Speakers scheduled for 7th annual Farm News Ag Show
Event slated Dec. 3, Dec. 4 at Iowa Central Community College
The four mainspeakers for the seventh annual Farm News Ag Show includes well-known market analyst David Kruse, who is also a regular Farm News columnist; plus Jim Sturdevant, of POET, talking on celulosic ethanol; Mike White, Iowa State University viticulturalist, talking on the expanding grape and wine-making industry in Iowa; and Mike Bergmeyer, of ShieldAG and Acra-Plant, to talk on strip-tillage and precision agriculture research.
The show is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Dec. 3, and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 4. It will be held in the Career Education Building on the Iowa Central Community College campus in Fort Dodge.
The speakers' schedules and profiles are as follows:
• David Kruse — Dec. 3, from10 a.m. to noon. Kruse will speak on “Back to reality: New paradigms for the ag economy.” Kruse is president of CommStock Investments, based in Royal, in Clay County, and Brazil Iowa Farms, also based in Royal.
• Mike Bergmeyer — Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bergmeier is president of ShieldAg and Acra-Plant, based in Hutchinson, Kan. He will be presenting on the results of seven years of research and development in strip till and precision agriculture. ShieldAg manufactures fertilizer knives and strip till points and Acra-Plant specialize.
• Mike White — Dec. 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. White will present on “Iowa Winegrape Industry 101.” He is ISU’s leading viticulturalist and will talk about the state’s grape-growing history, where the industry is going today where we are going and how to get into the industry.
• Jim Sturdevant — TBA. Sturdevant is the director for POET’s Project Liberty, which is attempting to make cellulosic ethanol to commercial viability. A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Sturdevant joined POET in 2007 after a 22-year career with the U.S. Geologic Survey.
As of Wednesday morning, there were just10 exhibitor booths available. To reserve a booth, or for more information, contact a Farm News sales staff member at (800) 622-6613, ext. 451.
The Webster County Pork Producers will grill Wednesday’s lunch, which will be served from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. by members of the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce ag relations task force.
A free pancake breakfast will be served Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. to the first 525 visitors attending that day. The breakfast is being sponsored by Lundell Plastics.
Thursday’s lunch will be grilled by Webster County Beef Producers and will be served from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. by the ag relations committee task force.
A slate of great gifts, valued at $2,600, will be given away, compliments of R&J Material Handling and Farm News. The items include:
• A 20-inch Dolmar chainsaw.
• A pair of 18-inch Dolmar chainsaws.
• A pair of Dolmar straight trimmers.
• A Dolmar blower/vacuum.
Other partners for the 2008 Farm News Ag Show include POET Biorefining-Gowrie, Wagner Truck & Auto Sales, ISU Extension of Webster County, United Bank of Iowa and Bank of America.