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Numerous organizations partner with Farm Progress Show, Husker Harvest Days to raise money

December 11, 2019

3 Min Read
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Willie Vogt

Farm Progress events substantially contribute to the business economies surrounding its show host communities and provide philanthropic aid to many local, regional and national charities.

“At this holiday time of year, we reflect on the many positive benefits our shows present, beyond the annual economic impact of over $20 million for the Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days host communities,” said Don Tourte, Farm Progress SVP sales and events. “There is a lot more beyond that.”

Local businesses and organizations receive economic surges

Every year, Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days give back to the local host communities and regional and national organizations through activities and service projects connected to the shows. The shows provide opportunities for organization members to volunteer at the show or organize an event to generate funding that benefits local FFA chapters, churches, schools and additional service organizations.

Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days are proud to partner with numerous non-profit organizations in the local communities. Students and members of these organizations collect tickets, park cars or serve food and are an integral part of the success of these events. For some organizations, the more than $100,000 Farm Progress pays each year for support to produce the events, is their largest fundraiser of the year.

“Many community non-profit groups, such as churches and booster clubs, fund entire projects and activities, such as mission trips, athletic programs and facility improvements, with the money they raise at our events,” said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress events director. “We are grateful for the relationships with these groups that have been in place for decades.”

Exhibitors use FPS and HHD for charity fundraising

Titan Tire and BigIron auctions held at the Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days have been a highlight of the shows for more than a decade. Titan helped raise a combined $58,501 for FFA chapters at Husker Harvest Days and Farm Progress Show and raised a total of $82,161 at all auctions throughout 2019.

BigIron hosted a tire auction for the Nebraska FFA at Husker Harvest Days. This event raised nearly $44,000, with all proceeds going to support the FFA’s statewide and local programming and classrooms. All tires for this event were donated by Titan Tire/Graham Tire and 21st Century Equipment donated a John Deere Gator. BigIron also hosted an online auction of donated items, with all proceeds going to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.  This year’s event raised over $11,000 to help the organization in its mission to better understand, treat, and defeat childhood cancers and other life-threatening diseases.

Wider ag community benefits

This year, 101 FFA chapters participated in the Heartland United Way Food Drive at Husker Harvest Days. The food drive collected more than 11,900 pounds of non-perishable food items during the event. The food collected during the Heartland United Way Food Drive was distributed to homeless shelters, backpack programs and food pantries in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties in Nebraska.  

“It’s a win-win,” Tourte stated. “As Farm Progress events have grown, a long-tradition of contributing and giving back to the local communities and the wider national ag community has expanded, as well. We take pride in this privilege and tradition.”

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