Farm Technology Days committees’ chores under way

By Alexa Zoellner azoellner@dailyunion.com | Posted: Wednesday, February 28, 2018

JEFFERSON — Most three-day events don’t take three years of preparation, but this one does.

For the past 18 months, Jefferson County has been prepping for hosting Wisconsin Farm Technology Days 2019.

“We’re like at half-time,” LaVern Georgson, Jefferson County University of Wisconsin-Extension agriculture agent and executive director for the 2019 event, said. “It was kind of like, ‘Wow. That’s pretty amazing.’”

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days (WFTD) is a three-day show with exhibits of the latest technology, developments in the industry, field demonstrations, and educational and other activities. The event has the potential to draw around 40,000 people to the county and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Jefferson County show will take place July 23-25, 2019. Mike and Sarah Walter of Walter Grain Farms in Grellton in the Town of Milford were announced as the host farm in January 2017.

Preparation for the show is being handled by members of 18 committees, including an Executive Committee.

“Some of the committees have a lot of preliminary work who are meeting weekly or, at the very least, monthly,” Georgson said. “So a lot of the details that they’re attending to are coming into focus. A few committees don’t have a lot to do until we get within a year, six months from the event.”

Georgson estimated there are at least 150 people working on the various committees currently. Ultimately, there will be about 1,500 committee members and volunteers that work to set up, run and tear down the show.

“I’ve encouraged the committees to not only realistically look at what their budgets are, but to begin to break down their tasks so they know, ‘OK, one person doesn’t have to make every decision on some of these bigger committees,’” Georgson said. “We’ve encouraged them to start looking at their tasks so they can start delegating.”

Committees include:

Executive Committee

There are 18 members of the Executive Committee. They are: Scott Schneider, co-chair; Paul Hadler, co-chair; Christy Strobel, treasurer; Melissa Gerner, secretary; Georgson, executive director; Matt Glewen, WFTD general manager; Tracy Brandel; Claude Christie; Jeremy Chwala; Tim Finger; Dale Gaugert; Matt Hanson; Amy Listle; Brent Payne; Mark Schnell; Luke Wiedenfeld; Linda Wright; and Lloyd Zastrow.

“The Executive Committee is meeting regularly and, right now, they’re looking at the budgets from each committee so they can be fiscally responsible,” Georgson said. “They’re looking at decisions they have to be making, as well.”

He also noted that the committee will continue to meet for “months after” the show concludes to balance the books and determine how and where to distribute income from the show left over after show expenses are paid.

Fundraising Committee

The purpose of the Fundraising Committee, which is chaired by Cyndi Pitzner, is to solicit cash and in-kind donations from sponsors. The Executive Committee liaison is Dale Gaugert.

The committee has been meeting regularly and members are beginning to contact organizations and businesses while developing multiple sponsorship levels, according to Georgson.

“We try to have a couple hundred-dollar sponsors all the way up to $15,000 to $25,000 sponsors,” he explained. “One of the important things for fundraising is, we have show expenses, but any income over expenses comes back for youth and agriculture in the county. So we’re hoping that we’re able to be generous and provide scholarships and grants when it’s done and over with.

“(The income) is designated for youth and agriculture, so you’ve got 4-H clubs, you’ve got FFAs, you’ve got groups that are doing something,” Georgson added. “Or, some counties may choose to do an improvement to the fairgrounds with some of the funds. But, I think, our county is going to take a wait-and-see attitude and see what we end up with. There’s a lot of details between now and that point.”

Elite sustaining sponsors of WFTD are John Deere and Rural Mutual Insurance Company.

Hospitality Committee

The purpose of the Hospitality Committee is to provide a hospitality/exhibitor lounge at the 2018 Wood County WFTD to create interest for the 2019 Jefferson County WFTD.

The committee is co-chaired by Jessica Hansen and Olivia Ault. The Executive Committee liaison is Melissa Gerner.

“Hospitality is extending that outreach from Jefferson County for the people that will be at Wood County this year,” Georgson said. “It’s a chance for our county to put its best foot forward this year at the Wood County show so that we get exhibitors here, which helps contribute to the health of our show. … We get to showcase Jefferson County in a little bit more formal fashion.

“They have responsibilities at Wood County to invite people and to provide for them,” he continued. “That way, when Wood County is conducting their show, they don’t have to worry about hospitality, that exhibitor break area. When we are hosting, then Eau Claire, (which is hosting WFTD 2020), will have theirs at our show. It helps bridge from one show to the next.”

The Hospitality Committee also is gathering information for a booklet or something similar that will provide potential exhibitors insight into local businesses, restaurants, entertainment, etc.

In addition, committee members are working on a volunteer appreciation event after the show.

“We’ve had discussions on how we have volunteer appreciation, because it’s going to take a lot of people and it’s important — personally and within the culture of Jefferson County — that this is a community-building activity, so we want to appreciate people that are involved,” Georgson said.

