Even those with the most casual interest in agriculture will want to be on hand when the eighth annual Farm News Ag Show kicks off Wednesday at the Career Education Building on the Iowa Central Community College campus in Fort Dodge. The show will offer an exciting educational opportunity.

The two-day event will showcase the latest technology in grain and livestock products, agricultural services, seed varieties and farm toys. More than 40 exhibitors will be on hand. The range of their offerings is certain to be truly outstanding. Those who pay close attention to agricultural trends will find much on the show floor to expand their knowledge of options available today as well as those on the drawing boards for tomorrow.

Food for thought, of course, is at the core of a successful exhibition and this year’s show promises to meet that goal superbly. Featured speakers include:

• David Kruse, president of CommStock Investments and Brazil Iowa Farms, both based in Royal, will speak from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday on “Reinflating the American Economy: Ramifications and Risks to Ag Marketing.” United Bank of Iowa is the sponsor for Kruse’s presentation.

• Jerry Carroll, a farmer and humorist who is being sponsored by POET Biorefining will provide entertainment from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

• Allen Patten, vice president of the Farm Credit Service office in Hamilton County and sponsored by FCS, will speak from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. His topic is the volatility and risk in production agriculture and the commodity markets.

• Brian Hoops, president of and a senior analyst at Midwest Market Solutions Inc., which is based in Yankton, S.D., will speak for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday on “Marketing in a New Era of Agriculture.” Hoops is a syndicated columnist for Farm News and other publications. His presentation is sponsored by Brokaw Supply Co.

• Dr. Lawrence Johnson, director of Iowa State University’s new Bio Century Research Farm, will speak from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday. The Research Farm is sponsoring his remarks.

Doughnuts and coffee will be available Wednesday morning served by the Ag Relations Task Force of the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce.

A free breakfast will be served 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Thursday by Chris Cakes to the first 525 people. The sponsor for this event is Lundell Plastics.

Lunch both Wednesday and Thursday will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The grilling on Wednesday will be by Webster County Pork Producers and on Thursday by the Webster County Beef producers. Members of the Ag Relations Task Force of the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce will handle service both days with the help of ag students from Iowa Central.

There will be much to see and learn at the show, but in addition to all that, there’s also the opportunity to win prizes including a Bobcat BG5H portable generator sponsored by R & J Material Handling.

Partnering with Farms News to bring this show to the farm community are Bank of America, Brokaw Supply Co., the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Relations Task Force, Iowa Central Community College, Iowa State University Extension – Fort Dodge, Lundell Plastics, POET Biorefining – Gowrie, R & J. Material Handling, United Bank of Iowa, Webster County Beef Producers and Webster County Pork Producers.

The Farm News Ag Show 2009 promises to be a splendid opportunity for education, good conversation, some outstanding food and just plain fun. See you there.