Wisconsin Farm Technology Days

media release: The 2023 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days show will be held at the Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club’s grounds conveniently located South of Interstate 90/94 Exit 92 near Wisconsin Dells and West of Highway 12 at Highway 33 at Baraboo. There's plenty to see and do at the show, then plan  a stop at Baraboo/Dells or stay and play at the Ho Chunk Casino nearby.

It'll be a show to remember! Plan your visit today.

State and local organizers have been hard at work planning for the upcoming show. “The plan is really far along to have a fun, interesting, educational, and diverse show that highlights the wide range of agriculture and industry in Sauk County,” said Arnie Jennerman, general manager of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. “There will be something for everyone, and we’re excited to showcase Sauk County industry and agriculture as well as the latest in ag technology.”

Just some of the highlights of the show include:

- SIX TOURS: Farm Tech Days Baraboo will feature six tours of different local farms and companies, giving attendees a real taste of the range of agriculture and related business in Sauk County. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, half of the tickets for the tour will be available online starting in July, and half will be available onsite.

- TASTE OF WISCONSIN - Food options at the Baraboo show will be wide-ranging and provide a “Taste of Wisconsin” from area Food Trucks who will be on the grounds to offer their specialties to attendees.

- INNOVATION SQUARE - this popular exhibit’s theme in 2023 is “Diversity in Synergy.” The Planning Team is working to capture production, cultural, and career diversity all in one location, and is working with Madison College to highlight a wide range of agriculture careers for attendees.

- AG ADVENTURE YOUTH EXPERIENCE: This year the youth experience will be spread out on the grounds and be incorporated into different exhibits. Youth of all ages will be able to get hands-on experiences with a wide range of different agricultural exhibits. Completed “Adventure Passports” will earn attending youth a prize to commemorate their participation.

- EQUINE EXTRAVAGANZA: Horses are a big part of life in Sauk County and the Equine Show is already chock-a-block full of an entertaining, interesting, and educational schedule of shows and demonstrations.

Safe and low-stress cattle management techniques will be front and center in the Beef Tent. These demonstrations are a new event at the show in response to popular demand from farmers across the state who are adding beef cattle to their operations. The Beef Tent will have two low-stress cattle handling demonstrations at 10:30 am and 1:15 pm each day of the show. Attendees are welcome to visit the beef tent all day to talk with the participating cattle farmers, the Wisconsin Beef Council, and Beef Extension Specialists to learn more about performance and care and the benefits of the different breeds popular in Wisconsin.

While Wisconsin is renowned for its dairy farms and celebrated as America’s dairyland, the number of cattle farms raising beef has grown dramatically in the last 20 years, and now cattle farms outnumber dairy farms in the state. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Transportation, and Consumer Protection, there are over 16,000 farms raising beef in the state and 6,000 dairy farms.

“The Wisconsin beef industry has grown dramatically and now contributes more than $2.4B to the state’s economy and is growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 2.5%,” said Dick Hauser, Beef Tent Demonstration Chair for the Baraboo show. “We’ve seen tremendous interest from dairy and crop farmers in adding beef to their operations and have designed a program at Farm Tech Days that will detail how to handle beef cattle safely with low-stress techniques.”

Beef animals, unlike dairy cows, which have essentially been domesticated, have significantly different requirements and behaviors and need to be handled with the correct techniques to keep both farmers and cattle safe. Beef cattle breeds tend to be more robust and less docile and require less intensive management than dairy cows. Also, beef cattle are more often grazed on grassland in comparison to dairy cattle.

“Wisconsin has ideal terrain, native plants and climate to raise beef, particularly with rotational grazing,” added Hauser. “The mixture of flatlands and hills which offer good drainage throughout Wisconsin are ideal for grazing cattle which in turn leads to better land management.”

Eight different breeds will be on display in the beef tent. Area farmers participating in the Beef Tent are: Simmental – KFA Simmentals, Justin Kimball (Seymour); Highland – Hidden Ridge Highland Cattle, Dennis Breneman & Maureen Matt (Loganville); Shorthorn – Oakwood Farms,  Rick Colby (Wisconsin Dells); Herford – Pierce’s Herford Haven (Baraboo); Belted Galloway – Etheridge Farm (Eau Claire); White Parks – Hockermans Hillview Farm (Westfield); Normande – Double M Cattle Co. (Rewey)

“Volunteers make Wisconsin Farm Technology Days run and 2023’s show will be no different,” said Anna Maenner, Exhibit and Program Coordinator. “Nonprofit organizations can earn money for their causes by volunteering with a group before and during the show for any of the many different volunteer opportunities. It’s a great way to be together, help your organization, and attend Farm Technology Days.” Groups or individuals with questions should contact the show at 920-644-3551 or email info@wifarmtechdays.org.

About Wisconsin Farm Technology Days

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is a three-day outdoor event showcasing the latest developments in production agriculture, including practical applications and recent research and technological developments. This is the only farm show of its size in the United States that is organized and run entirely by volunteers. As the largest outdoor agricultural event in the state, it welcomes more than 45,000 attendees, with more than 500 commercial and educational vendors. The first WFTD show was named Farm Progress Days and was held in Waupaca County in 1954.

About Agriculture in Sauk County

Agriculture works hard in Sauk Country. Family-owned farms, food processors and agriculture-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity while contributing to local income and tax revenues. Sauk County’s top commodities include milk, grain, cattle, swine, and cropland. There is a strong connection between farmers and consumers, with $1 million of goods sold locally through farmers' markets, CSAs and agritourism initiatives. Over 56% of the county land is farmland, made up of more than 1,400 farms. Overall, agriculture has a tremendous impact on the county landscape, and the variety of family farms continues to keep agriculture thriving in Sauk County.