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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Wisconsin Farm Technology Days-Past Shows
Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Boosters Past Shows
1959
1962
1998
1989
2010
1992
1960
1982
1993
1965, 1997
1977
1990
1985
1966
1957
1971
1980
1963
1995
2009
2002
1972
1979
1961,1988,
2001
1958
2007 5

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. Dodge County Map
Tent City
Parking
Field Demos

17. Tent City 2009 Dodge County 4/13/2009

18. Aerial view of tent city

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

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

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

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

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

24. Field Demonstrations

25. Trams for transporting people
Parking
Field Demonstrations
Farm Tours

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

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

30. Farm Attendee Occupation Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Dodge 2008 and 2009 shows
Occupation Brown(1738) Dodge(2894)
Farm Owner/Renter
Employee
Retired
Others
No Response

31. Attendee Farm Size Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 shows
Farm Size, % Brown(1891) Dodge(2894)
Less Than
More Than
No Response

32. ‘Must See’ Show Features Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 show-exhibits
Exhibits , % Brown(1891) Dodge(2785)
Crop Equipment
Dairy Equipment
Buildings
Arts and Crafts
Beef Exhibits
Tillage Equipment
Heritage Equipment
Crop Seed Distribution

33. ‘Must See’ Show Features Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 and 2009 shows-Educational
Educational Brown(1891) Dodge(2785)
Farm Tour
Family Living
Field Demo
UW Extension
Ride and Drive
Home Tour
Federal Agencies
Youth
Others

34. Outagamie County Site
Potential Tent City
Sugar Creek Farm
Heidemann Farm

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

36. Questions

38. Sugar Creek Farm
Heidemann Farm