Farm Progress Show is Expanding for 2015 Event

Three streets will be added to the southwest side of the Farm Progress Show’s Decatur, Ill. site in time to host more exhibitors for its 2015 show to be held Sept. 1 - 3. Growth expectations for the Farm Progress Show’s Decatur site continue to exceed the original site development plans.

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Farm Progress Show, known as the World’s Fair of Agriculture, continues to grow and exceed the original projections for its permanent biennial sites. The event will be held at its Decatur, Ill. site Sept. 1 – 3 this year and plans are underway to add three new streets to the southwest side of the event site. This expansion will accommodate more than 100 new exhibitors and provide current exhibitors with more space as well. 

Penton, Farm Progress Show’s corporate parent, is funding the million dollar plus investment that adds more than 400,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space to the show site. The new streets will have hard surface roads and storm sewer drainage. 

Meeting demand and room for growth

The show has had an exhibitor waiting list for several years and this new exhibit area will allow the show to meet current exhibiting demand with a few additional spaces for even more growth. The new phase adds 96 booths, 118 regular lots and 16 Jr. lots. 

“The new area will hold everyone on the existing exhibitor wait list with room to spare,” said Matt Jungmann, Penton Agriculture show director. “Current plans are to provide space for more than 100 new exhibitors with outside lots and a new South Varied Industries Tent. Additionally, everyone who had a 2013 lot assignment and requested more exhibit space for 2015 will be accommodated.” 

Ready for Sept. event

After the construction has been completed, the expansion lots and exhibit area will be wood chipped before setup to insure this area’s exhibitors have a good event experience. After the show, the wood chips will be removed and the area will be seeded to grass. 

A grand and growing show

The Tradeshow News Network rates Farm Progress Show No. 1 (co-ranked with Husker Harvest Days, also a Penton Agriculture event) on its list of the nation’s largest trade shows. This latest expansion moves the bar even higher. The Farm Progress Show is the nation’s largest outdoor ag event. 

The added streets bring the permanent show site in Decatur to almost 90 acres with over 2.9 million square feet of exhibit area. Since the Farm Progress Show held in Decatur in 2005, the exhibitor count has grown by more than 100, now with more than 600 exhibitors. Additionally, the show occupies 300 acres for field demonstrations and test drive areas, plus an additional 150 acres for visitor parking. 

“We are truly pleased that this expansion allows us to accommodate the increasing exhibitor requests,” said Jungmann. “Exhibitors will have a well-developed display area and visitors will have the opportunity to see even more products and services for their farms.” 

When the event moved to permanent biennial sites (Decatur and Boone, Iowa), each site was developed to accommodate its largest events to date and allow for growth. The Decatur site has previously added two permanent streets plus the past two shows added annex areas to meet the demand for exhibit space. The Farm Progress Show was first held at its permanent Decatur location in 2005 and the 2008 show was first held at its permanent location near Boone. 

Plan to attend the show

The 2015 Farm Progress Show is located in northeast Decatur, south of I-72 and west of Richland Community College. The show is open to visitors September 1, 2 and 3, from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Admission at the gate is $15 for adults, $8 for ages 13 to 17. Adult ticket discounts are available online at www.farmprogressshow.com.  

After the show on Wednesday, Sept. 2, take in the country music concert headlined by Craig Morgan with an opening band to be named soon. Full ticket information and additional details about the concert are available on the show's website at www.farmprogressshow.com. The concert is a separate event and a separate admission ticket is needed. The public is welcome to the show and concert.