This year marked the first Farm Progress Show at the permanent location in Boone, Iowa.

By all accounts, the 2008 show was a success. Jeff Smith, Farm Progress regional sales manager, assisted the show staff in a variety of tasks. On opening day, he reported the 90-acre parking lot was completely packed with visitors.

With steady rain showers for much of Wednesday, show staff, attendees and more than 500 exhibitors found out how nice the permanent location is.

Permanent streets made a world of difference when rain hit the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday.

Among the show staff, there was a lot of talk about how rain would have completely ruined the streets, had the show been held in a corn field with no improvements. Instead, underground drainage and semi-paved roads routed water off the main walkways. Thus, when the rain let up, it was possible to walk without sinking to the knees.

Next year, the show comes back to Progress City, in Decatur. The site features permanent asphalt roadways and bathrooms with running water. Plus, the Conservation Expo came to Progress City this year. Contractors installed drainage tiles in the parking lot, improved drainage ways on the back end of the property, and upgraded the existing water detention ponds.

Rain or shine, Progress City will be ready to host the latest and greatest for farmers.