It’s Wednesday, Sept. 15, and we are on Day 2 of the 2021 version of Husker Harvest Days west of Grand Island, Neb.

If you have attended HHD before, you know that the Wednesday of the show is a busy day, with the show welcoming some of the largest crowds, especially hundreds of FFA members and young agriculturists from across the state and around the region.

Don’t miss demos

Be sure to get over to the demonstration fields Wednesday to take advantage of the corn harvest demonstrations taking place at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Strip tillage, sprayer ride-and-drive, grain drying, and the popular autonomous demonstrations will take place throughout the day.

It’s forage country around here, so alfalfa haying demonstrations should be on your list of things to take in. Windrowing and baling demonstrations are set for 2 p.m. There also will be corn residue raking and baling workshops and demonstrations, weather permitting, at 1:30 p.m.

On the livestock side, be sure to stop by the Livestock Industries Building to catch live cattle handling and side-by-side chute comparisons, all narrated by Dr. Joe Jeffrey, scheduled for 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

Beef programs are also available at the LIB, including Mr. Cattlemaster, Doug Ferguson, talking about marketing at 11 a.m.; followed by a talk on cattle nutrition by Galen Ericksen, beef feedlot specialist with the University of Nebraska, at 11:45 a.m. Anne Marie Bosshamer, executive director of the Nebraska Beef Council, will talk about changing consumer trends for beef at 12:30 p.m.

If you are a horse lover, be sure to take in Ron Knodel’s horse gentling workshops at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Lot 51E. Herding dog training demonstrations are set for 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. just outside the exhibit field along Flag Road.

On stage

Stop by the Hospitality Tent for health screenings such as blood pressure checks and skin cancer screenings, as well as information about all kinds of health-related agencies that cater to rural residents. You can register for great prizes at the Hospitality Tent as well.

And don’t miss educational workshops scheduled for the Hospitality Tent stage. These include marketing insights from our Farm Progress/Farm Futures analysts, set for the stage at 10 a.m.

The farm transitions and succession planning workshop by Nebraska Extension educator Alan Vyhnalek is set for 11 a.m. At 1 p.m., you will hear from the editors at Farm Progress about the new products they are seeing at the show, and about insights they have from their own part of the world in agriculture.

NRD Hall of Fame

At 2 p.m. on the Hospitality Tent stage, the Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts will hold a press conference announcing its most recent inductees into the NRD Hall of Fame. This annual announcement always takes place at HHD and highlights the long-term efforts and heroic support from NRD directors, managers and supporters from across the state.

If you want to learn more about the NRD system and those who have spent lifetimes and entire careers supporting conservation efforts of NRDs, be sure to stop by for this important announcement.

You can also visit the Natural Resources Hub building on Lot 39E that offers free tree seedlings and free native grass seed, water testing and consultations on conservation programs for visitors, as well as a myriad of information on everything from water quality, tree planting, conservation practices and soil health.

Feed bunk

If it’s breakfast or lunchtime, or even brunch time, you have several locations across the show site to fill your stomach. The Pork Place in the southeast quadrant is operated by Sutton Christian School. The Eagle’s Nest, operated by Wood River Rural Schools, is also in the southeast quadrant.

The Hula Hut, operated by the Grand Island Senior High School Islander Athletic Boosters. is on Lot 938. Don’t miss the Grand Island Central Catholic food stands, along with the newest food addition, the Grand Island Northwest Athletic Boosters.

These food vendors are all operated by volunteers from their respective schools and organizations, so by patronizing them, you are supporting local schools and their activities with your food dollars.

And, of course, Syngenta Square is a place to relax and visit with friends over a beer, including a wide range of locally made beer. This venue is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is just across from Lot 1106 and the Syngenta exhibit.

More to see and do

If you are an irrigator, almost every manufacturer of center-pivot technology, as well as all kinds of irrigation equipment and systems, are on the show grounds to display the latest and greatest in irrigation technology.

Be sure to check out a world-record-setting bull by stopping by the Herbster Angus Farms booth on Lot 361 to see SAV America 8018, valued at $1.887 million. Visit the Big Red building on Lot 827 that houses University of Nebraska, Nebraska Extension and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources research specialists to learn more about the research and programs available to help farmers improve the bottom line.

And you can’t miss the Country Lifestyle market, now located in the Diversified Industries’ North Building, or the antique tractor displays located in the southeast corner of the show site on Lot 1122.

Other must-see activities include the Nebraska National Guard displays, as well as a stop at the community college exhibits to learn more about the precision ag and technology programs offered by each.

Stay in tune with all the happenings at HHD through our mobile app, or by checking out our Facebook and Twitter pages. Learn more online at huskerharvestdays.com.