LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Not many people can say they’ve attended every National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS). Ray Warren, 81, of Harlan, Ky., can. Warren was 21 when he attended the first show in 1966 and has attended all of the shows with the exception of when the show was closed due to COVID-19.

“I remember dad looking forward to seeing the latest and greatest that agriculture had to offer back then,” Warren said. “We really had no reason going because dad and his brother farmed a mere 46 acres together, tending to just corn and tobacco. Neither of them could afford to upgrade with new machinery of any kind.

“When we got there, we were stunned at the technological advancements of new machinery and how fertilizers and pesticides revolutionized farming practices. Smaller farms were still around, but many of them were being consolidated, reflecting the trend toward large-scale farming. We remained small.”

When the NFMS began in 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson was president of the United States, NASA initiated its Gemini 8 space program, “Bewitched” and “Bonanza” were popular TV shows, John Deere released its “New Generation” of tractors with its 4020, and the Chicago Bulls were granted entry into the NBA.

“That same year the United Farm Workers (UFW) emerged as a major force for farm workers’ rights, advocating for better pay and working conditions,” Warren said. “In the mid-’60s the number of farms and rural population just began to dwindle. We felt those were tough times.”

Farming for Warren hasn’t changed much over the years, but that doesn’t stop him from making the 220-mile trip to Louisville.

“I just can’t keep up with it all, but it’s fun to see all new innovations out there these days. I can honestly say I’ve grown up with this show,” Warren said.

Warren and his father were two of just 25,000 patrons and just 86 exhibitors at that first show. Today, the NFMS covers 1.3 million square feet of indoor space, offers 850 agricultural displays and attracts 300,000 to the four-day event.

The show actually started in 1963 when the University of Kentucky (UK) sponsored an electricity demonstration and exhibit for farmers across the state. That show eventually expanded to include more types of power, including agricultural power.

In 1964, the Farm Implement Show was formed and farmers converged on 30 acres at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. Then in 1965 a few hundred farmers, salesmen and crop experts gathered at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center to start another farm show. The two shows merged at the Expo Center.

“When the planning committee at that time saw what it all looked like, we wanted to expand it into a larger farm show to include all agricultural areas,” said Blaine Parker, former head of UK’s ag engineering department who coordinated those first electric demonstrations and exhibits. “We wanted to attract farm folk from outside Kentucky so we called it the National Farm Machinery Show and that all started in 1966.”

In 1967, visitors to the show were bombarded with agricultural products as major ag equipment manufacturers converged, offering new tractors, tractor mirrors, cattle chutes and more. Attendees saw an abundance of seed, corn, soil additives, shirts, clothes and farm toys.

By 1968, seminars were being held, focusing on break-even considerations, capital gains, farm size, tools and more.

The 1969 show highlighted the zero-turn mower. The top machinery at the time was on display, and that included the John Deere 656 Hydro, International Harvester 1256 and Farmall 560. That same year the National Tractor Pull took place and 66 drivers competed in three classes.

Farmers flocked to the 1974 show as Monsanto Co. developed a new herbicide using glyphosate as its active ingredient. Sales of that weed control product skyrocketed.

One of the highlights of the 1975 show was the first twin-rotor system combine, which was created by Sperry-New Holland. This allowed the crop to be cut and separated in one pass over the field. For corn, it not only separated the husk and ears, but shelled the kernels and chopped stalks.

Seminars once again were the rage and in 1978 as farm debt for equipment and land purchases soared. High interest rates and high oil prices were issues facing farmers at that time.

In the early 1980s, record production led to a drop in the price of commodities. Exports fell due in part to the 1980 U.S. grain embargo against the Soviet Union. Attendees were intrigued by related seminars.

At the 1980 show, John Deere was showcasing its four-row cotton picker, which was the first in the industry. The contraption increased operators’ productivity by up to 95 percent.

Agriculture in 1983 saw low returns to farmers. Large worldwide crop supplies, together with a weak global economy, pointed to low crop prices and poor income prospects. Seminars at this show addressed these concerns and offered farmers help.

A major Midwest snowstorm in 1984 blanketed the Louisville area, but that didn’t stop vendors or attendees. Nearly 800 exhibitors showed up, as did 120,000 patrons.

At the 1985 show, growers learned about the first genetically modified (GMO) plant cell, thanks to scientists at Monsanto.

The 1992 show will best be remembered for the abundance of powerful tools and modern plant science exhibits on hand. Genetic manipulation was the rage as a way of controlling pests, and at the 1994 show farmers were able to learn about satellite technology and how they could see their farms from overhead, allowing for better tracking and planning.

From 2000 to 2005, software and mobile devices were the newest fashion in farming, as farmers acquired devises that helped them with better harvests. These devices also allowed farmers to stay connected to colleagues while in the field. This technology gave them access to data needed on-the-go, including the ability to place orders for seed and fertilizer at any time or place.

By 2012, attendees could download a mobile app, which provided users with an interactive map and schedule of seminars and speakers.

In 2014, the talk of the show was John Deere’s new planter, Precision Planting’s speed tube, dual hybrid meters and Geringhoff’s new corn head it called Independence.

In 2015, the NFMS celebrated its 50th anniversary, showcasing the latest planting devices and largest tractors imaginable. On display that year was Climate Corp.’s Climate FieldView, a digital platform that brings together data collection, agronomic modeling and local weather monitoring.

By 2020, the NFMS was garnering worldwide attention as delegations from China, Argentina, Germany, Italy and England attended the show.