Outagamie County Extension Staff Training Ron Schuler, General Manager Wisconsin Farm Technology Days April 14, 2010

WFTD Presentation Outline Historical perspective WFTD, Inc. Board of Directors General Manager UW Connections County Relationship Components of the show Who attends the show Differences from other shows

Henry Ahlgren Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Director in 1950’s First Chancellor of UWEX Ahlgren’s Vision Create a show that brings the university research information to the end users

Historical Perspective Started as partnership (Wisconsin Farm Progress Days) between agriculture industry and university First show – 1954 in Waupaca County Rotated around Wisconsin in over 30 counties

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days-Past Shows Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Boosters Past Shows 1987 2013 1959 1968 2004 1983 2005 1962 1998 1989 1974 1996 2011 2010 1992 1960 1981 2012 1969 2008 1982 1954 1955 1978 2003 1993 1965, 1997 1977 1990 1985 1966 1957 1975 2006 1971 1980 1973 2000 1963 1995 1976 1994 1964 1991 2009 2002 1972 1956 1984 1970 1986 1979 1967 1999 1961,1988, 2001 1958 2007 5

Chronology of Show 1953 – National and State Plowing contest near Augusta, WI 1954 – First scheduled show-cancelled due to weather, Waupaca County 1955 – Show returned to Waupaca County 1955 – Established a three year rotation-July (forage), July-August (forage, small grain) and September-October (corn and tillage) 1988 – Three year rotation: 2 summer (forage), 1 fall (corn and tillage) 2001 – Board of Directors approved name change from Wisconsin Farm Progress Days to Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2007 – Last fall show 2008 – All summer shows (July)

WFTD, Inc. Independent business organization Governed by Board of Directors Day to day operations managed by General Manager Ron Schuler Works in partnership with host county

WFTD, Inc – Board of Directors Role Provide overall direction and policy for the shows Work with General Manager to implement policy Composition Exhibitors (4) Producers - At large and Previous host (2) State agencies – DATCP, DNR, DPI, WTCS (4) Federal agencies – FSA, NRCS, RD&C (3) UW – UWEX and UW-Madison (2)

WFTD, Inc – Board of Directors - Officers Chair Elected (Currently Rick Klemme) Historically – UW-Madison/Extension Vice-Chair Elected (Currently Terry Le Fever) Historically - Exhibitor General Manager Usually a former UWEX employee

WFTD, Inc – BOD Operating Procedures Board meets annually (April) Board acts on proposals from Executive Committee and GM Exec. Committee meets 2-3 times/year GM carries out directions from Board GM connects with Exec. Comm. as needed FTD Policy Statements guide GM and are revised as needed

WFTD’s Vision and Mission Vision: To be the premier self-sustaining showcase for agriculture and related industries. Mission: Promote technology and share knowledge in and of agriculture and related industries through joint efforts of communities, business and industry, education, and agencies.

WFTD Staff General Manager – Ron Schuler Serves as WFTD, Inc. employee Serves at pleasure of the Board Serves as interface between Board and Host Counties Reports at annual Board meeting Exhibitor Coordinator – Anna Maenner Serves on contractual basis with WFTD, Inc Provides continual and consistent contact with exhibitors and works with the host county Program Assistant support Provides clerical support Serves as program assistant to ANRE Program Leader

WFTD UW Connection No formal relationship UW provides educational resources along with other educational organizations and agencies UW-Madison and UW-Extension contribute $13,400/year to support UW faculty and staff educational efforts Education Committee Co-Chairs are from UW Funds managed at UW Foundation, an institution separate from the UW institutions

WFTD Host County Counties apply to host show three years prior to show Pierce County – 2010 Marathon County – 2011 Outagamie County – 2012 Barron County - 2013 Counties provide significant fund raising as part of WFTD, Inc. Counties provide all leadership and volunteers (hundreds of people) Counties work with GM

WFTD Facts Three day show on a farm Exhibit area (tent city) – 60 acres Exhibitors – 700 to 800 Parking – 100 acres Field Demonstration – 250 acres Attendance – 60,000 to 80,000 Volunteers – 1,500

Dodge County Map Tent City Parking Field Demos

Tent City 2009 Dodge County 4/13/2009

Aerial view of tent city

Progress Pavilion Tent Organizations: Extension WI-DATCP WI-DNR WI-DPI WI-TCS USDA-FSA USDA-NRCS USDA-Rural Dev.

Applied Technology Center Renewable energy Plastic recycling Agricultural safety Electronic Animal ID Low cost parlor Freestall design Animal comfort

Family Living Tent Health and Nutrition Gardening Ideas Social Security Preserving Family Memories American Cancer Society Historical Societies

Youth Tent County 4-H Boys and Girls Club WI Poison Center UW Biotech Center Ag in the classroom YMCA

Conservation Tent Soil pit Ground water model Fish and Wildlife Clean Wisconsin Nutrient Management Buffer strips Farmland Preservation

Field Demonstrations

Trams for transporting people Parking Field Demonstrations Farm Tours

Who attends the show? Attendees are invited to enter a drawing They must complete a survey Information gathered Address Occupation Size of operation ‘Must see’ exhibits and education

Home Location of Attendees Farm Technology Days 2009 Dodge County <50 mile radius – 62 percent 50 to 100 mile radius – 24 percent 100 to 200 mile radius – 7 percent >200 mile radius – 2 percent Outside Wisconsin – 5 percent

Home Location of Attendees Farm Technology Days 2008 Brown County <50 mile radius – 60% 50 to 100 mile radius – 20% 100 to 200 mile radius – 14% >200 mile radius – 2% Outside of Wisconsin – 4% 28

Home location of attendees 2008-2009 Comparison Distance Brown Dodge <50 mile radius 60% 62% 50-100 mile radius 20% 24% 100-200 mile radius 14% 7% >200 mile radius 2% 2% Outside of Wisconsin 4% 5%

Farm Attendee Occupation Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Dodge 2008 and 2009 shows Occupation Brown(1738) Dodge(2894) Farm Owner/Renter 55 48 Employee 9 8 Retired 18 14 Others 7 15 No Response 11 15

Attendee Farm Size Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 shows Farm Size, % Brown(1891) Dodge(2894) Less Than 50 11 8 50-99 8 6 100-199 14 13 200-229 9 9 300-399 7 6 400-499 4 4 500-1000 9 8 More Than 1000 5 4 No Response 34 43

‘Must See’ Show Features Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 show-exhibits Exhibits , % Brown(1891) Dodge(2785) Crop Equipment 31 31 Dairy Equipment 26 28 Buildings 26 26 Arts and Crafts 20 26 Beef Exhibits 17 25 Tillage Equipment 21 24 Heritage Equipment 16 20 Crop Seed Distribution 17 20

‘Must See’ Show Features Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 shows-Educational Educational Brown(1891) Dodge(2785) Farm Tour 21 29 Family Living 23 26 Field Demo 22 22 UW Extension 15 22 Ride and Drive 11 19 Home Tour 15 17 Federal Agencies 4 16 Youth 7 15 Others 3 1

Outagamie County Site Potential Tent City Sugar Creek Farm Heidemann Farm

Differences from other shows Leadership Development Education Volunteer Development Producer’s Farm

Questions

Sugar Creek Farm Heidemann Farm