Farm Progress Show returns to Decatur Aug. 29-31

DECATUR (FarmWeekNow) — Advance tickets are selling quickly for this year’s Farm Progress Show, planned for Aug. 29-31 in Decatur. And for good reason.

This year’s event, which is the first in four years to be held in the Prairie State without any restrictions, will feature nearly 550 exhibitors, the largest varied industries tent in the show’s history and daily field demonstrations and ride-and-drive opportunities.

“It’s shaping up to be a tremendous Farm Progress Show (FPS),” Matt Jungmann, FPS manager, told FarmWeek. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

Showgoers will have a chance to see the latest equipment and technology, including autonomous solutions, electric vehicles, smart sprayers and drone sprayers. “There’s lots of new things. All of the big companies will be there, most with new products to unveil (including the latest Big Bud tractor),” Jungmann said. “We’re really excited about this year’s show.”

The varied industries tent was expanded to a record-size this year and will cover more than an acre. It was set up on a floor of recycled soy asphalt.

Meanwhile, crops on the FPS show grounds are on pace for a timely harvest and additional fieldwork demonstrations during the show.

“The host farmers have done a great job. All the corn was in the ground April 14. It got through the bad stretch of dry weather well,” Jungmann said. “Assuming we get three days of (favorable) weather, we’re not going to have trouble running field demonstrations all three days.”

Soil judging contest

Other items of interest at the show include a return of the Illinois and Indiana FFA soil judging event that will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 29.

The FPS show site contains both prairie and timber soils and efforts will be made to feature at least some native prairie soil pits, Farm Progress reported. Students will judge two homesite pits and two agriculture pits, rating soils on nine specific properties.

To learn more about the soil judging contest, contact Dennis Bowman, University of Illinois, at (217) 244-0851 or [email protected].

Farm Progress Show to hold mini-tractor pulls

Meanwhile, the National Micro-Mini Tractor Pullers Association will hold a pull in various classes each day on the southwest corner of the grounds, Farm Progress reported.

For more information or to purchase tickets for FPS, visit the website, FarmProgressShow.com. Show hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 29-30 and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 31.

Jungmann recommends showgoers purchase tickets for this year’s show in advance to receive special discounted prices and to skip the main gate with access to the QuickPass lane.

Daniel Grant, FarmWeek

Website | + posts

Dan grew up on a family farm near Roseville, Warren County. He received a degree in journalism from Western Illinois University. He has been working as a journalist since 1991 and has been at FarmWeek since 2005. One way Dan discovers what is important to an Illinois farmer is by simply talking to them at events. He also keeps track of what’s trending on social media. Dan likes to let farmers tell their story and put a face to agriculture when he isn’t covering the markets.

• Daniel Grant, FarmWeek

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/daniel-grant-farmweek/

  Fall seed harvest off to good start
• Daniel Grant, FarmWeek

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/daniel-grant-farmweek/

  Plant-based meat alternatives struggle to make the cut
• Daniel Grant, FarmWeek

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/daniel-grant-farmweek/

  Heat wave could slow drought improvement
• Daniel Grant, FarmWeek

  https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.com/author/daniel-grant-farmweek/

  Dust storms rare, not unheard of in Illinois