It wouldn’t be Wisconsin Farm Technology Days without Alice in Dairyland. Kati Wirkus will be very busy all three days of the show speaking at the Family Living Tent, working the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Wisconsin Corn Growers booths as well as numerous other activities. This is especially nice for Kati because she is from Marathon County and served as the county’s Fairest of the Fair.
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days this year is just a couple of miles north of the Marshfield Clinic and they are taking the opportunity to showcase the numerous services available from the medical center. Theresa Clark talks about the collection of health screenings they are offering at the show this year including blood pressure checks, skin cancer screening, hearing screenings, various eye screenings along with a number of other health tests of concern to rural residents.
In addition, the Clinic is heavily involved in the first aid system at WFTD and they are hosting a “Taste of Marshfield” reception for all of the show’s venders on Tuesday evening at the Clinic featuring their New Visions art gallery.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield Clinic. Dr. Matthew Keifer is Senior Scientist at the NFMC and says while they have a glorious past, the future is their focus. One of their newest efforts is the Dairy Initiative with a goal to improve safety on today’s larger dairy farms.
One just can’t say enough about the families which host Wisconsin Farm Technology Days; it is a three-year commitment to get your crop rotation right to accommodate the show. For Ken Seehafer, hosting this show is something he has always wanted to do.
AUDIO: Ken Seehafer talks about his farm and the show 3:05 mp3
A key player in Wisconsin Farm Technology Days each year is the County U.W. Extension Agent, this year it is Mike Wildeck who is actually doing this for a second time. He says what is so enjoyable about working this show is seeing those people involved in the show move on to become involved in other activities in the county in the years to come.
Spencer FFA Advisor Mark Zimmerman is heading up the Youth Tent and Youth Activities this year. The tent will again feature a number of interactive exhibits along with a lineup of entertainment on the stage. The Family Farm Adventure this year will have a “front yard” theme this year instead of a separate tent as in the past. Wisconsin Christmas Tree Growers will be part of that display this year. Youth events will also include 4-H and FFA soil judging and tractor driving competition.
A new “wrinkle” at the show this year is an auction conducted by the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association. Randy Stockwell says the auctions will feature new, donated items and will be conducted 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Family Living tent. In addition, there will be an auction in the beef tent on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to benefit tornado victims in Wisconsin.
A popular feature at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the field demonstrations; Jerry Oelke says this year they will feature baling, wrapping, compaction and a manure spill response demonstration (they’ll use water). Field demonstrations are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day; trams will run from the south side of tent city to the fields.
One of the centers of activity at every Farm Technology Days is the Family Living Tent, starting with the Opening Ceremony and continuing throughout the three days. Shirley Hein chairs that tent this year.
AUDIO: Hein runs down the features at Family Living 3:33 mp3
While Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is a huge farm machinery and technology show, the main purpose is disseminating education from University of Wisconsin Extension. Tom Cadwallader is chairing the Education Committee this year, he says two main focuses of the show this year are animal care and backyard gardening.
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