Farm Progress, HHD Shows Canceled

Rising US COVID-19 Cases Push Shows Closed

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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People attend the Farm Progress Show held in Decatur, Illinois, in 2011. The 2020 Farm Progress Show and the 2020 Husker Harvest Days Show have been canceled because of concerns about COVID-19. (DTN file photo)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Two of the largest outdoor farm shows in the United States will not happen this year for the first time ever. The Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days are both canceled in 2020 due to rapidly changing conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Farm Progress news release on June 29.

This comes after an earlier news release from Farm Progress on June 17 saying the Farm Progress Show, set for September 1-3 in Boone, Iowa, would proceed but with enhanced health and safety directives.

This was also the plan for the Husker Harvest Days (HHD) show. Billed as the largest irrigated working farm show in the world, HHD was set for September 15-17 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Show management said while both state and local officials expressed support for both shows, the situation with increasing cases of COVID-19 cases across the country changed their plans.

"We have been working with officials in Iowa and Nebraska for our shows, and we appreciate the support they expressed for us to hold the events," said Don Tourte, senior vice president of Farm Progress. "They are critical partners to us, and we are all disappointed to not host the events this year, but feel confident that this is the right decision for our community."

One of the key features of the shows is their attraction to visitors from so many places. However, plans changed for the shows as more than half of the U.S. saw a significant spike in new cases of COVID-19.

"We have a multi-generational audience that travels from all across the country and around the world to attend the shows and based on that, we felt it better to reconsider the traditional show for 2020 to prioritize the safety of all," said Matt Jungmann, events manager for Farm Progress. "Our community's safety is our priority, always."

A virtual experience was already being planned as an extension to the live events. Jungmann said while a virtual event won't give farmers the true "tire kicking" experience of being at the show, the events team is gearing up to deliver a dynamic digital experience.

Here is a list of some North American ag-related events canceled or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic:

Alaska State Fair

California State Fair

Calgary Stampede (Alberta, Canada)

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Canadian Western Agribition (Saskatchewan, Canada)

Dakotafest Farm Show (SD)

Edmonton K-Days (Alberta, Canada)

FarmFest Farm Show (Minnesota)

Farm Progress Show (Iowa)

Husker Harvest Days (Nebraska)

Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs

Indiana State Fair

Iowa State Fair

Maine State Fair

Minnesota State Fair

Montana State Fair

New Jersey State Fair

Nevada State Fair (Delayed)

North Dakota State Fair

Ohio State Fair

Oregon State Fair

Royal Manitoba Winter Fair (Manitoba, Canada)

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (Ontario, Canada)

York State Fair (Pennsylvania)

Tennessee State Fair

Wisconsin State Fair

World Dairy Expo (Wisconsin)

World Pork Expo (Iowa)

Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn