By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A winter break for farmers and ranchers awaits at the Kansas City American Royal Complex as the 2020 Western Farm Show kicks off this weekend.
Western Farm Show Manager Ken Dean says new implements, tractors, trucks, and every conceivable piece of equipment used on the farm will be spread out over the 400-Thousand square feet of exhibit space. Dean says it’s a great opportunity for farmers and ranchers who have felt cooped up this winter to get out.
“What a great opportunity in the American Royal building, which is pretty big and we fill that with exhibitors,” Dean tells St. Joseph Post. “So, as a farmer or a rancher, you have an opportunity to see probably anything and everything that’s available to you that, whether you’re making a purchase or not, you have a chance to see it, maybe find out what’s out there that you weren’t aware of.”
Dean says it is a great chance to speak with representatives of the various products.
Dean says FFA Day will be held Friday, adding that has had an impact over generations.
“I hear every year, an adult at the farm show will tell me, you know, my first experience was 22 years ago and I was in Bethany, Missouri and I came down on the bus with all the kids and I was a sophomore and I saw everything you had at your show and my eyes were wide open,” Dean says. “That’s what we want. We want the students to come. We want the families to come, the professionals to come.”
Dean says the show not only displays the latest in equipment and implements, but serves an educational role as well.
“I think as you walk through the show and there’s a lot to see there, that’s the great opportunity, is you can visit with those people, find out from them, pick their brains, they’re there, find out what you can pick up from them, take it back to the farm or ranch, and hopefully get better at what you’re doing.”
This is the 59th Western Farm Show, produced by the Western Equipment Dealers Association. It opens Friday morning at the American Royal at 9 o’clock. Show hours Friday and Saturday at 9am 5pm and 9am to 4pm on Sunday.
The Western Farm Show doesn’t such display the latest equipment, it host numerous exhibits and demonstrations, such as the Stockmanship and Stewardship Low-Stress Livestock Handling Demonstration, sponsored by MFA Incorporated, held Saturday, both at 10:30am and 2pm in the Scott Pavilion adjacent to the American Royal.
Health, including mental health issues, is the focus of the Heath and Safety Roundup, with interactive and educational health and safety exhibits. Free health care screenings will include blood pressure and hearing tests, tetanus shots, vision screening, glaucoma testing and children’s eye screening (infants to six years). Cholesterol screenings will also be offered for a nominal fee.
Attendees can shop for clothing, crafts, home décor, and food at the Family Living Center on the upper level of the American Royals building
A food drive will be hosted by the FFA Friday, a show tradition on FFA Day, which attracts 3,000 FFA students from Missouri and Kansas. Food donations are given to Harvesters — The Community Food Network, a regional food bank serving a 26-county area of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.
For more information, click here to visit the Western Farm Show website.