concessions LLC, Culvers, FaVer's Catering, Gobbler Concessions, Jerry Rankin Mini Donuts, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association, New Ulm Farm City Hub Club, Nitro Ice Cream, Redwood County ADA, St. Raphael Church and ZZQ Smokehouse are among the food vendors at Farmfest.
If you're looking for something to do after Farmfest closes for the evening, the Redwood County fairgrounds plays host to The Greater Minnesota Truck and Tractor Pull at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Those younger than 5 are free. They will be available at the fairgrounds beginning at 4 p.m. the day of the show.
The truck and tractor pull is organized by the United Pullers of Minnesota. It features three-engine modified tractors, heavy super stock tractors with up to four turbos capable of producing 2,000 horsepower and super farm tractors, which are a single turbo capable of producing 1,200 horsepower. There will also be two-wheel drive trucks, four-wheel drive trucks, Super Stock four-wheel drive trucks and semis. |
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