Sixty Years of Wisconsin Farm Progress (Technology) Days
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SIXTY YEARS OF WISCONSIN FARM PROGRESS (TECHNOLOGY) DAYS Rough Draft 8-13-2014 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days was initially designed to take the university research findings to the Wisconsin citizens on a functioning farm during an outdoor show. The mission of the show was to promote technologies in agriculture and related industries and provide leadership development and education through businesses, industry and agencies. The concept for the outdoor farm show was first envisioned by Henry Ahlgren in 1952 when he was chair of Farm and Home Week, an event for farmers to learn about the research findings by university researchers. This event had long been held at the University of Wisconsin Campus in Madison. Ahlgren envisioned a larger event, where both exhibitors and farmers could participate and learn about the latest agricultural advances. Ahlgren indicated the rapid growth of the university was proving to be problematic, especially with regard to parking. Figure 1952- . Henry Ahlgren Ahlgren said, “It became almost impossible to get farm people to drive into Madison when there wasn’t any place to park.” In 1952, several agencies, including cooperative Extension, formed a corporation called Wisconsin Farm Progress Days, Inc. An early goal for the show was to have located on an active farm and move it around the state. The corporation had a board of directors which sets the policies for operation of the show which provides consistency from year to year. Volunteers in the host county provide the workforce to plan and conduct the show. Representative from agencies initially involved on the state board are listed in Table 1, including the agency representative in 1953. Since that time agency names have changed and six additional representatives have been added: host farmer, farmer and four exhibitors representing crops, livestock, machinery and construction. Table 1. List of agencies and their representatives in 1954 Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture Art Kurtz College of Agriculture, Extension Service Henry Ahlgren College of Agriculture, Home Economics Ext. Service Blanche Lee Soil Conservation Service M. F. Schweers Farmers Home Administration Tom Pattison Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service W. R. Merriman State Board of Vocation and Adult Education M. W. Cooper Wisconsin Conservation Department, Lester Voigt State Association of District Supervisors Orrie Shiffer State Soil Conservation Committee Foster Patch State Department of Public Instruction D. Watson The Articles of Incorporation were approved June 21, 1954. The purpose of the corporation to promote agriculture and permanent agriculture for Wisconsin by conducting in communities of the state, farm progress days etc. The first Board of Directors meeting was held June 28, 1954 when Henry Ahlgren was elected chair and Arthur Kurtz, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, was elected vice-chair. Al Wojta was elected general manager-secretary-treasurer. Another event which provided a springboard for the show was the National Plowing Contest which was held near Augusta, WI in 1953. The moldboard plow was the most common primary tillage implement in those years. Competitive events for the contestants included level land and contour plowing. Plowing contests were an important element of the early shows. Figure 1953-1. National Plowing Contest near Augusta, WI The Board of Directors designed the show to move throughout the state with a host county providing the local leadership and the board established policies for the conduct of the show to provide consistency from year to year. The board selects a county for each year usually three years in advance of the projected show dates. The county show management is provided by a county executive committee with members being county volunteers. The County Extension office serves as a focal point for the committee’s activities and a county extension educator serves as the committee secretary. The executive has 12 to 18 members representing various population sectors of the county. This committee must manage and select members of about fifteen committees which direct specific activities associated with the show. Each year the county will design a logo, theme and show which highlights the agriculture in their county. This provides an opportunity to promote their county agriculture and associated agribusinesses. 