Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 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.
“Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events each year to bring something fresh to the public,” said Stephanie Milner, Butler County engagement specialist. “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. Greenway Equipment will be this year’s main sponsor.
There will be over 100 vendors on display relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas, Milner said. Ag Expo 2020 will have an admission fee of $2 for adults and will be free for youth.
The Ag Expo will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.
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, Milner said.
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 from 1-2 p.m. Travis Jones, agronomy specialist with the 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 additional educational seminars offered on Friday for adults. Regional extension specialists will provide workshops in gardening, ergonomics in farming and soil practices. This year will have new demonstrations in the center of the coliseum. On Friday and Saturday, there will be an interactive mini farm to include vertical gardening and micro green demonstrations. 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 on Friday. The 4 and 5 year old (boy and girl divisions) will pedal at 6:30 p.m., the 6 and 7 year old 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. Bayer Cropscience is sponsoring this year’s contest.
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 children and the event is free of charge.
Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the event. On Friday, attend and see the 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 demonstrations on drones and farming, dog retrieving demonstration, the old time auction and the Country Fire Cloggers.
A tractor-driving contest will be held for area FFA members beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. 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 573-686-8064 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-year-old girls; 11 a.m.- 5 to 7 years old; 11:30 a.m. - 8 to 15 years old; Noon - 13 to 18 years old. A queen will be selected in each group. This year’s beauty pageant sponsor is Modern Woodmen.
An old-time auction held at noon Saturday 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, or by telephone at 573-686-8064, or contact them by e-mail at butlerco@missouri.edu or visit the website at http://extension.missouri.edu/butler.