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Look for the orange and blue at the Farm Progress Show, and learn what the U of I College of ACES has to offer.

Holly Spangler, Senior Editor, Prairie Farmer

August 19, 2019

2 Min Read
Orion Samuelson onstage at Farm Progress Show
STAGE: Check the stage in the University of Illinois Tent daily for agricultural experts, interviewed at 10:30 a.m. each day by Orion Samuelson (center).

If you come in the main gate at the 2019 Farm Progress Show, turn right, and see orange and blue, there’s only one thing it can mean: You’ve found the University of Illinois Tent.

Located south of the main entrance on West Avenue, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Tent will feature a large group of exhibitors, says Kendra Courson, special events director for ACES. “Over 15 units from the College of ACES and Extension will be exhibiting,” she adds.

Ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson will provide a daily show at 10:30 a.m. Live market reports and analysis will begin each afternoon at 2 p.m., and for the first time will include farmdoc experts presenting on important topics in agricultural marketing, finance, management, policy and other farming issues.

Farmdoc faculty will also be available at their table for questions.

Visitors will be able to experience Field Robotics Engineering and Sciences Hub (FRESH) research focused on robots and drones working together to best optimize farming.

Producers can also take advantage of information in the U of I Extension Commercial Agriculture and Small Farms area of the tent. The team will have demonstrations on rainfall simulators, watershed models, cover crop species identification, prevented planting, and drowned-out field area management.

Representatives of the Farm Business Farm Management Association will be on hand to answer questions and share information.

“Parents and prospective students will be able to meet with representatives of the ACES academic programs office,” Courson says.

Field-to-table efforts will be an emphasis of food science and human nutrition and the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, and representatives of crop sciences, animal sciences, agricultural and biological engineering, agricultural and consumer economics, and natural resources and environmental sciences will be present to discuss the latest trends in their respective fields.

All visitors to the tent will receive an ACES tote bag to fill up with orange and blue items.

“There’s much more to see and experience in the College of ACES tent,” Courson says. “We are more than meets the I.”

Calling all ACES alums

The College of ACES Alumni Association will be greeting alumni in the tent and providing Illinois ACES lapel pins.

This is also an opportunity for all to take home a green screen photo with a campus scene, to showcase their Illini pride during the show and beyond.

“Come join the College of ACES as we showcase how Illinois ‘more than meets the I!’” says Tina Veal, ACES alumni director.

“The Farm Progress Show brings together alumni and friends of the College of ACES in one location for three days,” Veal says. “We look forward to meeting and visiting with ACES alumni that will be working and visiting the show, including several international alumni who return to the U.S. to attend the show. Come meet us at the ‘I’ at the University of Illinois tent on the grounds. We hope to see you there!”

The 2019 Farm Progress Show is Aug. 27-29 in Decatur, Ill.

About the Author(s)

Holly Spangler

Senior Editor, Prairie Farmer, Farm Progress

Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazine’s coverage. She currently serves as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. She began her career with Prairie Farmer just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications.

An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the U of I Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of ACES Research Station at Monmouth. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education and MidAmerica Croplife Association.

Holly and her husband, John, farm in western Illinois where they raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle on 2,500 acres. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. The family farm includes John’s parents and their three children.

Holly frequently speaks to a variety of groups and organizations, sharing the heart, soul and science of agriculture. She and her husband are active in state and local farm organizations. They serve with their local 4-H and FFA programs, their school district, and are active in their church's youth and music ministries.

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