By Brian Hefty
Thank you! The reason we host the free Ag PhD Field Day each year is to say THANK YOU! Ag PhD TV has now aired for more than 20 years. The Ag PhD Radio Show on SiriusXM 147 has been on for 5 years. We really appreciate your support!
As the Field Day has grown to over 10,000 attendees annually, I often ask people what they like most and why did they drive or fly to come spend a day with us. Here are the most common responses I get.
- High yield farmers. Not only do we have a number of high yield farmers from around the world speak about increasing bushels and profits, many of them have plots at the Field Day site they have been managing all season-long. In other words, you can not only hear what they do, you can see what they do.
- Friendly people. We have a crew of about 300 employees, spouses, and friends who work the Field Day for us each year. They are outstanding, and I really appreciate their help. Plus, we have great exhibitors, and personally, I love just talking to people from across the country and around the world. Most attendees are there to learn something, and they don’t mind sharing their expertise from their operations, too.
- Research plots. Many attendees comment on the extensive research plots we have on-site. Darren and I run through all our plots in the morning and then briefly in the late afternoon, as well. We will give you a guided tour, along with explanations about what we’ve learned in the past and what we’re seeing this year.
- Great restrooms. I know. This seems like a crazy thing for me to list here, but it’s true. How often do you go to a farm show or a fair, and the bathrooms are disgusting? At the Morton Center on the Ag PhD Field Day site, we have some of the nicest bathroom facilities in the country, thanks to the efforts of our construction team.
- Activities for the whole family. There is a Kid’s Area with games, farm education, and plenty of room to play. There are indoor, air-conditioned, great educational opportunities with world-class speakers on estate planning, grain marketing, drainage law, and more. There are live demonstrations, a Ride & Drive Area, and even a planter clinic with Missy Bauer for those who want some hands-on learning. We have golf carts for rent or trams you can ride for free if you want to participate without all the walking. We have many of the top people from the best ag companies in the world available all day for those who want to learn more about what the big companies are doing. There is also alternative entertainment including Mollie B (seen on RFD-TV’s Mollie B Polka Party), the Farm Babe, an air show featuring the Vanguard Squadron, and Rob Sharkey with his first broadcast of the new Shark Farmer Radio Show on SiriusXM 147.
- Great, free food. Our caterer is a large farmer, and I often tell people that only a farmer could pull off feeding 10,000 people in 20 minutes for lunch. We also have food and drinks throughout the day all across the Field Day site.
I know you are busy and your time is valuable. That’s why we are doing everything we can to make sure that when you attend the Ag PhD Field Day, you will feel it is a very worthwhile investment of your time. This one-day event is Thursday, July 26 on our farm near Baltic, SD. Please pre-register so we can get you into the Field Day quickly when you arrive. Thank you again for your support, and I hope I can see you at the Ag PhD Field Day this summer!