In visiting with local farm broadcaster Jared White Thursday afternoon, Farm Progress Show Manager Matt Jungmann said that he was very pleased with this year's show.

 

 

He said that with the exception of a Tuesday morning accident in a road leading to Progress City, parking went well.   Overflow parking was used both Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

Jungmann is already having conversations about the 2025 show in Decatur.  Next year's show is in Boone, Iowa, August 27-29, 2024.

Day 3 of the Farm Progress Show in Decatur Thursday brought a big crowd.   The weather in Decatur was picture perfect.

 

It was the final day of the show, which saw record crowds on Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to the weather.

 

 

Picture perfect weather brought a record Day 2 crowd to the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday.

 

 

The overflow parking lot had to be used earlier than usual for a typical Wednesday, another sign of a record Wednesday crowd.  Food tent lines were also longer and lasted into mid-afternoon.

Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker Tuesday announced a new Farm Family Resource Initiative at the Farm Progress Show.  It's meant to address the continuing mental health issues farmers experience.

 

According to the Governor's Office,  the funding will be for a grant program aimed at breaking down the stigma of accessing mental health services in agricultural communities. The announcement was made in partnership with the Illinois FFA Foundation and the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine.

 

The Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI) was created initially as a pilot program covering six Illinois counties providing telehealth mental health access in addition to a helpline. Following its overwhelming success, the FFRI was expanded to cover all 102 counties in the state. In addition to the telehealth helpline, family members can now access six free telehealth mental health sessions.

 

The program will also fund up to 20 grants at $1,000 each to support FFA chapters implementing local initiatives encouraging access to mental health resources. Grants will be used to increase awareness of mental health and wellness in schools and communities across Illinois. All FFA chapters in Illinois are eligible to apply for the grant, and grant applications will be available from the Illinois FFA Foundation in fall 2023.

 

Here's a tour of the Farm Progress Show amidst the record crowd, on Tuesday, the first day of the show, from a golf cart.

 

 

Record crowds visited the enlarged Varied Industries Tent.  It had a record number of vendors, and still has a waiting list for future shows.

 

 

Chevrolet showed off their 2024 trucks with a "Ride and Drive."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mansea Metal of Mt. Zion again has a presence at this year's Farm Progress Show.

 

District Sales Manager Mike Barringer (right) is manning the booth all 3 days showing prospective customers the many sizes and styles of pole barn building components made at their local plant.

 

Here's the interview illinoisfarmradio.com did with Mike, discussing the larger buildings farmers are demanding for their machinery:

 

 

Stop by their booth or go on-line to manseametal.com.

 

 

 

Brock Grain Systems' footprint at this year's Farm Progress Show again shows off the latest in grain bin technology.

 

illinoisfarmradio.com visited with Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Tuttle about all that Brock is showing off at this year's show.

 

 

 

 

The new Vector grain dryer is being unveiled at the FPS for the first time, and culminates several years of research and development at Brock.

 

 

illinoisfarmradio.com visited with District Sales Manager Shawn Gearhart during our coverage Thursday morning:

 

 

Here is Shawn's interview from Wednesday morning:

 

 

 

 

 

Stop by the Brock Grain Systems exhibit on the northeast quadrant of the show.

Here are this year's Farm Progress Show interviews heard on illinoisfarmradio.com during our over 30 hours of coverage:

Heard August 31, 2023:

 

Shawn Gearhart, Territory Sales Manager, Brock Grain Systems

 

 

Jacob Hansen, Co-Founder, ALA Engineering

 

 

Eric Potter, Inventory Manager, Haber Technologies

 

 

Abagail Peterson, Director of Agronomy, Illinois Soybean Association

 

 

Brad Belzer and Trevor Foling, Common Ground

 

Chase Burns, The Land Guys

 

 

Linda Underson, Grass Works Manufacturing

 

 

Mike Barringer, Sales Manager, Mansea Metal

 

 

Craig Gansel, Founder, Farm Wave

 

 

Zack Corbin, Founder, AWS Airbar

 

 

Crystal Kopecke, Director of Sales, Walkabout Mother Bins

 

 

Heard August 30, 2023:
 

Matt Jungmann, National Events Manager, Farm Progress Show

 

 

Phil Montgomery, Co-Owner, AMFM Hemp Farm

 

 

Taylor Whetley, US Commercial Manager, Solentech

 

 

Charles Verron, one of the co-founders, Farmers Business Network

 

 

David Brix, one of the host farmers of the Farm Progress Show

 

 

Shawn Gearhart, District Sales Manager, Brock Grain Systems

 

Jim Reid, Piatt County Farmer and member, US Grains Council

 

Jeff Cooper, CEO, Renewable Fuels Association

 

 

Cody Faas, President, Faas Sprayers

 

 

Greg Rober, Vice President Sales, Ag Direct 

 

Eric Shuman, General Manager, Raven

 

 

Jennifer Ferkins, Vice President, Springfield Plastics

 

 

 

Ron Harmon, founder and CEO, Big Equipment Show

 

