By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The 32nd annual Indiana-Illinois Farm and Outdoor Power Equipment Show has filled every exhibitor spot in the West Pavilion of the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind. The show is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 16.

“All of our exhibit space is now sold out with an outstanding group of ag manufacturers, dealers and suppliers on hand to show everything that’s new in the industry. Over 350 companies will have their products and services represented,” said Richard Sherman, show manager.

The largest exhibitors are John Deere, presented by Reynolds Farm Equipment and Smith Implement; the Case IH display, presented by Bane Equipment, and CAT and AGCO, presented by MacAllister Machinery.

Every row will end with a major equipment display, Sherman said.

“We have great displays of self-propelled sprayers and an outstanding line-up of shortline equipment. But it’s not just the big displays that are of interest. We have over 200 10x10 booths showing everything from lubricants to the latest technology,” Sherman said.

For the 25th year, Gary Truitt, owner and operator of Hoosier Ag Today radio network, will return to host a free seminar series, beginning at 11 a.m. each day, which will also be broadcast live on his network.

On Tuesday Truitt will host a panel of three producers who will share tips and new technologies that they employ on their farms.

These farmers include Keith Berry, a pork farmer and a Master Farmer award winner; Joe Caffee, an Adams County farmer and a loan officer for the First Bank of Berne, and Brad Burbrink, a corn and soybean farmer in Vigo County.
“This panel will be farmer to farmer. It will be an informal discussion that will give farmers hands-on (ideas) to go back and use on their operation. This is the first time for this panel. Farmers like to talk to other farmers,” Truitt said.
On Wednesday Chris Hurt, market specialist from Purdue University, will give the market forecast entitled, “Holy Cow, What Happened,” a discussion of how corn prices have increased from $4 to $6. Hurt also will take questions from the audience.

“In the past we’ve had 150 people with standing-room only to see Dr. Hurt, so we keep bringing him back,” Truitt said.

For Thursday’s seminar, Jim Riley, of Riley Trading in Brookston, Ind., will present strategies on managing the bull market, entitled “Riding the Bull.”
“This show is a good show because it brings in working farmers. It’s not the biggest show, but it’s a quality crowd. You can talk to folks without getting run over in the aisles,” Truitt said.

Show hours are 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, but will close an hour earlier on Thursday. Parking at the fairgrounds is $3 and admission is free. The fairgrounds are located at 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis.