Ag expo offers farm-fresh ideas

Farmers from throughout the state gathered Saturday on the Missouri State Fairgrounds to share information and purchase products during the 15th annual Mid Missouri Ag Expo.

Bill Ficken, expo chairman, has been involved with the event for six years. 

“We try to do it for all the farmers and local people to show what’s new,” Ficken said. 

He said the expo helps people realize where their food really comes from — the farmers.

Hundreds walked through Mohler Hall and the Mathewson Exhibition Center, looking at the 75 booth displays.

Connie Wehmeyer, business manager of Advantage Metals Recycling in Sedalia, brought a compressed car and a bale of aluminum cans to show visitors at the expo.

“People are really interested in the display, and a lot of people are getting into recycling,” Wehmeyer said.

She said the expo helps the business make connections with local farmers and lets farmers know that their farm equipment can be recycled.

“We have a large response from the agricultural community,” Wehmeyer said.

One display that drew a lot of attention was the petting zoo sponsored by the State Fair Community College FFA chapter. The display let children and adults interact with dogs, sheep, goats, pigs, a duck and a donkey.

Emma Lazenby, 8, of La Monte, made her way through the fences to pet the pigs and dogs.

“I have a donkey and three dogs,” Emma said.

Her favorite animals are dogs, but after she pet the goats, she thought they were “alright.”

Booths with feed information, farm supplies, insurance, building materials and tractors and four-wheelers drew in first time visitors and veterans.

Charlotte Jenry, of Boonville, visited the ag expo for the first time.

“It’s nice, and there are a lot of different booths,” Jenry said.

She was in need of a new roof for her barn and got some information from people at the event.

Melvin Oelrichs, of Mora, has been coming to the expo since it started in Sedalia.

“It just keeps growing,” Oelrichs said.

He was looking for machinery to use on his 12,000-acre farm, where he raises cattle and grows crops.

“It think it’s good for the community to have something like this. This is close by and you get to see quite a bit,” Oelrichs said.