Field Demonstrations Committee

Responsibilities of the Field Demonstrations Committee include planning field harvest demonstrations and coordinating needs for crops in regard to Tent City, parking and fieldwork demonstrations.

It is co-chaired by Bill Rohloff and Mike Zickert. The Executive Committee liaison is Mark Schnell.

“The cropping plans, the cropping rotation, all those things are pretty well under way,” Georgson said. “Field Demonstrations hasn’t been meeting weekly, but they have identified the acres that we need.”

Winter wheat is planned to be seeded this fall for use in combine, tillage and bailing demonstrations, he said. Alfalfa will provide forage harvesting and bailing demonstrations and additional forages will be seeded this spring.

All field demonstrations are weather-permitting, Georgson noted.

“Last year, we (planted the land that will be used for) primary parking and Tent City,” he added. “(Those are) areas that need to be more established so there’s a better plant base and they’re able to withstand the traffic and some of the wear-and-tear that happens with that.”

Foods Committee

The Foods Committee is in charge of selecting groups to provide food and beverages at the show, selecting menus and operating and coordinating six food tents in Tent City.

It is co-chaired by Cindy Jaquith, Alyssa Jaquith, Tim Brunk and Jill Brunk. The Executive Committee liaison is Tracy Brandel.

The committee, which ultimately will utilize around 600 volunteers, has been meeting regularly and “doing a lot of work” in relation to its duties.

“Tent City always has six food tents and those food tents will be manned by non-profit organizations,” Georgson said. “There will be an application process for that later on. We’re going to need about 100 people per tent over the three days, so it’s a pretty sizeable amount of volunteer base. … A little different than the rest of the show, those food dollars are shared with the groups that staff the tent.”

Currently, the Foods Committee is looking at “some interesting serving techniques” and trying to nail down a unique, signature food piece for Jefferson County.

Innovation Square Committee

The purpose of the Innovation Square Committee is to design and layout Innovation Square, which historically has been meant to showcase the newest technological innovations in agriculture.

There currently is not a chair for the committee, but the Executive Committee liaison is Paul Hadler.

“We’re looking at what (Innovation Square) means for Jefferson County right now,” Georgson explained. “We’ve got a lot of people right now that are beginning to understand what Innovation Square can be. Originally, it was intended to have the newest technology that was recognized and supported by exhibitors.”

However, with technology changing so rapidly in today’s world, it can be difficult to identify the true innovator because “if one person has an idea, three other people might have the same idea.

“Some of the younger start-up companies may want to be in an area where there’s more of their competition or their peers in some of the other exhibit areas,” Georgson said. “If they’re here, depending on how it’s designed, they may not get some of the traffic. For them to support two exhibits (isn’t really feasible). So we’re looking at how we can work with that concept and showcase Jefferson County.”

When Walworth County hosted WFTD in 2016, the host farmer dug a miniature version of Lake Geneva and landscaped around it to resemble the public walkway around the actual lake.

Kewanee County, which hosted in 2017, did something similar with a mini version of Lake Michigan that had a lighthouse in it.

Tent City Committee

The Tent City Committee will assist in the layout of streets, avenues, food and educational tents in Tent City; work with exhibitors during setup and tear-down, as well as sign and transportation needs during the show; and coordinate a two-way radio system.

Dave Frohling chairs the committee and Matt Hanson is the Executive Committee liaison.

“A lot of their work will be done with the layout of Tent City by Wood County’s (Farm Technology Days in 2018), so the exhibitors know what it’s going to look like,” Georgson explained. “But then, they will probably come back six weeks before our show and they will take and, probably by GPS, lay out the streets and the coordinates and everything like that because ... then the Utilities Committee comes in and begins to lay out who needs electrical service.”

Utilities Committee

The Utilities Committee is responsible for working cooperatively with various utility companies (power and telephone) and coordinating wiring according to the layout of Tent City.

Co-chairs are Brad Brusveen and Kory Knickrehm. The Executive Committee liaison is Jeremy Chwala.

“Utilities has been meeting about once a month now as they try to make sure they’ve got the equipment and the trucks lined up before we get too late,” Georgson said. “Utilities also ranges for cell service and any communications or systems, things like that that come as a result. This committee’s made a lot of progress. It’s a smaller committee, but they’ve got a lot to get done.

“We’ve got representatives from We Energies and U.S. Cellular,” he added. “So they’re heavily involved already, making decisions and figuring out what we need.”

All the electrical lines in Tent City are buried, according to Georgson.

Grounds Committee

The Grounds Committee provides services such as fencing, culverts, unloading ramps and forklifts; coordinates garbage collections; and provides shavings for the grounds, drinking water and toilet facilities.

It is chaired by Erich Wollin. The liaison for the Executive Committee is Luke Wiedenfeld.

