Jan. 19 and 20 will mark another installment of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events each year to bring something fresh to the public. This event is in support of and sponsored by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College.
There will be more than 100 vendors on display relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas with a few additional vendors from Texas and Tennessee. Ag Expo 2018 will have an admission fee of $1 for adults and will be free for youth. It is open to the public from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20.
Exhibitors will display their products and services and answer your questions about horticulture and gardening, livestock and crop production, forestry and forestry products, machinery, equipment, autos and trucks, farm supplies and more. There will be outside displays of machinery and equipment as well.
Educational seminars will again be part of the expo. Sam Atwell, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension on Friday, Jan. 19, will hold Private Applicator Training from 1 - 4 p.m. This training is for those who need to update their private applicator license, which expires every five years, or obtain a new license.
Following this training there will be additional educational seminars offered on Friday, Jan. 19 for adults. University of Missouri Nutrition Program Assistant Albertina Henry will be on hand to demonstrate healthy recipes and eating options at 3 p.m. in front room 1. Kara McSpadden with the Missouri Conservation will be available to educate and answer questions on Deer Management at 4:30 p.m. in room 3 at the back of the coliseum. At the same time, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott will provide tips, hints and some common sense approaches to personal safety in front room 1. The final programs on Friday will be Sandcasting, offered at 6 p.m. from local Master Gardener, Kittye Hall in room 3 behind the main floor and Pie Making at 6 p.m. in front room 1. The Poplar Bluff Family and Community Educators will demonstrate how to make a pie crust and answer questions. A grant has allowed this training to be offered to 50 attendees who will be able to take home supplies for baking.
There is one additional class on Saturday at 10 a.m. by Linda Kush on Dog Training. Linda will show attendees some basic training techniques for dogs, improving their obedience and personality in the front room 1.
On Saturday, Jan. 20, the Master Gardeners will provide Garden Adventures for Kids. This will be a hands-on event held in the northwest corner of the arena floor beginning at 9 a.m. until noon. Several easy, take home activities will be provided for children. Bring your children to the Ag Expo once again to experience garden adventures for kids.
The Youth in Agriculture Activities sponsored by 4-H is also scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20. This event will run from noon-2:00 p.m. at Ag Expo. Youth will complete activities such as making corn necklaces, investigating cattle, and looking into farm machines. Youth will learn where their food comes from and how to grow food at home. Parents are welcome to come with their kids and the event is free of charge.
Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the event. On Friday, Jan. 19 attend and see Poplar Bluff Jazz Band, Makenzie Davis and Hunter Gilmore from Neelyville School, BRC - Aquatic & Fitness, Bluff City Twirlers and the Cow Milking Contest. On Saturday, Jan. 20, the entertainment continues with The Dance Studio, Charlie Grubbs Band, Black Belt Academy and Country Fire Cloggers.
There will be toy tractor pedal pull contests for boys and girls Saturday. The four and five-year-old (boy and girl divisions) will pedal at 10:30 a.m., the six and seven years old will pedal at noon, and the eight and nine year old will pedal at 1:30 p.m. Each contestant will receive a participation ribbon and the top three peddlers in each division will receive a trophy.
A tractor-driving contest will be held for area FFA members on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Sponsors for the event include: Magee Equipment Company; Poplar Bluff Farm Equipment; Greenway Equipment; Baker Implement and Farm Credit Southeast Missouri.
A petting farm and livestock exhibit will be featured Friday and Saturday. Farm animals of all types will be on display.
Another popular event is the ag photography contest with entries taken on Friday from 1- 8 p.m. Entries should be 5 x 7 or 8 x 10, framed, and ready to stand. The contest is open to everyone and all entries must relate to agriculture in some way. The photos will be judged on theme, creativity, and technical quality. A contestant may enter one agriculture photograph in each of the three divisions: people, animals, and landscapes/buildings. Each entry will receive a ribbon and Artfully Framed has sponsored grand prize winners in each division and for an overall youth grand prize.
Ag Expo also includes a beauty pageant held for seven age divisions Saturday morning. The entry fee is $30 if preregistered or $35 if registered at the door. Call 686-8064 to pre-register. Divisions include: 9:30 a.m .- girls from birth to 11 months; 10 a.m. - first birthday to 23 months; 10:30 a.m.- 2 to 4 years girls; 11 a.m. - 5 to 7 years; 11:30 a.m. - 8 to 15 years; noon 13 to 18 years. A queen will be selected in each group.
An old-time auction will be held at noon Saturday. It will be conducted by United Country-Birdsong Auction & Real Estate Group. There will also be a baking contest. Bakers may enter their baked goods on Friday from 1- 8 p.m. and awards will be presented Saturday.
For more information about any of the events, to rent a booth, or to register for the beauty pageant contact the University of Missouri Extension Center, 614 Lindsay Ave., Suite 3, Poplar Bluff at 573-686-8064 or contact us at the following e-mail address: at butlerco@missouri.edu or visit our website at http://extension.missouri.edu/butler.