Even those with the most casual interest in agriculture will want to be on hand when the 12th annual Farm News Ag Show kicks off at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the 2031 Quail Ave. on the East Campus of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. This new location for the event will be familiar to many area residents as the former headquarters of Smithway Motor Xpress. It is on the east side of Fort Dodge.

The two-day event will showcase a wide array of agricultural products and services. More than 70 exhibitors will be on hand in the 30,000 square feet of show space. 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.

As always, the show will offer an exciting educational opportunity. 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: Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University’s agriculture meteorologist; Matt Helmers, an Iowa State University associate professor and Extension agricultural engineer; Melissa O’Rourke, an ISU farm and agribusiness management specialist; Chad Hart, an ISU crops management specialist; David Kruse, president of CommStock Investments and author of the CommStock Report; Kelvin Liebold, a farm and ag business management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach; and Matt O’Neal, an ISU associate professor of entomology.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will be in the speaker room at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Intellectual stimulation will be complemented with an assortment of good food, including meals provided by the Webster County Pork Producers and the Webster County Beef Producers, and a free breakfast for the first 525 guests on Thursday.

There will be much to see and learn at the show, but there’s also the opportunity to win prizes. For example, show attendees can register to win a Kubota Toolbox valued at $2,100, sponsored by R&J Material Handling, Fort Dodge, and Farm News. They can also win a 1/16 die-cast metal replica of a Steiger Panther PTA 325, which is provided by LeMars Toy Store, in LeMars.

The Farm News Ag Show 2013 promises to be a splendid opportunity for education, good conversation, some outstanding food and just plain fun. See you there.