1954 and 1955 - Waupaca The first show, Farm Progress Days 1954, was held at the Robert Mundinger, Arthur Schuelke and Mrs. Leona Vaughan farms, near the Manawa, a village In Waupaca County. In 1954, the show was scheduled for September 30 and October 1, Thursday and Friday. Parking and a few tents were also located at the Schuelke farm. The estimated attendance was 15,000, which was much less than planned. Financially, the show was a success with an unexpended balance of $500. During a meeting December 22, 1954, the state board reviewed the results of the 1954 show and considered it a ‘flop’. This was based on the wet soil conditions in 1954 (8.8 inches of rain during the week of the show), show attendance and competition with the National Mechanical Corn Picking Contest held in Wisconsin. Numerous farm machinery manufacturers did not want to exhibit at both events. Nonetheless the board recommended continuation of the event. The board suggested the educational exhibits be in the center of the show site and started planning shows three years into future. They recommended the next shows be in southern and western Wisconsin. The board decided to continue the show and extended an invitation to the Waupaca County group to host the 1955 show. Figure 1954-1. Machinery exhibit. They also decided political parties are able to participate in the event but they must purchase exhibit space and are not allowed to distribute literature outside of their exhibit area. The board established a revolving fund of $500 with funding sources to be determined. The 1955 show was scheduled for September 27-28, Tuesday and Wednesday. This is the only time this show was held in the same county in two successive years. The Vaughan’s milked about 40 cows and had 120 acres. Schuelke had 300 acres and 80 cows. Mundinger’s had 120 acres which were cash cropped and used for their logging business. Later the Mundinger’s farm was purchased by the Vaughn’s. The event was held in conjunction with the state plowing contest. The moldboard plowing competition consisted of five plowing events: youth level land, youth contour (conservation), adult level land, adult contour (conservation) and two way plows. Besides the plowing competition, the second year of the show featured competition among three forage harvesters. According to one of the Vaughn’s, during a part of the forage harvester demonstration, iron was run through each of the harvesters. The impact of the iron was not reported. Metal detectors were not available for the harvesters at the time of this show. Other field demonstrations were deep tillage, land forming, plowing out terraces, deep fertilizer trials, terrace building, and pasture renovation. Figure 1955-1 Youth level land winner was from Manitowoc County. Educational exhibits during the show included pasture renovation, uses of electricity on the farm, maple tree management and syrup production, bulk milk handling, stone fence burial, woodland management, wildlife planting, alfalfa seeded in wide corn rows, nitrogen fertilizer application rates, tractor rollover prevention, soil erosion, A.D.A. program, seed corn and plant food. Figure 1955-2. One educational exhibit was stone fence removal. Other youth activities besides plowing were youth tractor operator’s contest and land judging. Heritage exhibits were an important element of the early shows as well as recent shows. In Waupaca County, 1955, agricultural history was an exhibit including a team of draft animals being demonstrated. Figure 1955-3. Draft animals at the 1954 Show with Allis Chalmers exhibit in the background. The results of the 1955 show were reported during a state board meeting on February 13, 1956 when attendance was estimated to be 25, 000 (8600 cars and 12 school buses) and weather conditions were considered ideal. The ‘Pageant of Progress’ and tractor tipping demonstrations were highlights of the show. Due to dry weather during the growing season, the field trials were ineffective. The youth program was well planned but was not considered strong. The revolving fund of $492.40, primarily on loan from the State Soil Conservation Committee, was loaned to the county but only $218.20 were recovered. This shortfall was created by fewer exhibitors than expected, more funds were provided to farm hosts, additional costs were incurred in establishing the competition area and more ambitious plans by county committees. The procurement of additional funds for the revolving funds was recommended. 1956 - Jefferson The 1956 Wisconsin Farm Show was held in Jefferson County on the Ward Brothers and Craig Beane farms, near Fort Atkinson, September 25-26, Tuesday-Wednesday. The Ward’s operated in partnership having 270 acres and 160 dairy cows. Features of the Ward farm were barn hay drying, barnyard paving, farm home, sudan grass plot, portable hog wallow and hog parasite control. Features of the Beane farm were barn hay drying, new automatic poultry house, raspberry plot and orchard improvement. Figure 1956-1. Paving barnyard on Ward farm for the show. An estimated 35,000 people attended the show. Displays and demonstrations included corn fertilization, deep tillage, wide-row corn, orchard management, weed control, corn varieties, strip grazing, woodlot management, insect control, heavy and light farm machinery, terracing, poultry management and dairy herd improvement testing. A plow capable of plowing 21 inches deep with a plowing width of eight feet was exhibited. Exhibits in an agricultural tent included 4-H and FFA exhibits, conservation posters from rural schools, poultry, dairy herd improvement, bulk milk coolers and soil bank. Women’s programs were a part of this show which focused on meat cutting and quality meats, dairy products, home economic careers, consumer education and research and food preparation.