Perhaps it was the chance to meet in person. Maybe it was the location. Or it was most likely the opportunity to bring the story of modern agriculture to a non-farm audience in a big way. No matter the case, the National Ag Day celebration held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., became a solid opportunity to connect with several audiences.

"We've been working on this project for about three years," Curt Blades, senior vice president of agriculture services and forestry, Association of Equipment Manufacturers. "We feel this is really important as an association to bring the industry together. It's important to tell the story of sustainability to regulators and the general public on the Mall."

Blades notes that "equipment is interesting" which can attract attention to the Mall, but there was more than iron on site. Commodity groups representing everything from corn to soybeans to rice were on hand to tell the story of their work in sustainability. There were also groups showing the value of ag technology in plant breeding, new products and more.

This slide show aims to show some highlights of the exhibits the many visitors encountered on their trip to Washington, D.C., but there was another benefit. Normally, when farm groups go to the nation's capital, they have to make the trek to Capitol Hill to enter the offices of policy makers. This time around, the policy makers came to the farmers and companies in hand.

We caught up with a range of dignitaries that visited the site, though not all, which shows the popularity for seeing ag tech, and getting a better understanding of where ag is today.

When it comes to equipment, there are two key questions asked by the public. First, what does it do? And second, what does it cost?

Divining the differences in how a machine works and what it does to a person who hasn't been on a farm was a challenge, but one that all the exhibitors on hand embraced. Telling your story to the larger audience is a charge all the groups and companies shared was important for the industry. And the National Mall is a big, public venue to reach beyond the farm.

In this slideshow we've worked to capture some of the excitement and energy that was on tap for Monday and Tuesday of this Ag Week. You'll find insights on what customers were asking about machines, a look at the dignitaries and officials that made the trip from their offices to the Mall and even a look at how these companies worked to reach beyond this event to share more.

Farmers know the importance of agriculture, and the rising value of having the general public better understand how their food is raised. As consumers look more closely at the industry, having a solid understanding of the tools used to raise food, but also maintain sustainability of resources, becomes more important.

Check out the images we captured over the two-day event on the National Mall.

All photos by Willie Vogt