 

Ryan Berg, Chief Operating Officer, Farm Credit Illinois

 

 

Jeff Akel, Global Product Manager, Case IH

 

 

Tom Curlee, Global Product Manager, Case IH

 

 

David Brennan, Planning Market Manager, Case IH

 

 

Keith Barkema, volunteer, Farm Rescue

 

 

Ken Paul, Product Marketing Manager, New Holland

 

 

Cole Sanford, Cash Crop Product Specialist, New Holland

 

 

 

Heard August 29, 2023:

 

John Tuttle, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Brock Grain Systems

 

 

Andy Thompson, AOR Manager, Yetter Farm Equipment

 

 

Kevin Bernson, Vice President of Media and Public Relations, Shelby Electric Cooperative

 

 

Colin Rogers, Sustainable Systems Agronomist, Bayer

 

 

Chris Turner, US Country Division Manager for Seed Brands, Bayer

 

 

 

Lance Darkeeohnee, Agronomist, DeKalb Asgrow

 

 

Denise Bouvet, Team Lead, Corn Systems, Bayer

 

 

Alex Harrold, Georgia Farmer at the Bayer exhibit

 

 

Mike Barringer, Territory Sales Manager, Mansea Metal

 

 

Jason Faulkner, Director of Field Operations, Terrakamp

 

 

Adam Nielsen, National Legislative Director, Illinois Farm Bureau

 

 

Doug Yoder, Crop Agency Manager, Country Financial

 

 

Susan Moore, Director, IAA Foundation

 

 

Raelynn Parmalee, Environmental Programs Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau

 

 

Ron Knidel, Assistant Director for Transportation and Infrastructure, Illinois Farm Bureau

 

 

Elizabeth Burns Thompson, Vice President for Government and Public Affairs, Navigator CO2

 

 

Josh Robinson, Product Support Specialist, Precision Planting

 

 

Josh Stoler, Region Manager, Southern Illinois, Precision Planting

 

 

Jim Zinc, Director of Biological Products, Indigo

 

 

Craig Lee, Director of Sales, Gearinghoff

 

 

Adrian McMorris, Video Marketer, Evolution Wheels

 

 

Justin Welch, Head of Digital Ag, Syngenta

 

 

Eric Blake, Head of North America Operations, Syngenta Seeds; and Mike Harts, Head of Sustainable Oils

 

 

Kramer Farney, Head of Marketing, Golden Harvest Seeds

 

 

Chris Reynolds, Midwest Director, America Farmland Trust

 

 

Jake and Jonathan, Pegasus Ag Spray Drones

 

 

Nick Yates, Central Region Farm Server Rep, Beck's Hybrids

 

 

Nick Tylertson, CEO, Rise Recon

 

 

 

Heard August 28, 2023:

 

Matt Jungmann, National Events Manager, Farm Progress

 

 

Carter Hitchings from Clinton, Ag Student at Richland Community College

 

 

Lindsay Mitchell, Communications Manager, Illinois Corn Marketing Board

 

 

Craig Johnson, VP Marketing, Monarch Electric Tractors

 

 

Mike Miller, Director of Sales for North America, GTS

 

 

Mike Earles, Regional Manager, Wyffels Hybrids

 

 

Tim Harmon, Area Team Leader, Beck's Hybrids

 

 

 

Greg Sauder, Founder, 360 Yield Center

 

 

Heard August 23, 2023:

 

David Brix, Host Farmer

 

 

Greg Florian, Richland Community College

 

 

Dena Morgan, Farm Progress Show

 

 

 

Matt Jungmann, National Events Manager, Farm Progress Show

 

 

 

Tim Stock, Manager, Macon County Farm Bureau and FPS Volunteer

 

 

 

Heard August 25, 2023:

 

Stephanie Porter, Illinois Soybean Association

 

 

 

Jess Smithers, Director of Ag Curriculum, Richland Community College

 

 

 

Beth Bolger, Farm Credit Illinois

 

 

 

Erin Bellinger, Show Manager, AGCO

 

 

 

 

 

Final preparations are being made for the gates to the Farm Progress Show in Decatur to open tomorrow morning at 8.

 

 

The show again has a record number of exhibitors including in the Varied Industries Tent.

 

 

Show hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 8 to 5, Thursday 8 to 4.

 

Listen to all of illinoisfarmradio.com's platforms on air and on line for extensive live coverage all 3 days from 6am to 3pm.

 

Coming up next week on The Farm Show....LOTS of coverage from the 70th Annual Farm Progress Show in Decatur!!

