A decent weather day brought a nice crowd to the annual Prairie Central FFA Farm and Home Show at the PC Upper Elementary School in Forrest Saturday.
“I think it’s a good way for the community to just come together and see all of the small businesses,” said FFA member Brittney Slagel. “It’s really fun.”
Various local businesses showcased products and services at the show plus a pork burger lunch was served in the middle of the day along with homemade ice cream.
“Some of the ag classes and FFA members came over to help set up. After school (Friday), we came and helped some of the exhibitors,” explained FFA member Carla Kilgus.
Many of the FFA members could be found at the south end of the gymnasium selling raffle tickets for the restored 1950 John Deere A tractor.
“That really brings in a lot of attention every year,” admits Eli Schaffer of the PC FFA.
The fully restored tractor will be raffled at the March 16 hog roast and auction in Fairbury plus another donated tractor will be auctioned off.
Leslie Gomez worked at an exhibit in the corner of the gym promoting Summer Fun Nights in Forrest this summer with music, a cruise-in and food trucks.
“We are going to do the second Friday in June, July and August,” Gomez noted.
The idea is to promote the community of Forrest with more activities to give people the chance to socialize.
Beau Popejoy of New Solutions Ag, LLC had a both showing their patented product which stimulates microbiology in the ag world.
“We use it in manure, we use it in soil, really all over the country.”
The product is made in Fairbury and California. The main focus for New Solutions Ag around here is manure from swine and dairy. They blend products, take them out and apply them to clean-up manure. All of the company’s products were displayed at the show.
Plenty of ag seed representatives were at Saturday’s Farm and Home show, including Kade Hill with GHX by Golden Harvest. GHX is a new market strategy for Golden Harvest.
“We are trying to modernize the seed sales process, make it simplified and make it an easy and beneficial process for farmers,” said Hill.
Visitors to the Farm and Home Show had the chance to visit with Casson Media and see live reports from Fairbury News, Route 24 Radio and the Central Illinois Farm Network. Plus, we gave away freebies and treats to those who visited the booth.
