The Farm Progress Show was a resounding success, despite the heat on Tuesday and Wednesday. Kudos to the show organizers, host farmers, exhibitors, volunteers, food vendors, medical personnel, law enforcement officers, Decatur residents, and attendees. Obviously, the permanent site for the show was the right decision and the 2008 show will be at a permanent site near Boone, Iowa. Agricultural firms displayed their latest and greatest to the farm community in three long days of walking, walking, and more walking! Ok, I know I could have rented a golf cart as they were zipping everywhere as the streets were full of farmers of all ages.

Amateur bard, Tolono farmer, Champaign Rotarian, and Parkland trustee Lin Warfel penned his reflections on the Farm Progress Show and allowed me to share them with you in this column:

The Farm Progress Show

"Come on and take me to the fair"...

They sang in Camelot

A deeper voice, prairie born,

Calls out to farmers here

The pickup trucks

line the highway

then fill the parking to overflowing

People come

From around the world

To see this grand display

America, the beautiful,

The land of dreams and promises

Is born out here, in color splashes

Of newest machines

Coming to life

To show their stuff

Competing all out

Engineers, salesmen, and saleswomen

Line the streets

To talk face to face

To millionaires (average farmers)

Then hit the fields

To prove their points

As their stallions harvest and till

The giants of the world

Gather here

To roar and shine to crowds

Diesels all, they do their things

Gulping grain in style...and comfort

House sized behemoths

They course the fields

Then stop to be surrounded

By keen eyed farmers gauging

"Did they pass?"

"Will they buy?"

"Is this a machine that lasts?"

The questions fly

The answers better

Be backed by truth in aces

Yes, the farms progress

Through works of engineers, agronomists, economists

Joined with hands, toughened hands

That grow the food, the fiber, the fuel

Even better

The American Way

Come on and join me at the Show!

Lin 08/07

Combines are rolling throughout the area as the summer heat has matured corn in an unprecedented fashion! Corn moisture is below 20% and early yields have been good. A few fields of soybeans have been harvested but we are just getting started. One of my McLean County friends at the Farm Progress Show summed up the 2007 growing season by saying, "It's pretty hard this year to find anything to bellyache about!" As you drive through the country, please slow down and stay alert as combines, tractors, and trucks will be everywhere the next couple of months. Think safety!