Ag Expo 2021 canceled, plans start for 2022

COVID-19 challenges have stalled the 2021 Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo -- the local Ag Expo -- but organizers already are planning for the 2022 event.

For 34 years, farmers, gardeners and ag-related business owners have looked forward to the expo. Organizers have discovered, the worse the weather, the larger the crowd. But with attendees reaching up to 10,000 people, the virus is not something with which organizers want to deal.

“Our main reason for canceling the event was due to COVID,” Extension Council President Jerrica Fox said.

The expo committee met several times, which involved a few council members, staff, top sponsors and Three Rivers College, Fox said.

The main event sponsor annually is Greenway Equipment. Toy tractor pedal pull is sponsored by Bayer Crop Science, and the Modern Woodmen sponsor the beauty pageant.

“There were many obstacles this year, and after much deliberation and discussion, the decision to cancel was proposed,” Fox said. “The safety of our staff, volunteers and the community was our top priority. In following the current recommendations from (the University of Missouri) campus, canceling the event was in the best interest for all parties.”

Extension field specialist in horticulture Juan Cabrera-Garcia agrees, saying, “it was becoming challenging and costly for us to safely manage (because of COVID) an event that draws 5,000 to 10,000 people.

“Also, we needed to request special permission from the campus to do the event. Ultimately, we want to keep our staff and the public safe. For those reasons, we believe this is not a good year to carry out the event.”

Usually planned to take place in January, more than 100 vendors display their products and wares relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

Held at the Black River Coliseum, the event annually provides educational programs, fun projects for youngsters, teens and adults, pageants and clogging.

Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events each year to bring something fresh to the public, extension staff said.

Exhibitors display their products and services while answering questions about horticulture and gardening, livestock and crop production, forestry and forestry products, machinery, equipment, autos and trucks, farm supplies and more.

For additional information, contact the University of Missouri Extension Center, 614 Lindsay Ave., Suite 3, Poplar Bluff, at 573-686-8064 or contact them at the e-mail address: at butlerco@missouri.edu or visit the website at http://extension.missouri.edu/butler.