Packed with exhibitors, speakers, and plenty of food, the show is sure to please the crowds.

“We’re really excited about the show,” said Dana Lantz, advertising manager for Farm News. “There’s going to be so much to see and learn.”

Lantz is especially pleased to welcome back CJ Bio America for its second year as show sponsor.

“CJ Bio America is a great company and this is a great fit for them in the ag sector,” he said.. “It’s just a very community-minded business.”

The show will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.. Admission is free.

Friday speakers

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has been invited to speak at this year’s Farm News Ag Show. He is tentatively scheduled to be interviewed by Messenger Editor Bill Shea before an audience at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Next in the lineup is David Kruse, president of Commstock and Farm News columnist, at 1 p.m. Friday. He will speak on biofuel opportunities with the theme, “Treading Water While Waiting for Another Wave to Catch.”

Then Mark Licht, of Iowa State University Extension, will be speaking at 3 p.m. An associate professor of cropping options, he will speak on “Out of the Box Soybean Management.”

Wrapping it up at 5 p.m. Friday will be Miss Iowa, Alysa Goethe. She will compete in the Miss America pageant in January and Lantz said she just very well may be the first Iowan to capture the Miss America title.

“She has such an impressive presentation,” Lantz said. “She spoke at my Kiwanis Club, and she is so sharp. She has diabetes, and that is her passion. She’s so informative when she talks to groups.”

The American Diabetes Association estimates that 10 percent of Iowans have been diagnosed with diabetes. Lantz said it’s a topic important to so many people that he is glad to bring her presentation to the Ag Show.

“She does such a great job, I would not be surprised in the least to see her as the next Miss America,” Lantz said.

Saturday speakers

Starting off the show at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday will be Matt Johnson, director of happiness for Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota. Johnson will bring with him an all-new Ford F150 EV. For those who love the traditional F150, this will be a chance to kick the tires and see what an electric vehicle can do.

“He will do a live demonstration and talk about the power that this electric vehicle has, and what that can mean for farmers,” Lantz said.

The first 20 people at the electric vehicle presentation will receive a free car wash from Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota.

Back at 10:30 a.m. will be a Farm News Ag Show favorite in Kelvin Leibold, ISU Extension farm business specialist. Leibold will be speaking on “Strategic and Tactical Planning for your Farm.”

Wrapping up the lineup of speakers will be Chad Hart at 1 p.m. Hart is a professor of economics at Iowa State University and has titled his address, “Markets, Mischief and Mayhem for 2024.”

Come hungry

As always, there will be plenty to eat at the Farm News Ag Show. Lunch will be served both days from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday’s meal comes from the Webster County Pork Producers, while the Webster County Beef Producers will be serving on Saturday.

And for the early comers on Saturday, the Webster County Farm Bureau is again sponsoring a full breakfast from Chris Cakes. There will be pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee to start the day out right. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Branson trip to be given away

If all that food and entertainment isn’t enough, there will also be a grand prize drawing for a three-night stay for two people in Branson, Missouri

“We have partnered with Northland Travel to make this possible,” Lantz said. “It’s a great trip and even includes tickets to your choice of three shows, with several different shows to choose from.”