From Staff Reports
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, said Sarah Denkler, Butler County Program Director for the University of Missouri Extension Service. 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 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 at 10 a.m. Saturday from Linda Kush on Dog Training. Kush 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 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 & 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 on Saturday. The 4 and 5-year-olds (boy and girl divisions) will pedal at 10:30 a.m., the 6 and 7-year-olds will pedal at noon, and the eight and nine year olds 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 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: 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 on 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 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 1 noon on Saturday. It will be conducted by Colonel Birdsong Auctioneers. 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 on 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.