|
Cancellation
of the show’s first day forced heavy traffic onto two-lane roads not designed
for heavy traffic. The Williamsville exit was closed shortly after 7 a.m., and
most Logan County attendees were routed to the Farm Progress Show via Sherman.
"The later you left home, the longer you waited in traffic," expressed
Logan County attendee Al Wolf. Wolf finally made it to the show by 10:30. Riders
on the Graue, Inc. bus left Lincoln at 8 a.m. and did not arrive at the front
gates until around 11:30 a.m.
Guests
who successfully tackled the traffic gridlock were greeted by a city of shiny
new equipment and very muddy streets. Walking through the site was much less
treacherous by midday, thanks to warm sunshine and the pounding of feet.
Visitors
came to the muddy field in rural Cantrall from all over the world. Voices from
Argentina, Brazil, Germany and France could be heard around the site. Some were
large farmers, while others were corporate officials from one of the show’s
sponsors. Joining them were farmers from across the Midwest who traveled to
preview the newest ag technology on the market.
[to
top of second column in this article]
|
Corporate
sponsors displayed their products in grand style. Many erected huge tents and
air-inflated characters that towered over the site, while others featured live
bands to draw visitors into their tent. Every exhibitor had a gimmick with their
advertising message. A big price tag was paid by these companies to play a role
in Farm Progress Show 2000.
New
exhibitors at the Farm Progress Show this year included a number of agricultural
websites and Internet services. According to Tamara White of the Illinois Farm
Bureau, 30 to 35 percent of America’s two million farmers are online.
Agribusinesses are rushing to capitalize on this trend by creating new websites
that allow computer-savvy farmers to purchase inputs such as chemicals and
equipment and sell their outputs, such as grain and livestock.
Many
of these new companies, like Rooster.com, which was launched on May 1 of this
year, had small buses filled with laptop computers as part of their exhibit.
They invited farmers aboard to check out their website and subscribe. Created by
agribusiness giants Cargill, DuPont and Cenex Harvest States, Rooster.com makes
money by creating websites for local agribusinesses and linking them to pages
individually designed for farmer-subscribers.
The
exhibitor list for the 2001 Farm Progress Show will continue to change. Nonstop
mergers and consolidations in the ag industry will not only affect the presence
of traditional equipment and chemical and seed manufacturers, but it will also
determine which of the new ag e-commerce will survive. White noted that there
were already two sites that were facing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Many others will
likely merge.
[Marty
Ahrends]
|
|
Former
President Bush visits
Farm Progress Show 2000
[SEPT.
28, 2000]
Playing
to the cheers of almost 2,000 Farm Progress Show visitors crowded in the Family
Living Tent, a casually dressed former President George Bush reinforced his son’s
commitment to agriculture.
[click
here for pictures]
|
|
"What
could be better for Illinois than more corn going into ethanol," roared the
elder Bush in reference to his son’s promise to promote ethanol as a renewable
energy source.
Bush
also emphasized that if elected president, George W. Bush would support death
tax relief, private property rights, and would pursue fast-track authority for
resolving trade issues.
In
reference to the environmental policies of the Clinton/Gore administration, Bush
said, "I am an environmentalist, my son is an environmentalist, but we need
to take on the environmental extremists and open up the Alaskan pipeline to
reduce dependence on foreign oil and lower energy prices."
After
speaking for a few minutes on agricultural issues, Bush turned his focus to
something he says he is more familiar speaking about — moral issues. "I
worry about the moral fiber of our country. What happens in the Oval Office sets
an example of what happens in our homes."
Before
leaving the stage and signing some autographs, Bush defended the attacks that
his son is merely trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. "He’s my
son and I am proud of him. He’s Barbara’s son and she is proud of him. And
if people don’t understand that, there’s something wrong with them."
[to
top of second column in this article]
|
Throughout
his speech, Bush was flanked on the tiny stage by a group of agricultural
"experts." Among them were Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Susan
Combs, Illinois Director of Agriculture Joe Hampton, U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing and
Middletown farmer Bill Graff.
Graff,
a founding member of the group "Illinois Farmers for Bush," makes no
bones about his choice for the next president. "George W. Bush knows what
it is like to run a business," says Graff of Bush’s experience in
managing several companies and making payroll. "I don’t think that Al
Gore has ever lived in the real world."
The
Illinois Farmers for Bush got their start in political campaigns during Al Salvi’s
run for the office of governor. Their success in organizing farm events was
recognized by Gov. Ryan, Sen. Fitzgerald and others, who asked them to lead the
statewide effort among farmers to elect George W. Bush. Graff says the next
campaign effort will involve disking "Bush 2000" into the ground under
flight paths and near the interstates.
[Marty
Ahrends]
|
|
Rain
delays opening of Farm Progress Show
 [SEPT.
26, 2000]
The
opening of the Farm Progress Show will be delayed due to rain. The
show will now begin Wednesday, Sept. 27, and end on Thursday, Sept.
28. There are still a few free seats on the Graue Inc. coach. On
Wednesday, the bus will leave Graue Inc. at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and it
will return to Graue at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. The Graue coach service
only runs Wednesday. If you want to reserve a seat or have questions,
please call 735-4444 and ask to speak with Chris or Karen.
Also
on Wednesday only, former President George Bush will be campaigning
for his son, George W. Bush.
|
