![field demonstration at Farm Progress Show field demonstration at Farm Progress Show](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltdd43779342bd9107/blt175ea06314d11689/6394d4e796305040b0ed2c38/0906F1-3212A-2000x1040.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
CROWDS AND COMBINES: Field demonstrations are the historical draw at the Farm Progress Show, and farmers turned out to see two years’ worth of new combines, carts and heads in action at this year’s show in Decatur, Ill.
WORKED: Tillage demonstrations ran differently this year. Each machine made a pass and parked; then the crowd was able to walk out and inspect the tillage tool — and the job it did.
MONSTER: The crowd stretched into the distance to watch the Fendt Ideal combine make a pass.
WATCHING: Moisture on the corn started at 24% on Tuesday, Aug. 31, and dropped to 18% by Thursday, Sept. 2.
WELCOME: Wyffels Hybrids sponsored opening ceremonies each day, and local singer Eric Burgett warmed up the crowd and sang the national anthem.
NEWS: Gov. J.B. Pritzker turned out on Tuesday to announce new funding for a mental health initiative for farmers and rural Illinois.
BIG EYES: The youngest visitors were often the most excited.
HATS OFF: Eric Burgett performed the national anthem each morning, just before the gates swung open.
AVENUE OF FLAGS: Every visitor to the show passed through the Avenue of Flags.
FUTURE FARMERS: Keizer Tome (left), Jake Hyde, Sarah Riggins and Sydney Bentz, all of the Macomb FFA Chapter, checked out the show on Wednesday.
STREET SCENE: Farmers and visitors from all over the country showed up to check out exhibits and field demonstrations.
ALUMNI: University of Illinois College of ACES alumni welcomed visitors to the show, including Lyndsey Ramsey and Alan Puzey.
VIDEO: Field demonstration crowds were peppered with devices, as farmers recorded pass after pass — especially the autonomous tractor and cart.
AMERICA: The American flag flew high above the show on this Sukup bin near the east entrance.
CONCERT: Wednesday wrapped up with a concert by Lee Brice, sponsored by Case IH and the Farm Progress Show.
BUILT BY FARMERS: Brice debuted his new song, Farmer.
BOOM: Rantizo demonstrated its aerial drone sprayer at the precision field demonstrations.
STEPS: Farm families added a lot of steps during their visit to the show.
WHISTLIN’: Looking for young people at the show? Good chance they were at the Titan exhibit, which featured noted YouTube stars WhistlinDiesel (also known as Cody Detwiler) and Cole the Cornstar.
ANTIQUES: Just like Grandpa’s? This young guy got a feel for how the folks before him did it, over on Antique Row.
CROWDS: Wednesday was a big day for visitors at the show, and the streets showed it.
HARVEST: Field demo yields were pushing 200 bushels. “Not bad on 87-day corn in Macon County, Ill.,” says Matt Jungmann, national events director for Farm Progress.
WELCOME BACK: Indiana Prairie Farmer editor Tom Bechman and (Illinois) Prairie Farmer editor Holly Spangler welcomed visitors to the show.
SNAPPED: The University of Illinois exhibit helped young people picture themselves, literally, at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
MEDIA: The media tent on the west side of the exhibit field is where members of the media from all over the country congregated to cover the Farm Progress Show. Here, show director Matt Jungmann answers a few questions from Steve Bridge, WFMB Springfield.
CHECK IT OUT: The tillage demonstration format meant farmers could walk around the equipment, talk to company representatives and see how each piece left the ground behind it.
LIVE: Visitors gathered every day for Max Armstrong’s “Noon Show,” shown here with Mark Pearson (left).
ADVANCED: Visitors who bought their tickets online in advance simply had to scan the bar code and they were in.
DRAINED: Tiling demonstrations continued this year, and crews put in 30 acres of tile throughout the show.
NO EAR LEFT BEHIND: One little guy gave this ear a pull.
GENTLE: Steve Lantvit shared his best horse-training tips each day.
IN CHARGE: Farm Progress Editorial Director Willie Vogt and Advertising Director Don Tourte paused for a quick meeting prior to opening ceremonies on Wednesday. Vogt welcomed the crowd from the stage each day.
MASTERS: Prairie Farmer staff recognized two years’ worth of Illinois Master Farmers on Thursday afternoon. The 2020 and 2021 Master Farmers are Ted Mottaz, Elmwood (left); Dale Hadden, Jacksonville; Susan and John Adams, Atlanta; Joe Pickrell, Buffalo; Kenneth Hartman Jr., Waterloo; Paul Taylor, Esmund; and Kent Hodel, Metamora.
READY: Crowds at the field demos had their phones at the ready, just before the autonomous grain cart demonstration.
HERE FOR IT: Farmers lined up for a quarter-mile to watch combines in action.
CAN’T MISS: Like father, like son? We’re big fans of this young man’s shirt.
IRON: Farmers flocked to the tillage demonstrations to check out each piece of iron and how it worked the ground.
NEW PRODUCTS TEAM: Each year, four Farm Progress editors divide up the 90-acre exhibit field and canvass each street, searching out new products — and you’ll find the results of their efforts on this website in the coming weeks. This year’s team: Tyler Harris, Wallaces Farmer (left); Tom Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer; Chris Torres, American Agriculturist; and Sierra Day, Prairie Farmer.
AUTO: Raven’s OmniDrive system lets the farmer monitor and operate a driverless tractor from the combine cab, so they can unload on the go and then return the tractor to a predetermined spot.
VISITORS: All across the show grounds, visitors and exhibitors alike appeared to be in good moods. “Everyone’s just glad to be here — together,” says show director Matt Jungmann.
ON CAMERA: Jungmann got put on camera to share a little more about the show.
THAT’S A WRAP: The sun set on the Lee Brice concert Wednesday night, wrapping a gorgeous day of weather and show-going.
THAT’S A WRAP: The sun set on the Lee Brice concert Wednesday night, wrapping a gorgeous day of weather and show-going.
The 2021 Farm Progress Show made the most of gorgeous weather in Decatur, Ill., last week during its three-day run from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.
“It was exceptional to have the industry gather together and create a live event — everyone from farmers and exhibitors to politicians,” says Matt Jungmann, national events director for Farm Progress.
Exhibitors say farmers turned out in droves, ready to make deals and see equipment in action.
“The feedback that I’m getting in the week following the show is that farmers were just eager to be back together at a live event. They were glad we were able to have a show,” Jungmann adds.
And the weather? While the Decatur event is often known for high temperatures, that wasn’t the case in 2021. After the fog burned off Tuesday morning, the entire rest of the show enjoyed fair skies, moderate temperatures and cool breezes.
“The weather was great. The crowd was great. The show was great,” Jungmann says. “It’s hard to beat that combination.”
Corn harvest demonstrations ran each day of the show, with early moisture coming in at 24% and dropping to 18% by Thursday. “That early corn sucks it out fast,” Jungmann notes, adding that yield was pushing 200 bushels. “Not bad on 87-day corn in Macon County, Ill.”
Jungmann has pushed on to his next event: Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Neb., will be held next week, Sept. 14-16. Combines are already rolling there, too.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like