 

8/28 am
Lance Tarochione – Dekalb/Asgrow Agronomist in West Central IL

 

8/28 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
(12:20-2p on WHOW
12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

8/29 am
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
6:40-6:55a on Both

Extra FPS Coverage:

7:40-7:45am  &  8:40-10a on Both WHOW & WTIM

 

8/29 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
(12:20-3p on WHOW
12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

8/30 am
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
6:40-6:55a on Both

Extra FPS Coverage:

7:40-7:45am  &  8:40-10a on Both WHOW & WTIM

 

8/30 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
(12:20-3p on WHOW
12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

8/31 am
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
6:40-6:55a on Both

Extra FPS Coverage:

7:40-7:45am  &  8:40-10a on Both WHOW & WTIM

 

8/31 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
(12:20-3p on WHOW
12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

9/1 am
Doug & Jordan Zimmer – Logan & Tazewell County Farmers

 

9/1 noon
Jon Skinner – Regional Agronomy Manager @ Beck's Hybrids

 

Coming up next week on The Farm Show...

 

8/21 am
Rich Guebert – ILFB President &
Marty & Evan Marr – Sangamon Co Farmers

 

8/21 noon
Scott Beck – President @ Beck's Hybrids  &
Keith Enhle – Beck's El Paso PFR Site Manager

 

8/22 am
Five Illinois State FFA Officers &
Tim Thompson – ILCMB

 

8/22 noon
Tyler Barringer – Seed Advisor for Beck's Hybrids in Central IL

 

8/23 am
Sean Murray – Chief Marketplace Officer @ Farm Credit IL  &
Samantha Hazelwonder – Sect. 16 FFA President

 

8/23 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show Media Day

(12:20-2p on WHOW)
(12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

8/24 am
Chad Kalaher – Agronomist @ Beck's Hybrids in East Central IL

 

8/24 noon
Mark Gebhards - Chief Strategy Officer @ IL Farm Bureau

 

8/25 am
Dave Duzan – President @ IL Beef 
& Jim Love - Light Robotics Mgr @ Beck's

 

8/25 noon
LIVE @ Farm Progress Show
(12:20-2p on WHOW)
(12:20-1p on WTIM)

 

 

Friday, August 11th was Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair.   It was also the first day of the Fair's 10-day run.

 

Agriculture was in the spotlight, with agriculture leaders from across the state converging on the Commodities Pavilion during the noon hour for interviews with farm broadcasters and media.

 

illinoisfarmradio.com broadcast its Noon Farm Show live from the event.   Here are the interviews that were featured during the broadcast:

 

FFA Section 16 president Samantha Hazelander:

 

 

FFA State Officer Team:

 

 

Shawn Murray, Senior Vice-President and Chief Marketplace Officer, Farm Credit Illinois:

 

 

Mark Gebhards, Chief Strategy Officer, Illinois Farm Bureau:

 

 

Tim Thompson, District 10 director, Illinois Corn Marketing Board:

 

 

Marty and Evan Marr; Marty is past president of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board:

 

 

Dave Duzan, president, Illinois Beef Association:

 

 

Rich Guebert, president, Illinois Farm Bureau:

 

 

Coming up next week on The Farm Show...

 

8/14 am
Andy Thompson – AOR Mgr @ Yetter Farm Equipment

 

8/14 noon
Brian Randle – Henderson County Strip Till Farmer

 

8/15 am
Dale Kock – Product Lead @ Radicle Agronomics

 

8/15 noon
LIVE @ DeWitt County Farm Bureau

 

8/16 am
Tony Vyn – Professor of Agronomy @ Purdue University

 

8/16 noon
LIVE @ Macon County Farm Bureau

 

8/17 am
Jake & Sara Hotze – Effingham Co. Producers & FCI Director's Cup

 

8/17 noon
Natalie Kerr – IL Coordinator @ Saving Tomorrow's Ag Resources

 

8/18 am
Lynn Curry – Scholarship Chair @ IL Agri-Women

 

8/18 noon
Chad Conder – Shelby Co. Producer & FCI Director's Cup

 

 

Coming up next week on The Farm Show...

 

8/7 am
Dan Halstrom – CEO @ US Meat Export Federation

 

8/7 noon
Bryce Baker – Marketing Director @ Precision Planting

 

8/8 am
Chris Enroth – U of I Horticulture Educator on Ginger

 

8/8 noon
Claire Weinzerl – Communications Manager @ IL Soybean Association

 

8/9 am
Noah Newman – Technology Editor @ Strip Till Farmer Magazine

 

8/9 noon
LIVE @ DeWitt County Farm Bureau

 

8/10 am
Marion Calmer – Owner @ Calmer Corn Heads

 

8/10 noon
Jason Webster – PTI Farm Director @ Precision Planting

 

8/11 am
Kaitlin Tharp – Farm Credit Illinois On FreshRoots Director's Cup

 

8/11 noon
LIVE @ IL State Fair Ag Day
(12:20-1p on Both)

 

 

Jim Wilkerson with Vieweg Real Estate, provided us a link to a drone view of Progress City before move-in of this month's Farm Progress Show.   Enjoy:

 

https://youtu.be/A-sZ18b-v1E

 

Listen to illinoisfarmradio.com, WHOW's AM-FM-streaming platforms, and WTIM's AM-FM-streaming platforms, for extensive coverage of this year's show starting with Media Day on Wednesday, August 23.