Posted: 12.28.2011

The states largest outdoor agriculture event is looking for a new host.  

Ron Schuler, general manager of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, says that although they've got secure sites through 2014 - now is the time to try and find the next host site.  "Normally we'd be announcing the 2015 hosts in early 2012 to give them ample time to get organized and start raising funds."  Schuler told Pam Jahnke.  "We thought we had a county lined up in the southern portion of the state, but another committment made hosting our show too much.  So we're back to looking for hosts."

Schuler said that the on-going discussion about whether the show should continue to move or instead stick to a permanent site is always underway.  He said the show survey's and board feedback continue to support moving the show to allow different features of Wisconsin agriculture to be spotlighted. 

In 2011, a show survey done in Marathon county of 3,000 show attendees proved that the audience isn't as aged as many would assume.  Schuler told the WI Farm Report Radio that the survey showed:
The average age of survey respondents - 48.9
38% - Farmer-Owners
9% - Employees
14% - Retired
The rest of the survey's were "others" which may be agribusiness people, teachers, students, etc.

Schuler said for counties or farms considering hosting WI Farm Technology Days he stressed the need for support throughout the county.  "The ag community has been doing pretty well in recent years.  We don't rely on tax dollars - we rely on volunteers and the county extension staff to spearhead these shows." 

Any group interested in hosting the show can contact Wisconsin Farm Technology Days by going to: 
www.wifarmtechnologydays.com

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