By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Farm Show may be 20 years old, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down, according to Fred Cline, a show director with Tradexpos – which produces the annual trade show.

Its 900 booths sold out by August, which is earlier than normal, he said. “We were concerned, wondering what the economy was going to do and how that would affect the show,” he said. “We didn’t know what it would bring.”

The Fort Wayne show is Jan. 13-15 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free, but there is a charge to park in coliseum lots.

All but 37 of this year’s exhibitors have been at the show before.
“These folks have been with us for many years, and this is very much their show,” Cline said. “It’s a good opportunity to get with the end users out there, to get out there and sell. For many of the exhibitors, this is one of the most important shows they go to.”
This is considered one of the top five indoor shows in the nation, he said. The show began in Fort Wayne after Tradexpos owner Jack Thill was driving through the area in the early 1980s when the coliseum was being remodeled, Cline said.

“He was anxious to get a farm show in that building,” he said. “He felt that one was needed in that area.”

Last year’s attendance of 39,991 was up a little over previous years. Attendance normally runs from 36,000-39,000, he said.
“This is a great place to get everything in one spot,” he said. “You can see the full line of equipment from mainline dealers, and the latest technology. The educational seminars (offered by Purdue University and the Northeastern Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts) are also a big draw.”

The show tries to have something for everyone, including members of the Amish community, Cline said.

“In addition to the latest technology, we also encourage our exhibitors to stick with the basics,” he said. “We like to think the Amish have some of their interests met at the show, too.”
As part of the 20th anniversary of the Fort Wayne show, Tradexpos will recognize 57 companies that have been with the show each year, Cline said.

Tradexpos, of Austin, Minn., has been in the business of producing farm shows for more than 25 years. It also produces shows in Wichita and Topeka, Kan., and in Owatonna, Minn.