Tractors, balers, rakes and many other pieces of agriculture equipment are back on display in the Quad Cities.
Those pieces – and a lot more – helped bring in a solid crowd of people Sunday for the first day of the 31st Quad Cities Farm Show at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island.
The Farm Show, with free admission and free parking, continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.
The opening day brought in several hundred people during the first two hours alone. Richard Miller, president of the QCCA, said he was happy with the early crowd and pleased the show has returned after being cancelled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People are happy it’s back. Farmers are especially happy the show has returned,” Mr. Miller said.
The QCCA president added that there were about 140 exhibitors at the show by his “rough estimate.”
That number is down by 20 or so exhibitors from past years. But he said there are several reasons behind the drop in exhibitors ranging from the ongoing COVID situation to one businessman who was going to show equipment but dropped out after being injured from a fall on the ice. However, Mr. Miller said the two biggest reasons are: some businesses don’t have equipment to display, and some businesses don’t have enough employees to work the booths.
“They are having problems getting people just like everybody else in the country,” Mr. Miller added.
Many of the businesses taking part in the show seemed to be pleased with the early turnout.
“There’s a lot of people walking through the aisles; so, that’s good,” said Justin Stolk of Park Farms Computer Solutions of DeWitt, Iowa. “We’re here trying to meet with new customers and connect with our existing customers.” Park Farms specializes in precision farming with computer and ag-related software.
Another ag business at the show described Sunday morning as a “little slow” but was hopeful for a good crowd. Alex Buffington, a sales tech representative at Group Schumacher in Durant, Iowa, was waiting for people to stop by his booth.
“Our goal is to get people to talk to us and teach them about our products,” added Mr. Buffington. Group Schumacher offers cutting systems harvesting.
The three-day show features row after row of shiny, new tractors and just about every other piece of ag equipment under the sun. That equipment ranged from the giant Case IH Steiger 620 Quadtrac to lawnmowers, rental equipment as well as a table filled with hand tools that attracted big crowds much of the day.
But it wasn’t all ag equipment. One booth kept busy selling triple-dipped caramel apples, fudge and other goodies.
While many enjoyed seeing the new equipment and the food treats, there were also people who enjoyed getting together with other farm families.
“We enjoy going to this show every year. We just like coming here and socializing with the rest of the farmers,” said Kate Ehlers of Tipton, Iowa.
For more information on the Farm Show, go to qccaexpocenter.com.
