| FW Expo welcomes back Farm Credit Services as title sponsor |
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KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. — Farm World is proud to announce that Farm Credit Services of Mid-America will partner once again as the title sponsor for the 2009 Farm World Expo, planned for Aug. 4-6.
Combined, Farm Credit Services and Farm World will reach more than 100,000 agricultural-related contacts in preparation of this year’s show. With its second year in a central location – at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Ind. – the Expo expects attendance to exceed that of previous shows. An extensive marketing effort is planned, using multiple media platforms.
“The Farm World Expo is the perfect venue for getting our lending staff in front of our current customers, and that’s the number-one reason why we are serving as title sponsor,” said Dick Poe, senior vice president-Indiana.
“But another important reason for us to be involved in this event is that it gives us an opportunity to familiarize those who have an interest and desire to live or work in rural America with the products and services Farm Credit can offer them.”
Toni Hodson, show manager, explained the Expo dates were moved back to early August at the request of attendees and exhibitors. The Expo is shifting to a mid-week format of Tuesday-Thursday to capitalize on early crowds for the Indiana State Fair, which begins that Friday, Aug. 7.
“Anybody who’s coming from out of state to attend the Indiana State Fair can attend the Expo first,” Hodson said, adding the Boone County Fairgrounds is about 20 minutes north of the Indianapolis state fairgrounds.
Within this changing economy, the hobby and smaller acreage farmers segment of the ag community continues to grow.
The Expo is reaching out to these producers with general interest events, as well as ag-only related events and services.
Annual favorites such as the grooming & showmanship clinic and horse clinics will return this year, and this year’s Expo will once again feature a cattle chute demonstration.
A possible “Ride-and-Drive” is being discussed, in which attendees could test-drive tractors, sprayers, trucks and ATVs on-site and ask questions of dealer representatives. This may include up-to-date GPS and other precision agriculture equipment.
Speakers from Purdue University, Farm World columnists and other agricultural and rural lifestyle experts and personalities will be on hand to share information on current hot topics.
As always, the Expo will have something to interest anyone who stops
by – including nutrition seminars, landscaping clinics, well water testing and country lifestyle products and services.
“Our primary audience is obviously farm producers, but a growing segment for our company is hobby or part time farmers,” Poe said. “We can think of no better way to support rural America and agriculture than through an event that appeals to such a wide array of producers, whether they farm 5,000 acres or 50 acres – or somewhere in between.”
To learn more about exhibiting at the Expo, call Toni Hodson at 800-876-5133, ext. 280; for sponsorship opportunities, Emily Myers at ext. 151.
Expo admission is free for attendees, and a full schedule of events, updated regularly, can be found at www.farm
worldexpo.com |
| 4/8/2009 |
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