Indiana-Illinois Farm Show Coming Soon

Mid-December show marks 32nd anniversary.

Tom Bechman

Published: Oct 19, 2010

The West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, also known as the cattle barn, contains 170,000 square feet, or nearly four acres under roof. From December 14 through December 16, it will be jam-packed for the 32nd annual Indiana-Illinois Farm and Outdoor Equipment Show. Exhibitor space for the show sold out by mid-October, notes Richard Sherman, who manages the show.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9 a.m. to 3.p.m. on Thursday. All times run with Indianapolis time. Admission to the show is free. However, there is a $3 parking fee per vehicle to park on the fairgrounds.

The show will include over 350 companies exhibiting products and services. National brands are represented by local dealerships. For example, Reynolds Farm Equipment and Smith Implement will represent John Deere. Bane Equipment will show off what Case IH ahs to sell. MacAllister Machinery will display Cat and Agco products.

Over 200 of the booths, or over half, are 10 feet by 10 feet, with shortline companies and wholesalers and retailers showing everything from lubricants to the latest in GPS technology.

New to the show are Ag Spray Equipment, Hopkinsville, Ky., and Leon Manufacturing. Ag Spray Equipment will display Schaben equipment. Leon makes spreaders.

Allen Truck Sales of Crawfordsville and Stoops Freightliner of Indianapolis will be back at the show after several years' absence.

Some companies asked for additional space this way. Azland Industries, West Lafayette, sells fuel tenders, but is also expanding its line of seed caddies, designed to haul seed boxes to the field. MacDonald machinery will use more space to show off their skid loaders this year. Action Equipment, Indianapolis, purchased more space to display their line-up of ag and industrial heaters.

A big part of the Indiana-Illinois Farm and Outdoor Power Show has always been seminars, held during the days of the show. The free seminar series will again be hosted by Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today radio network. Chris Hurt, Purdue University Extension ag economist, will be one of this keynote speakers in the seminar series. Hurt should have plenty to talk about after recent developments in the corn outlook and market response to it. Other programs will also be planned and announced at a later date.

One reason Sherman holds the show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is so vendors and farmers don't have to fight downtown traffic. The fairgrounds is located on 38th Street near Fall Creek Parkway.