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Farm shows could give new direction to AFBF convention

The Dakotafest farm show at Mitchell drew tens of thousands of people in its three-day run.  The show featured about 560 exhibitors, which, according to Ray Bianchi, with the show’s producer, IDEAg, says those exhibitors attract a lot of people.

“You get about 30,000 to 40,000 attendees,” Bianchi told Brownfield Ag News, on the grounds of Dakotafest.  “It tends to focus about half on row crop and about half of it on animal agriculture.”

Dakotafest and three other IDEAg farm shows, which were acquired a year ago by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), may give some direction to the AFBF’s premier annual event.

Dan Durheim, who directs the events for the AFBF, says the acquisition will help the organization and its members.

“What are the energies that we can get out of making a better annual convention for the American Farm Bureau,” said Durheim, during an interview with Brownfield Ag News at Dakotafest.  “How do we get closer to not only doing what we do with policy work with Farm Bureau, but how do we also make sure that the right business decisions are being made for farmers and ranchers to be able to take those opportunities and to see that we think that will make it even better to advance the mission of the Farm Bureau?”

Durheim says the farm shows will enhance Farm Bureau’s trade show and the rest of the convention.

“Inviting in some of the CEOs of food companies and agribusiness companies and some of these to give our members what is the state of what’s going on in agriculture and the business of what supports agriculture,” said Durheim.

AUDIO: Ray Bianchi (3 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Dan Durheim (5 min. MP3)