Annual farm show draws thousands

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

Once again, the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud was filled with thousands of people who visited the 49th annual Central Minnesota Farm Show Feb. 23-25.

“It’s the largest, greatest and best farm show in Central Minnesota,” said Ginny Kroll, special events coordinator.

New models of machinery were displayed outside and inside the Convention Center. Visitors could also view and participate in the more than 300 booths of exhibits, prize registrations, seminars and more.

Many farm show attendees came to learn about new products and services. Early attendees enjoyed free milk, coffee and donuts.

Some area businesses who had booths at the farm show included Powerhouse Outdoor Equipment and Cy Pfannenstein Music Service.

Vic Boeckmann and his son, Michael Boeckmann, had a larger 20-by-20-foot booth set up to display the Powerhouse Outdoor Equipment this year. Visitors could view new selections of lawn mowers, chain saws, leaf blowers and more.

Michael Boeckmann was eager to show visitors the Exmark Lazer Z E series suspension platform lawn mowers. He also said visitors showed interest in the Stihl equipment which they carry at their business.

Powerhouse recently merged with Bartz Mower Service, previously located in Waite Park. Vic Boeckmann said John Witte, who was previously at Waite Park, is now at the St. Joseph location.

Vic Boeckmann said they come to the farm show because the exposure they get from the show is tremendous.

Former St. Joseph resident and business owner Dennis Teske was visiting the Powerhouse booth.

Teske previously owned Teske Farm and Country Feed and Seed in St. Joseph, but currently lives in Sauk Rapids and is a Gold Country Seed Dealer.

“I come to the Farm Show to do a little (networking) with the farmers,” Teske said. “I only live about a mile away and I come to it every year.”

Cyril “Cy” Pfannenstein, 63, had his popular musical compact discs set up in a 10-by-10-foot booth again this year. His business, “Cy Pfannenstein Music Service,” offers a variety of music choices including country, polka, gospel and more.

“Even with the new technology, people still like to take a CD and pop it in their player,” Pfannenstein said.

Pfannenstein, a former band member who played the trumpet, concertina and drums in various bands for more than 35 years, was joined by his mother, Ginny Pfannenstein, 83, who was helping again at the booth.

Both said they enjoy visiting with and reminiscing with folks who stop to visit their booth.

Many visitors know them locally from the St. Joseph Meat Market. Ginny and her husband, Al, previously operated the Meat Market, which her son, Harvey, now owns. Cy is currently in charge of the Meat Market’s sausage department.

Besides selling music, Pfannenstein also hosts a Sunday-morning radio show on KASM radio station of Albany.

Pfannenstein said he might have to consider a larger booth in the future, because he had heard requests from people for more music by such artists as Johnny Horton, Jimmy Dean and others, which he has played on the radio show.

Stearns Electric Association distributed yellow, plastic hard hats to people who stopped to visit its booth.

Other local businesses included Finken Cos., Central Minnesota Credit Union, Sam’s Club, RDO Equipment and more.

The Central Minnesota Farm Show is organized and coordinated by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and is one of the largest in the Upper Midwest states.

This year’s show attracted about 3,300 visitors with 368 booths and 195 vendors. Exhibits included tractors, skid loaders, trucks and more.

Presentations on “Carrying the Load: Is your equipment fit for the road?, “Biosecurity on the Farm: Keeping a healthy and safe environment,” “Grain and Livestock Market Outlook,” “It All Starts in the Dirt” and “Planning your Legacy” were also offered.

Each year a portion of the farm show proceeds is dedicated to central Minnesota high school scholarships. According to their website, high school seniors can apply for the scholarships, which are awarded based on merit and a stated intent to continue their education by studying some area of agriculture. Since the program started in 1982, more than 200 scholarships for a total of $70,000 has been awarded.

Special events coordinator Sheri Wegner said eight $500 scholarships will be awarded through the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce as a result of this year’s show.

Wegner will be continuing Kroll’s tradition of organizing the farm show. This is Kroll’s last year that she will be helping with the show.

Kroll began working as a secretary for the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce in 1965, and has been helping with the farm show since then.

According to the farm show brochure, when Kroll started she didn’t know very much about the business or St. Cloud, or even what a chamber of commerce was. She was also scared to talk to people.

Kroll overcame her shyness and learned much along the way. Under her guidance, the show moved from the Crossroads Shopping Center to the Convention Center location.

Kroll said the event is very important to the Chamber because it’s the largest event they put on, and it’s also important to the area because agriculture is critical to Central Minnesota.

“The 2016 farm show was a smashing success with great attendance and even better weather,” Wegner said. “We are looking forward to 2017, the 50th year of the Central Minnesota Farm Show. It will be even bigger and better than this year as the largest Minnesota indoor farm show.”

For more information, visit the website, centralmnfarmshow.com.