Fairfield arts center to host Kenny Norton Southeast Iowa Farm Show

FAIRFIELD — After taking a year off, the Kenny Norton Southeast Iowa Farm Show will return to Fairfield.

The Fairfield Arts & Convention Center announced it will host the show, in its seventh year, on Saturday, Feb. 26. The event will last from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

The show has become one of Iowa’s top ag expos, featuring the latest in machinery, seed technology, grain handling, and more. Sponsors and exhibitors in agribusinesses throughout Southeast Iowa will be showcasing their latest technology and making connections with the community. Lunch will be available for purchase from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., served up by the Jefferson County Cattlemen, and there will be activities for children and families throughout the day.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is scheduled to speak at noon on the state of agriculture in Iowa and what the industry can expect in the future. Naig’s presentation is also free and open to the public.

“It’s really important to us to be able to showcase Southeast Iowa business like this,” said Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Director Lindsay Bauer. “Fairfield has this amazing backbone in the ag industry, and getting to partner and support local leaders this way is great.”

The Farm Show will be followed by a performance by country music icon Wade Hayes at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Wade Hayes concert are available at fairfieldacc.com or by calling the arts center’s box office at 641-472-2787.

The most recent farm show was held in 2020, and that show attracted more than 60 exhibits and about 400 attendees.

The farm show is a special event for Bauer, because it played a roll in bringing her to Fairfield. Before Bauer was the arts center’s director, she performed in the play “Map of My Kingdom,” held at the arts center one day before the farm show in 2019 as a way of promoting the event.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com