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Company announces Amana, Iowa as site for 2006 show as it works toward a new permanent biennial site in Iowa for 2008.

October 19, 2005

4 Min Read

The 2006 Farm Progress show will be held Aug. 29 to 31, 2006 near Amana, Iowa, on the Amana Colonies facility.

Originally, the 2006 show was to be staged on a new permanent biennial Iowa location, which would rotate with its permanent biennial Illinois/Indiana site located in Decatur, Ill. Next year's show will be held on the weather-tolerant Amana location and the process to locate a long-term Iowa show site will continue. The search process has been narrowed to a few communities and current plans are to announce the show's permanent biennial Iowa site at the end of 2006. The 2008 Farm Progress Show will be the first show hosted on the site.

"Our new strategy gives us a two-year opportunity to develop a true world-class permanent biennial Iowa site," said Don Tourte, Farm Progress national business development director. We had a terrific first-year show at our new Decatur site and the experience of building that site, together with the local community's participation and Illinois and Indiana state-level support for the location really raised the bar for choosing our Iowa site."

"Iowa is one of the nation's richest agricultural areas and is very important to our long-term Farm Progress Show strategy," said Tourte. We will have a permanent biennial site fully developed in the state for our 2008 show."

The 53rd annual Farm Progress show will emphasize the show's continued dedication to progress by showcasing agriculture's innovations, information and technology. The Farm Progress Show is the nation's leading outdoor farm show and showcases the most extensive state-of-the-art information and technology vital to today's agricultural producers with the latest agricultural equipment, products and services.

"The Amana site offers many developed facilities - an asphalt-paved Central Ave. and 6th St., other streets are rocked, well-established sod for the Tent City exhibit area, a field demo area close to the exhibits, and several permanent restrooms," said Matt Jungmann, national show manager. "These amenities, together with the site's established drainage to provide the weather tolerance we need, make it a top quality 2006 show location."

"The 1999 Farm Progress Show was held at Amana. Since that show, the site has received drainage upgrades; plus, roads accessing the Amana show site have been improved. Additionally, we have changed how we handle traffic, parking and admission procedures to smoothly handle the show's high-volume visitor traffic."

The Amana area is Iowa's top tourism attraction. The show site is located 1/2-mile north of Amana, 15 minutes north of I-80 at exit 225. "We're excited and pleased to have the opportunity to host the 2006 Farm Progress Show," said Steve Penny, Amana Society Inc. chief executive officer. "Amana and the eastern Iowa area receive a fantastic economic benefit from the show." Amana is conveniently located northwest of Iowa City and southwest of Cedar Rapids, 25 minutes from either city.

The show, known as the "Superbowl of Agriculture," is moving to permanent biennial sites to reduce the risk of weather disruptions and to provide show visitors and exhibitors with additional facilities and exhibit features.

The 2005 show was the first to be hosted on a long-term site with highly developed infrastructure and amenities. After 2006, the show will rotate between its permanent biennial Decatur location and its yet-to-be-named Iowa site.

"The Iowa communities involved with the show site search had the opportunity to attend our recent show in Decatur and to evaluate its facilities and scope," said Tourte. "We are confident we can build a permanent biennial site in Iowa, with the right partners, on the par of our Illinois/Indiana show site."

The annual gathering represents a tradition of rural-community building with its educational offerings and has hosted many political leaders. President George W. Bush visited the 2004 show held near Alleman; Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Undersecretary of Rural Development Tom Dorr were hosted at this year's show. The country's top agribusinesses plus many regional and local manufacturers and suppliers are regular exhibitors. The Farm Progress Show has been the blueprint for other farm shows that have been started around the country.

Wallaces Farmer is the 2006 show host publication; Prairie Farmer and Indiana Prairie Farmer are hosts for its Illinois/Indiana location. The Farm Progress Show is owned by Farm Progress Companies, located in Carol Stream, Ill.

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