Friday and Saturday will mark the 34th installment of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo)at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events each year to bring something fresh to the public, said Stephanie Milner, county engagement specialist. This event is in support of and sponsored Greenway Equipment and by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College.
There will be over 100 vendors on display relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Ag Expo 2020 will have an admission fee of $2 for adults and will be free for youth. It is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Exhibitors will display their products and services and answer questions about horticulture and gardening, livestock and crop production, forestry and forestry products, machinery, equipment, autos and trucks, farm supplies and more.
Educational seminars will again be part of the expo. On Friday, Erin Larimore, livestock specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, will hold a workshop on Cattle DNA Sampling and Genomic Testing from 2-3 p.m. Travis Jones, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, will hold a Private Applicator Training from 2 - 5 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 the training there will be an additional educational seminars offered on Friday for adults. Regional extension specialists will provide workshop in gardening, ergonomics in farming, and soil practices. This year will have new demonstrations in the center of the coliseum. On Friday, Feral Hog Trapping is back from 2 -3 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, there will be an interactive mini farm to include vertical gardening, micro green demonstrations and roping. On Saturday, the fun and education continues with farming with drones, the cloggers, and roping with the Three Rivers Rodeo club.
There will be toy tractor pedal pull contests for boys and girls Friday. The 4- and 5-year-olds (boy and girl divisions) will pedal at 6:30 p.m., the 6- and 7-year-olds will pedal at 7 p.m., and the 8 and 9-year-olds will pedal at 7:30 p.m. Each contestant will receive a participation ribbon and the top three peddlers in each division will receive a trophy.
On Saturday, the Master Gardeners will provide Garden Adventures for Kids. This will be a hands-on event held in the center of the arena floor beginning at 10 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. This event will run from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Ag Expo. Youth will complete activities in cattle and agriculture. 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 attend and see Poplar Bluff Jazz Band and Twin Rivers Line Dancers along with a demonstration on soil fertility, tales from the porch and the 4-H/FFA Public Speaking Contest. On Saturday, the entertainment continues with a presentation “Towards Modern Production Agriculture Using Drones and Smart Technologies,” dog retrieving demonstration, the old time auction and the County Fire Cloggers.
A tractor-driving contest will be held for area FFA members on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. Schools asked to participate include Neelyville, Doniphan, Senath, Campbell, Richland, Dexter, Naylor, Southland, Holcomb, Poplar Bluff and Twin Rivers. Sponsors for the event include: Baker Implement and Poplar Bluff Farm Equipment.
A petting farm and livestock exhibit will be featured on Friday and Saturday. Farm animals of all types will be on display.
Ag Expo also includes a beauty pageant held for seven age divisions on 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 Birdsong Auctioneers.
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.