Decatur prepares to host Farm Progress Show

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) - A central Illinois city is preparing to host a large annual outdoor agriculture event.

The Farm Progress Show in Decatur will combine elements of an international trade show, technology conference and demonstrations, the Herald and Review reported. The event begins Tuesday and lasts for three days. It has taken place near Richland Community College since 2005.

At the event vendors will show livestock products, including weed control and $400,000 combines, that often include 3-D displays.

It spans over 90 acres (36.4 hectares) for exhibits, 150 acres (60.7 hectares) for parking and 350 acres (141.6 hectares) for field demonstrations.

More than 600 exhibitors and as many as 150,000 visitors are expected to attend, including U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The previous event had visitors from 50 countries.

Greg Florian, vice president of finance and administration at the college, which oversees the event site, said it generates an estimated $10 million for the local economy.

The event alternates between Decatur and Boone, Iowa. It began in Armstrong, Illinois, in 1953 for farmers to see the progress being made in equipment, seed varieties and agricultural chemicals.

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Information from: Herald & Review, http://www.herald-review.com