Sold-out farm show returns to Owatonna

The North American Farm & Power Show returns to Owatonna next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 19-20, at the Four Seasons Centre on the Steele County Free Fair grounds.
This year marks the 24th year the event has been held in Owatonna, said Dan Slowinski of show sponsor Trade Expos in Austin.
“We have sold out (the vendor spaces),” Slowinski said, adding there are 16 more on the wait list. The show will feature 161 companies and 324 booths. Twenty-four of the exhibitors are attending for the first time.
The show annually brings in between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors, Slowinski said, although last year was higher. The target audience is farmers and ranchers, but Slowinski said that the show offers something for everyone. That is reflected in attendance on Saturday, when many families bring their youngsters to look at the machinery.
The show serves as a midwestern hub for exhibitors to showcase their latest products and innovations and to network with the farming community.
This year’s show will feature a silent auction sponsored by the Owatonna FFA Alumni Chapter. All money raised from the auction will go to the local FFA chapter. There also will be food trucks on site, as well as a concession stand that benefits Owatonna Youth Hockey
Everyone attending is invited to register for a grand prize drawing held 30 minutes before the show’s closing on Saturday afternoon. There will also be daily drawings from Miner’s Outdoor & Rec, with prizes including a Husqvarna leaf blower on Thursday, Husqvarna string trimmer on Friday and a Husqvarna chainsaw on Saturday.
Another feature of the show is the seminars held all three days. All seminar sessions will be in the second level meeting room.
Topics on Thursday include:
Farm and Business Succession Planning from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with Leah R. Gilbert, Gilbert Legal, PLLC, in Waconia, sponsored by the Linder Farm Network
How Cover Crops Make “Cents” from 1 to 4 p.m., sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension, which explores cover crop funding opportunities, the dollars and cents side of soil health, and how livestock and cover crops can work together for greater efficiency

Friday topics include:
Benefits of Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification for Your Farm with Brad Jordahl Redlin and Megan Moland from 10 to 11:30 a.m., sponsored by Linder Farm Network.
Organic Row Crops Workshop, a staple in the Owatonna area for over 20 years sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension for those in any stage of organic farming

On Saturday, the Southeastern Minnesota Irrigators Association will hold their annual meeting from 9 to 10:30 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. beef quality assurance training will be led by Melissa Runck, University of Minnesota Extension Beef Specialist. This training is essential for producers who are seeking certification for the first time or are in need of recertification.
North American Farm and Power Show admission and parking are free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.