By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cold temperatures and brisk winds didn’t deter the more than 40,000 people who attended the three-day Power Show Ohio in Columbus nearly two weeks ago.

More than 600 brands of agricultural, construction and outdoor power equipment and products were on display. Featured items at this year’s show included the newest designs of tractors, skid steer loaders, commercial and residential mowing equipment and grain handling equipment.

According to show officials, top attractions were computer software, fence building, haying equipment, backhoes, compact tractors and livestock equipment. Ohio Proud held cooking demonstrations for adults with cuisine on their minds, while the National Kiddie Tractor Pull competition was the highlight for the younger crowd.

Emerging on the scene and gaining popularity with each show are wind turbines. Mitzy Cranmore of Harvest Energy Solutions had a wind turbine display that attracted much attention.

“There’s an incredible amount of interest in wind energy these days,” Cranmore said. “Our company has participated in several shows in Ohio, and has gotten a lot of response about our products. Ohio people, including farmers, want to know more and be educated on the matter of wind energy. It’s a way for them to go green and cover their costs.”

At this year’s show attendees were able to see a “wind prospecting tool” up close. By typing in one’s address, the tool gives the average wind speed for any location in the world. Most wind, Cranmore said, averages between 7-15 miles per hour.

“Every farming operation is different,” she said. “There are wind turbines for the very small farm working on battery-operated systems, to very large operations.”

Harvest Energy Solutions, based out of Jackson, Mich., offers 10 and 20 kilowatt units, between 60-100 feet tall. Costs for these turbines range between $50,000-$120,000.

Not cheap – but neither was the combine at this year’s Power Show Ohio which sold for $164,000.

“The new equipment is astonishing and incredible, even if you can’t afford any of it,” said Emily Greene of Jamestown, Ohio. She and her husband, Todd, attended this year’s show in search of a new auger and a composter for their 110-acre farm. The couple purchased the latter.

“Even if you don’t make a purchase of any kind, this show is worth attending just to see the latest in technology being used on the farm. It’s hard to believe where agriculture is headed these days,” Todd Greene said.

More than 300,000 square feet of exhibits and demonstrations took place on the grounds of the Ohio State Fair. Exhibits were held in the Voinovich Center, Bricker Building, Celeste Center and the Coliseum.

“Roughly 55 percent of those attending are from the agricultural community, but others have similar needs for the small and large power equipment,” said Power Show Ohio Manager Dennis Alford.

He added that he believed the current farm economy and the slight improvement in the general economy was the reason for the good attendance.