Mid America Farm Expo returns to Salina in March. Here's what to know

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·3 min read

One of the largest spring farm shows in the Midwest is back in town for the 59th year next month as the Mid America Farm Expo comes to Salina.

Featuring exhibits, programming and seminars, the Farm Expo returns March 20-22 at Tony's Pizza Events Center and the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.

This year's expo is expected to feature more than 200 exhibits showing the latest in farm technology, machinery, equipment and supplies.

Also on the program are a slate of professionals speaking, teaching and giving insight on a variety of agriculture and business topics, including a keynote address from Linda Salem, former president and CEO of Salina-based Great Plains Manufacturing.

Attendees visited over 300 booths during the 2019 Mid America Farm Expo. This year's expo will happen from March 20 to 22 at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.
Attendees visited over 300 booths during the 2019 Mid America Farm Expo. This year's expo will happen from March 20 to 22 at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.

Events and activities each day of the Mid America Farm Expo

Every day will be different at the Farm Expo, meaning there will be plenty to do for the around 8,000 attendees expected over the three days.

On Wednesday, there will be programs in the Saline County 4-H Building including an FFA agronomy contest in the morning and a business panel in the afternoon moderated by KWCH's Brityne Rucker. During the panel, Sam Browning, Will Exline and Travis Young will discuss keys to success, overcoming obstacles and adjusting to changes.

On Thursday, attendees will be able to listen to an agricultural market outlook from Terrain Ag's Cody Barilla on commodities such as wheat, grain sorghum, sunflowers, cotton and canola and Kansas State University agricultural economics professor Glynn Tonsor, who will focus on livestock markets.

Also on Thursday, in Tony's Pizza Events Center, will be a forage update from the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council with sessions including hay markets and outlook, annual legumes, non-traditional forages, woody encroachment and old world bluestem mitigation.

Finally, on Friday, Women in Agriculture is inviting Linda Salem at Tony's Pizza Events Center as the keynote speaker to finish out the expo.

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The Mid America Farm Expo offers opportunities for thriving agricultural business

Admission is always free at the Mid America Farm Expo with the Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce hoping to see farmers and agricultural leaders coming to Salina each year.

“I think there’s a misconception that agriculture is a dying industry, when of course here in the Midwest we know that couldn’t be any further from the truth,” said Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Farm Expo continues to evolve as the industry evolves with advanced technology, innovative methods, and emerging research. The Farm Expo is a great place for farmers and industry leaders to capture that knowledge.”

The expo will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 20 and 21 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 22 inside and outside Tony's Pizza Event Center and the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina hosting 2024 Mid America Farm Expo in March. What to know