Farm show: chasing cabin fever away

20th annual event draws 145 exhibitors, eight of which are new

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- What's an interesting thing to do this weekend?

A lot of folks are checking out the Farm City Hub Club 20th Annual Farm Show at Vogel Arena, in New Ulm.

"It's been a good day... We've had a good, good, good crowd," said Farm Show Director Frank Stuckey. "Everybody's happy. It's about a normal crowd size for Friday night, and it's been steady ever since we opened tonight."

This year's event drew 145 different exhibitors, eight of which are new to the show, Stuckey said.

The show continues today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Last year's event drew about 10,000 people. This year's visitors are checking out exhibits from hearing aids to farm lighting.

"You can see a lot of different exhibits," said St. George farmer Chris Beranek. "You can see a lot of different places where you can compare and do your shopping in one place."

Willmar exhibitor Jerry Meinders said that the show came at just the right time of year.

"I think when you get into February and March, people get cabin fever," said Meinders, who is the owner and hearing aid specialist of Willmar Hearing Aid Center, Inc. "There's such a diversity of things here. I think people have come from a long ways. It draws a lot of people."

New Ulm exhibitor Willie Holm, with Carroll Distributing and Construction Supply, Inc., was likewise pleased.

"This is a good show time for businesses," said Holm.

For the past three years, Swede Benson of Sanborn has brought his buildings to sell at the Farm Show. This year he was able to bring one of his buildings inside the arena.

"Bringing the building inside really helps," said Benson. "Shows are good for us. Look at this farm show - there's a lot of variety here. If you have the same old thing every year, people won't come. The business world is changing all the time."