Farm Tech Days returns to Wisconsin

By: Sabrina Nucciarone, Tri-County News

Budd and Ione Gerrits and their family welcomed Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2008 Executive Committee organizers, state and local officials and volunteers to promote the annual event to members of the media from across the state on Tuesday, June 3.

The Gerrits' Country Aire Farms, just south of Greenleaf in Brown County and east of STH 57 on Lamers Clancy Road, will be the site for all that is new and improved in farm technology. The event will be held Tuesday through Thursday, July 15 to 17. Admission is $5 per person and parking is free.

Faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin Extension and members of various companies help organize the annual event which was formerly known as Farm Progress Days. This year up to 80,000 people are expected to attend over the course of the three-day run.

Mike Austin, agriculture reporter for WFRV-TV in Green Bay, was the master of ceremonies. Austin said this event showcases the latest in innovation and technology but stresses that the people of Wisconsin is the state's greatest asset.

For this event each year, "People open their hearts, their business, and farm to the people of Wisconsin," Austin said.

Budd Gerrits, who just two months ago underwent open-heart surgery, said, "It is a joy and thrill to honor agriculture."

Keeping family business going

Gerrits had wanted to be an accountant, but after receiving a scholarship to attend college, his thoughts returned to the business of the family farm. The scholarship notification changed his entire life's ambition. "You never know when that moment is there that can change your life," Gerrits said.

Married 46 years, the Gerrits and their two boys, Mike and Tom, are maintaining and building the Country Aire Farms business and the boys will eventually carry on the family business entirely. The Gerrits also have two daughters, Carolyn and Julie. Many of the Gerrits' grandchildren were in attendance at the media event.

Locations for the next three years were also announced, those being Dodge County for 2009, Pierce County 2010, and Marathon County for 2011.

Austin said the world knows of the Green Bay Packers and the paper products that are produced in the area, but there is a reason why Wisconsin is called "America's Dairyland." In addition to the technology and innovation applied to farming, he said it is the people involved in agriculture.

Brown County Executive Tom Hinz followed the sentiment. "Farm is about the family. Agriculture has kept the fabric of our society together," Hinz said. In Brown County alone, Hinz noted there are 17,000 jobs in agriculture generating $3 billion of economic activity.

Cutting edge of technology

Educational features of this year's Farm Technology Days will focus on cutting edge dairy technologies, manure and the environment, and valuing agriculture in the community.

Even before the excitement of all the other events and attractions that take place at Farm Technology Days get under way, the public should note there will be some changes to the use of STH 57 with regard to traveling to the event or beyond.

STH 57 will be closed to through traffic beginning Tuesday morning, July 15 until Thursday evening, July 17. From Calumet County traveling north on STH 57, the detour will be USH 10 west of STH 57 to CTH PP to STH 96 west. Public parking and overnight camping will be accessible by taking STH 57 to USH 10 west to CTH Z west then traveling north on Old 57. Old 57 intersects with Lamers Clancy Road at that point but cars will not be able to travel on it as it is the main thoroughfare for public shuttle trams and other utility vehicles for the event.

Daily automobile parking is free and there will be a handicapped access lot available.

Overnight camping is a first this year and is a separate area from daily automobile parking. Available to visitors and vendors, there will be a $10 space fee that will be available only through pre-registration.

Information about the event and on-line conditions and applications for camping can be obtained by viewing www.wifarmtechnologydays.com.

(Please see the June 26 issue of the Tri-County News for more on this story.)

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