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Farm Progress Show
 
Farm Progress Show logo

August 31, September 1 - 2, 2021

Decatur, Illinois

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The History of the Farm Progress Show

Every day, agribusinesses and manufacturers are hard at work designing and building products. If you want a better glimpse of what tomorrow’s agriculture will look like, the Farm Progress Show is a must-stop. After all, this has been the legacy since the show began.

Where It All Began

Prairie Farmer magazine, a flagship of Farm Progress Companies, was instrumental in the development of the Farm Progress Show. Early in 1953, Prairie Farmer joined forces with WLS-Radio in Chicago with the idea to host a farm event even better than the mechanical corn picking contests taking place around the Midwest at that time. It is this group who is credited with creating the idea of hosting a field day where farmers could see first-hand the progress being made in farming equipment, along with seed varieties and ag chemicals.

The first Farm Progress Show took place on October 2, 1953 on the Earl Bass farm in Armstrong, Illinois and hosted over 75,000 visitors. This show offered folks an opportunity to see equipment, seed and chemicals as well as fire-fighting demonstrations, sheep dog trials, stage entertainment, a fiddlers’ contest and even the WLS Barn Dance. In subsequent years, the show evolved to include seed test plots and field demonstrations. While the programs have changed throughout the years, we’ve stayed true to American Agriculture and to bringing the best of American Agriculture to our audience.

Farm Progress Show 2013 Aerial View
Farm Progress Show Field Demonstrations

The 2005 show marked the first show at its permanent biennial Decatur, Ill. site and hosted more than 500 exhibitors. The Decatur site was expanded for the 2007 show to host more than 600 exhibitors and record numbers of show visitors. The latest milestone for the show occurred with the establishment of a second feature-filled permanent biennial site near Boone, Iowa. The show now rotates between the Decatur and Boone sites and offers two excellent, long-term, weather-resistant facilities for the nation's largest outdoor farm show. Both show locations have been designed with highly developed infrastructures and conveniences for exhibitors and show visitors.

Today, the Farm Progress Show enjoys a long and rich history. This major agriculture event gives visitors the opportunity to see the latest equipment, seed, crop chemicals, field demonstrations, livestock handling and equine events, Ride ‘n Drive, rural life programs and entertainment, arts and crafts, and more. Farmers and ranchers from across North America and around the world visit the Farm Progress Show to see agriculture’s latest product introductions, meet face-to-face with agribusiness professionals and gain hands-on knowledge.

About the Farm Progress Show

Farm Progress Show Future Show Dates

Future Show Dates →

Plan your future trips to the Farm Progress Show.

Farm Progress Show 2013 Aerial View

Farm Progress Show History →

If you want a glimpse of what tomorrow’s agriculture will look like, the Farm Progress Show is a must-stop. After all, this has been the legacy since the show began. 

Farm Progress Media Brands

Farm Progress Publications →

Farm Progress proudly offers highly respected local and national publications across the nation’s 48 states. Explore our publications today.

Farm Progress Show Staff

Contact Us →

Our show staff is here to answer any and all Farm Progress Show questions. 

Farm Progress Show Mobile Texts

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Special Thanks to Our Premier Sponsors

  • Agco logo

    AGCO

  • Bayer logo

    Bayer

  • Channel logo

    Channel

  • Dekalb / Asgrow logo

    Dekalb / Asgrow

  • Raven logo

    Raven

  • Syngenta logo

    Syngenta

Farm Progress Publications

  • American Agriculturist Logo
  • Beef Producer logo
  • Dakota Farmer logo
  • Delta FarmPress logo
  • Farm Futures logo
  • Indiana Prairie Farmer logo
  • Kansas Farmer logo
  • Missouri Ruralist logo
  • Nebraska Farmer logo
  • Prairie Farmer logo
  • Southeast Farm Press logo
  • Southwest Farm Press logo
  • The Farmer logo
  • Wallaces Farmer logo
  • Western Farm Press logo
  • Wisconsin Agriculturist logo

QUICK LINKS

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CONTACT US

Email:

shows@farmprogress.com

Phone:

630-524-4725

FOLLOW US

Connect with additional Farm Progress brands at Marketing.FarmProgress.com.

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