Meet David and Dawn Brix David Brix is described by friends and colleagues as "one of the hardest working farmers in the county." This tribute to his ethic was exemplified when organizers of Decatur's bid to become the permanent biennial site for the Farm Progress Show worked with him to use 212 acres he farmed for his grandparents, Joe and Norma Boyd. David's first priority was to steward the interests of his grandparents, mother, and aunt long before he would even discuss his role as a potential host farmer for the Show. David and his wife Dawn farm 750 acres of corn and soybeans, along with 250 acres of hay, which is the enterprise that is closest to his heart. That opportunity enlarged this year, when David was given the task of adding 180 acres to his hay production as a result of alfalfa cover on parking lots for the Farm Progress Show. Additionally, they have a 75 head cow/calf/feeder enterprise and Brix is a dealer for the complete line of Merschman seeds. Brix says his farming philosophy is to put in a full day and do the best you can with what you have. He says management of his various enterprises consume most of his waking hours, and he depends on colleagues and other associates for reliable information. One who is interested in global positioning systems and precision farming, Dave Brix believes in putting fertilizers and herbicides on the ground where they are needed. His implementation of technology also includes the use of genetically modified seeds, including Roundup Ready corn. To manage risk, Brix thoroughly endorses crop insurance, and has both his corn and soybean acreage covered by multiple-peril crop insurance, and has been a user of revenue assurance policies in the past. The Farm Progress Show provides David with the ability to show what can be accomplished by a producer, as well as look to opportunities for the future. However, it has added to his work load, which wife Dawn says has averaged 16 hour days and 7 day weeks since the first of March. One particular challenge David identifies is with learning the characteristics of the early season corn that Farm Progress required him to plant. It will be ready for harvest at the end of August, about 15-20 days earlier than what he typically plants. A "salt of the Earth" individual, Brix says being a host farmer for the Farm Progress Show has allowed him to make new friends, develop close relationships, and instead of farm work, provide an opportunity to attend all 3 days of the Show.