WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo Begins Feb. 8

Feb 07, 2025

The Western Illinois University Ag Mech Farm Expo is back for its 53rd year, running Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8-9 at Western Hall, presented by the WIU School of Agriculture - Agricultural Mechanization Club.

One of the largest student-run events in the country, The WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo will include displays of farm tractors, machinery, agricultural sales and service, emerging ag technology, livestock and crop supplies, conservation and agriculture structures. There will also be a variety of craft vendors upstairs in Western Hall, as well as free children's activities, including a bouncy house, face painting and glitter tattoos.

The show runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.

Exhibitors can register for the event until 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at this link.

Rows A1-F1, west of the west gate, in Q Lot will be closed for the Ag Mech Farm Expo, through Sunday, Feb. 9. All other areas of Q Lot will be open for normal use.

Source : wiu.edu

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.