EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s largest outdoor farm show has come to an end – Michigan State University officials announced last week the Michigan Ag Expo will not continue next year. Instead, it will be transitioned into a series of educational days held at various times through the year.

A letter posted on the Ag Expo website from College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Dean Fred Poston stated: “This change was not an easy decision, and was made only after consultation with many vendors, industry groups and commodity association leaders.”

The first unofficial Ag Expo was held on the Richard Donohue farm in Tuscola County in 1976. It was called the Michigan Corn and Sugar Beet Exposition. By 1979, MSU had dedicated the Expo grounds at the corner of Mt. Hope and Farm Lane roads, where it continued for 35 years.

During its run, Ag Expo was known for being Michigan’s supreme source for the latest technology in agricultural production, connecting both the farming and non-farming communities.

MSU extension interim Associate Director Ray Hammerschmidt said the move is being made to better serve the state’s agricultural producers by providing specialized educational events across the state.

“We will be bringing programming to the people,” he said. “We intend to have up to three more expanded field days per year, which would move around the state. We plan to have them in different locations where we can provide tillage demonstrations and different things that growers want to see.”

Hammerschmidt said as farming practices change, the needs of producers also change. “We think we can have a bit more focus on some of the more cutting-edge information and technology,” by developing specialized programming and offering it at venues across the state, he explained.

“This is an opportunity to provide even better information for the growers in Michigan. The response from industry has been positive.”

CANR Educational Program Coordinator Megghan Honke, who is one of the Ag Expo organizers, said the college is working to establish an advisory committee to provide guidance about the content and location of specialized programming.

“Those contacts will help make some of the locations and programs possible,” she said.

“We’re interested in basing our priorities and programs on what stakeholders need,” Hammerschmidt added.

CANR, AgBioResearch and MSU extension also plan to continue to engage stakeholders and legislators with an event similar to the VIP breakfast traditionally held just prior to the opening of Ag Expo.

Vendors who have submitted deposits for the 2015 show will receive a refund by Feb. 1. All contracts will be voided. MSU Land Management is reviewing the contracts for those companies that have buildings on-site and organizations will be contacted to discuss the future of their structures.

“We are in the process of working through details about the permanent structures,” Honke said. “We will work with the companies on a solution that is mutually agreeable. In some cases, the structure might be purchased and moved, it might be purchased and left by the university or it might be torn down and the company has the right to sell it to someone else.”

It is unclear what will happen to the Expo grounds. She said university officials are working on a plan for the site.

“MSU Land Management will work with the university to make decisions on what will happen with the grounds and how it will impact other groups that use the facilities,” she said.