Ag Connect is Friday, Saturday

The annual Ag Connect this Friday and Saturday at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff will bring together the agriculture communities in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

Three Rivers College and the University of Missouri Butler County Extension Office will host the event to link everyone together and connect farmers to their roots.

In the revamped event, there will be beneficial information and workshops for all facets of agriculture.

Sponsored by Greenway, Farm Credit of Southeast Missouri, Baldwin Automotive Group and Rice Trailer Sales, the new and improved Ag Connect was created using feedback to better serve the educational needs and wants of the local agriculture industry, said Kathryn Clark, Three Rivers College coordinator of Agriculture and Forestry.

Missouri University Extension field specialist in human development John Fuller said, “The biggest thing is we want to make sure we were getting back on track with the agriculture industry to make sure we’re providing what they would like to learn about in today’s world of agriculture.”

Friday will be industry-focused and feature workshops, vendor booths, an Future Farmers of America tractor driving contest and an FFA Trivia Bowl. Visitors will have an opportunity to learn about estate planning, private applicator training, H2A programs, cost-sharing practices, marketing and more.

Saturday is a family day with fun activities for youth from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a petting farm, kids’ gardening adventures, kids’ 4-H activity area and homesteading workshops.

Specialist in 4-H and youth Brad Coleman said Saturday will have an interactive room called Explore 4-H, where youth may come in and find out more about 4-H.

“The big thing is all the proceeds we get on Saturday at the gate will be for the Butler County 4-H program,” Fuller said. “The concession stand is a fundraiser we’re splitting with Wayne County because they’re helping us with the concession stand. We’ll have 4-H people from our surrounding counties. If you’re from Wayne, Ripley or Stoddard counties, we’ll get your information back to the person in charge of your county.”

If there is a veteran who wants to attend the daytime events, he or she may show their military ID and will be allowed free admission. The event will provide an opportunity to learn about the outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and rancher programs.

Saturday sessions will include homesteading, how to sell local foods and how to tap into a tree and make syrup. The Master Gardeners will have classes, one of which is how to turn junk mail into soil.

Saturday will be the last day to vote in the Extension Council election and those attending may cast their votes there.

Clark said. “We are blessed to have businesses that see the importance of believing in and giving back for the success of our youth in agriculture. We had many of the businesses who our vendors on our planning committee that we appreciate too. Their input and help is part of the success of this event. We hope to bring in a big crowd of people interested in agriculture to help draw up business for them too.”

For Clark personally, she said, “As a farmer’s daughter, I know it has always been a family tradition to visit Ag Expo growing up in PB. I always looked forward to it every year. With us revamping the event, the vendors and workshop classes we are offering are from our agriculture community’s input. We took the time to sit and ask farmers about what things they would want to see at Ag Connect and the workshops they would attend. We made sure to include all aspects of agriculture too.”

The cost is $5 each day, or $60 for both days plus dinner. Dinner tickets will be sold while the supply last. All proceeds go to support the Butler County Extension Office and local agriculture clubs and organizations. The $60 ticket purchase includes a social hour starting at 5 p.m., with a Salute to Agriculture steak dinner and awards ceremony from 6-8 p.m. Saturday.

The event will include a Q&A session with ag leaders from throughout the state, a silent auction and Ag Awards. The social reception is sponsored by Farm Credit Southeast Missouri.

For more information, call 573-686-8064 or visit facebook.com/agconnectpb.