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The latest farm technology, equipment and vehicles are now on display inside the Kentucky Expo Center, and they will be for the next four days.
On Wednesday, the 57th Farm Machinery Show kicked off.
“This year, we are bringing in an expected $23.1 million in economic impact,” said Ian Cox, Kentucky Venues spokesperson. “That’s a big number.”
According to Cox, that’s $3 million more than what this same show brought in last year. He credits the increase to the more than 900 exhibitors that’ll display products this year.
That’s the most amount of exhibitors they’ve had at the show in five years.
“This show changes every year to accommodate the need and interest of farmers,” said Cox.
Those who show up can browse through hundreds of millions of dollars worth of equipment. However, most of them, if not all, aren’t for sale. That’s because the purpose of this event is to teach and learn.
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“That’s one of the biggest benefits here,” said Jesse Chisholm, Trimble’s north American sales director. “Looking through digital literature, or even picking up paper literature and reading over it, it doesn’t do the same for you. You get to come in here and interact with our team and see firsthand the intricacies of the equipment.”
“By engaging with the show attendees, this is how we gain customer insight to be able to design and build the best farm machines on the planet,” said Joe Miller, Case IH’s tractor marketing segment lead.
More than 250,000 people are expected to attend the event.
However, you can’t talk about the farm show without mentioning the event that compliments it.
This year also marks the 54th year of the Championship Tractor Pulling Competition inside Freedom Hall.
“It’s the longest-running, highest prize money tractor pull in the nation,” said Cox.
Every night after the farm show closes, about 200 of the country’s best tractor-pull drivers will compete to win the elusive grand championship title.
They’ll be competing on the same Kentucky soil that was used when the event first began.
“It’s a great motorsport event,” said Cox. “It’s one that builds community, and it’s a great tie-in to an event like this.”
The farm show runs from Feb. 15-18 and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The tractor pull races begin each night at 7 p.m.
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