Looking for a chance to rest your feet and be entertained — while also learning a little something? Check out the Prairie Farmer and Indiana Prairie Farmer Hospitality Tent stage throughout the Farm Progress Show for a variety of speakers and topics. This year’s show is Aug. 29-31 in Decatur, Ill.

Prairie Farmer Hour
New on the stage this year is the Prairie Farmer Hour. Looking to meet your favorite columnists, talk to an editor or hear more about what’s happening in Illinois agriculture? This is your chance! Editor Holly Spangler will introduce and interview a variety of columnists and experts, all with news to share. Associate Editor Jill Loehr will also be on hand, as will Indiana Prairie Farmer Editor Tom J. Bechman. Bring your questions!

This Week in Agribusiness
Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson will shoot segments of the next edition of “This Week in Agribusiness” on the Hospitality Tent stage, and you can watch them from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. You may also catch Max and Orion to say hello. Relax in the audience seating area and watch the program come together.

Get marketing tips
Farm Futures’ senior grain market analyst, Bryce Knorr, will take a look at the factors shaping the markets heading into the start of the 2017 crop marketing year. He’ll highlight global fundamentals of supply and demand, and forces far beyond the field coming from volatile financial markets. Knorr will start at 10:30 a.m. with a session titled Price Outlook for 2017 Crops. At 11:45 a.m., he’ll present Making a Profit in 2018. Both sessions will take place each day of the show. The mini-seminar will also include a grain market update at 11:30 a.m. He’ll outline strategies for futures, cash sales and the government farm program, with a first look at what farmers are planning for 2018 and how input costs are shaping up.

Improve farm communication
From the farm business to the boardroom, to a college graduate interviewing for his or her first professional job, knowing the art of respectful communication is key.  Patricia Tice, author and speaker, presents Building Trust, Respect and Inclusion in the Family Farm Business each day at 1:35 p.m. Learn how to improve your communication skills and enrich your family and business relationships. Tice is author of the book “AgriManners.”

Hospitality Tent stage schedule

10:30-11:30 a.m. Price Outlook for 2017 Crops, Bryce Knorr, market analyst
11:30-11:45 a.m. Grain market update, Bryce Knorr, market analyst
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Making a Profit in 2018, Bryce Knorr, market analyst
12:30-1:30 p.m. Prairie Farmer Hour, hosted by Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer editor
1:35-1:55 p.m. Building Trust, Respect and Inclusion in the Family Farm Business, Patricia Tice, author
2-4 p.m. “This Week in Agribusiness,” Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson (Tuesday and Wednesday only)