The 48th Annual WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo is this weekend on the campus of Western Illinois University. The nation’s largest student-run farm expo will host in the ballpark of 5,000 to 6,000 visitors on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will be housed in Western Hall. VP of Expo Operations Amber Hoener shared some changes to expect this year from past Farm Expos:
“We normally do opening ceremonies, but this year, we’re trying something new because our vendors, we asked them, and they wanted us to try it without having opening ceremonies this year. We normally have a keynote speaker, and we got rid of all of that. We also do have research row. That is students of the school of agriculture. They have done research, and they are going to present it,” Hoener said.
The mission of the Expo is to bring the latest agricultural technology to the region and state, to provide opportunities for the introduction of new products by manufacturers, to give students a chance to meet face-to-face with prospective employers in the agricultural field and vice versa, and to promote the University and Department of Agriculture and to aid in the recruitment of high school students and community college students.
Hoener estimates approximately 275 vendors will be in attendance. Door prizes will also be available. Members of WIU’s Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity will be providing pork chops, ribeyes, chips, and more.
For more information on vendors and the event, log onto their website at agmech7.wixsite.com/wiuagmechshow.
written by Jackson Kane
