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Washington Evening Journal
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Fairfield arts center hosts farm show
FAIRFIELD – The latest in farm machinery was on display outside the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Saturday.
Tractors lined North Main Street that day as part of the Seventh Annual Kenny North Southeast Iowa Farm Show at the arts center.
Since its inception, the show has become one of Iowa’s top ag expos, featuring farm equipment, seed technology, grain handling, and more. Sponsors and exhibitors in agribusinesses throughout Southeast Iowa showcased their latest technology and made connections with the community through their booths in the arts center’s expo hall.
Though snow fell on Fairfield a few days before the show, it had mostly melted by Saturday morning and the mild temperatures were perfect for people who wanted to get out of the house and get a closer look at some modern farm implements.
FACC Executive Director Lindsay Bauer said this year’s show attracted more than 40 vendors and between 300-400 attendees. The Jefferson County Cattlemen served lunch to the hungry patrons, and reported that they sold out.
The farm show is often paired with a country music act that performs at the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, and this year was no different. On Saturday night, Wade Hayes took the stage. Hayes broke into the industry in his 20s with hits like “I’m Still Dancing with You,” “On a Good Night” and “What I Meant to Say.” Bauer said about 300 people attended his concert.
“I was told it was a requirement to get a country music show that night,” Bauer joked. “Our attendance at the concert was great, and the farm show was a very positive experience. We had a lot of good feedback from our vendors and sponsors, and it seems like it was one of our more successful farm shows.”
Bauer said parts of the arts center, which is about 15 years old, were designed with an ag expo in mind.
“As I understand it, Kenny Norton really pushed this idea that, if we’re going to have an arts center, it needs to have an ag expo,” she said. “The farm show is a great service to the ag businesses in our area, and I’m really pleased we’ve made a commitment to do this every year.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
Six-year-old Gage Patteson stands beside a tractor outside the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Saturday during the Seventh Annual Kenny Norton Southeast Iowa Farm Show. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Gretchen McLain and Paige Gaston of Libertyville Savings Bank hold up the farm animal-themed bags and glow sticks they gave to patrons who visited their booth in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center during Saturday’s farm show. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Steve Gunderson and Dee Sandquist told patrons about the business Niman Ranch at their booth Saturday during the Seventh Annual Kenny Norton Southeast Iowa Farm Show. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
This sprayer with its arms spread wide was impossible to miss Saturday, alerting residents that the Seventh Annual Kenny Norton Southeast Iowa Farm Show was going on inside the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
