CADOTT — With just five weeks to go before Wisconsin Farm Technology Days opens in rural Cadott, organizers are optimistic of large crowds, with numerous activities and vendors on the grounds.
The 2024 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days will be held Aug. 13-15 at the 360-acre Chippewa Valley Music Festival grounds, located at 24447 Highway S. Farmer Jamie Close, who owns 400 acres that border the festival on both the north and south, also will host many of the crop exhibits on his property.
A media day event was held Monday to discuss plans for this year’s festival. Charlie Walker, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation executive director, said they have reached a sellout of commercial space with 497 vendors lined up this year, including many from Minnesota and Canada.
Jerry Clark, UW-Extension agriculture agent for Chippewa, Eau Claire and Dunn counties, has worked on several Farm Technology Day events, including the last one held in the county 20 years ago. Organizers have said they anticipate between 40,000 and 60,000 visitors.
Clark believes attendance could match or top the 2021 Farm Technology Day crowds in Eau Claire County, when about 52,000 patrons visited that festival at Huntsinger Farms, southwest of Eau Claire.
Clark said a big difference is the music festival grounds have permanent roads and utilities. He said it is a great location with easy access.
“It’s got a different vibe to it,” Clark said.
Clark was enthusiastic about reaching a sellout for vendors.
“It’s a good indication there is interest,” he said. “It’s what we felt we could accommodate. It’s a good sign. We want to promote that positive image of agriculture.”
Clark said the event will cater to the smaller farmers who have jobs off the farm. It will highlight small, affordable technology they can use when they get home from their day job and then have work to do on their fields.
“What has changed is those small dairy farms — we’ve seen that decline for decades,” he said. “Equipment needs to work, and it needs to make their lives easier.”
Randy Romanski, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, attended the media day event and was upbeat about what he saw in the planning.
“It shows the evolution of farm technology in Wisconsin,” Romanski said, noting that one of every nine state residents work in an agriculture-related business. “You all get to help tell that story. It takes a lot of work, but thanks for doing it, because it’s important to spotlight agriculture.”
Walker said one of the biggest changes this year is they have opted not to have numerous large food tents that were operated by volunteers. Instead, 19 different food trucks will be on the grounds. Because of that switch, the event only needed about 400 volunteers, which they quickly lined up from area FFA and 4H groups. This means that they have actually turned down offers for volunteers.
Live farm demonstrations will include harvesting alfalfa and tillage of wheat. There will be education seminars, as well as a demonstration on how drones can be used on farms.
Jamie Close said about 130 acres of his land are being used for the field demonstrations. He said setup will begin on July 22.
“It’s going to be exciting, and great for the area,” Close said. “We feel very confident in it. I want to thank everyone for helping.”
The 2022 event near Loyal in Clark County generated $3.5 million in economic activity.
Chippewa County was awarded the 2024 event in December 2021. Chippewa County last hosted Farm Progress Days, as it was called then, in 2004 near Bloomer.
To learn more about the event, visit wifarmtechdays.org .
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