“Grounds has a lot to do with making sure the site is accessible; that the exhibitors are accommodated; that when equipment arrives, it can be unloaded; they manage the UTVs — they’ll manage that fleet,” Georgson explained. “So they’ve got a huge responsibility with managing all the equipment that comes and goes and the logistics of it.”

“They’re in the preliminary stages of kind of setting up their responsibilities and who’s going to do what because they have to be available weeks in advance to unload equipment,” he added. “As manufacturers send equipment in for the displays they have to make sure they locate it correctly.”

Traffic, Safety and Parking Committee

Responsibilities of the Traffic, Safety and Parking Committee include establishing traffic patterns for incoming and outgoing visitors; providing security for the grounds; setting up a command post; and working cooperatively with local police, fire and EMS personnel.

The committee is co-chaired by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Capt. Jerry Haferman and Patrol Sgt. Brian Olson. The Executive Committee liaison is Brent Payne.

Walters Grain Farm is within the Watertown jurisdiction, so the Watertown Fire Department and EMS have been involved in conversations with the committee and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Signs Committee

The Signs Committee is responsible for installing and taking down highway and Tent City signs and providing storage space and maintenance of signs as needed.

Becky Mehringer is the chair and Claude Christie is the Executive Committee liaison.

“If somebody needs a sign, they’ll take care of it,” Georgson noted. “There are signs that travel with Farm Technology Days, so they’ll upgrade or check those. Some are in good shape or they might improve them or add more signs or things like that.

“Tent City has street signs at every corner and they’re named for different things, different purposes,” he continued. “If there’re signs that need to be put out in the parking lot for who sponsored this parking lot, they take care of that. Those electric signs you see on the interstate for directing traffic, they’ll be responsible for coordinating those types of things, as well.”

Committee meetings are just getting under way, as there is not much members can do until other committees tell them what signs are needed.

Youth Committee

Duties of the Youth Committee include working with FFA and 4-H members/leaders; hosting the Youth Tent; and conducting youth educational programs in the Youth Tent.

The committee is co-chaired by Dustin Winkelman and Rachel Thom. The Executive Committee liaison is Linda Wright.

While there have been some meetings, it has not yet taken off fully as there is other information that needs to be determined first, Georgson noted.

Equine Committee

The purpose of the Equine Committee is to arrange the physical setup of the arena and identify and arrange for the educational programming and horse-related entertainment that will be offered.

It is chaired by Dan Grunewald and Tracy Brandel is the Executive Committee liaison.

“They’ve got kind of a designated area and we need to begin identifying speakers,” Georgson said. “I think some of that has been done, but I’ll be getting a little more involved in that as we move forward.”

Family Living Committee

The Family Living Committee is responsible for coordinating education and entertaining programs, including speakers, exhibits and displays for the Family Living Tent.

Tammi Vetrano is the committee chair. Amy Listle is the Executive Committee liaison.

“We know it’s a designated area,” Georgson said. “We’re filling out an agenda and schedule — there’s a stage in that area — so who’s going to be speaking, what type of presentations will be going on.”

Ag Education Committee

The Agriculture Education Committee coordinates UW-Extension and partner agency theme tents and exhibits in and around Tent City.

Nick Baker is the chair and Georgson is the Executive Committee liaison.

Much of the committee’s work — which is done largely by UW-Extension — won’t take place until this fall, Georgson said.

“It’s figuring out what the issues and topics might be,” he said. “If they think there’s something new. I know they’re thinking about possibly doing some cover crops.”

“We know we’re going to have some tents, some outside displays,” Georgson added. “We want to emphasize the topics that are going on and things like that.”

Admissions Committee

Responsibilities of the Admissions Committee include providing assistance for show attendees at information booths and tents, setting up admission headquarters, and collecting admission fees.

It is chaired by Mike Herschleb. The Executive Committee liaison is Christy Strobel.

Georgson noted that the committee “doesn’t have a lot to do” at the moment.

“They’re lining up their volunteers and figuring out their strategies — there’ll be four admission gates — for who’s going to volunteer, how they’re going to check people in,” he said.

Heritage Tractor Committee

The Heritage Tractor Committee is responsible for developing a display that will show the progress made by past generations. It is co-chaired by Curt Pernat and Luke Pernat.

Mark Schnell is the Executive Committee liaison.

“The Heritage Tractor is essentially an area where we have antique tractors,” Georgson explained. “This is farm equipment that was probably used up through the ‘50s and ‘60s, (although) some of it is a little bit newer. So it’s older styles of tractors and things like that.”

Publicity and Promotion Committee

Responsibilities of the Publicity and Promotion Committee include developing and distributing promotional materials and media kits, writing news releases and hosting Media Day events.

The chair is Carrie Mess and the Executive Committee liaison is Tim Finger.