The 2011 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days wrapped up a very successful three-day run on Thursday afternoon. The almost ideal weather conditions contributed to large crowds at the show all three days. Karen and Ken Seehafer said hosting the show was “Absolutely wonderful!” Karen says it will probably be a bit of a let-down now the show is over. Ken can’t say enough about the Marathon County Committee and all of the volunteers who made the show a success and Karen added thanks to the hired help who kept the farm running during the show.

Ken has often referred to this show as the Super Bowl…and in conclusion states “We Won!”

AUDIO: Ken & Karen talk about the experience 2:30 mp3

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is actually the product of the University of Wisconsin Extension and while each show is put together by a county committee, they are guided through the three-year process by the General Manager of WFTD, Ron Schuler. While this show is underway, he has also been working with the committee in Outagamie County for next year’s show and Barron County for the year after that.

AUDIO: Schuler talks about everything that goes into the show 6 min

A few Farm Technology Days facts:

• 240 Booths Rented
• 600 plus Exhibitors
• 800 plus Lots Rented
• 6 Admission Gates Available to Visitors (2 to 6 lanes each)
• 7 Information Booths
• 4 plus Miles of Streets
• 35,000 Programs Printed
• 25 States and Canadian Provinces Represented as Exhibitors
• 97 First Time Exhibitors
• 120 Local Businesses from Marathon County
• 145 tents from 10 by 10 feet to 80 by 240
• Largest Tent, 0.44 acres
• 10 Large Tents, 180 feet or longer
• 10 Model Buildings Constructed On-Site
• 6 Food Tents

There is probably no one happier to see this show run smoothly than Dale Bowe. Dale is chair of the Utilities Committee and they had to really scramble after a couple of storms took tents down and damaged the wiring in the last week-and-a-half leading up to the show.

AUDIO: Bowe talks about the days leading up to the show 2:31 mp3

Since 2005, the Meyer Farms 10-horse-pyramid hitch has been a feature at this show six times. Randy Meyer and his family put the ten Belgians together twice a day each day as part of the Mills Fleet Farm exhibit. He talks about driving the unique hitch, the horses that make it up and the people who help put it together.

AUDIO: Meyer describes what all goes into the hitch 6:17 mp3