Wisconsin Ag Connection - FTD Manager on Making Show Permanent: 'Never Say Never'

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FTD Manager on Making Show Permanent: 'Never Say Never'
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/26/2008

The likelihood of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days being held in one single location isn't necessarily in the cards right now, but the show's general manager has told a Clark County radio station that there are reasons to consider it down the road. In an interview with WCCN in Neillsville, Glenn Thompson said a plan by the Clark County Economic Development Corporation to purchase land near Owen to develop an agribusiness campus to become the eventual home for Farm Technology Days would make sense in terms of location. But he says there are also many disadvantages, too.

"When you move to a different situation, you're moving from a volunteer system to a paid employee system," Thompson said. He also said the Corporation's plot of land only consists of 75 acres, which would not provide enough land for parking and field demonstrations.

In March, the Clark County Board approved a land-swap resolution that would authorize the sale of about 40 acres of county-owned land just off of Highway 29 in order to purchase 30 acres of state-owned property for the agribusiness campus. The CCEDC said they were aware that the FTD board has recently been having difficulties finding counties and host farms to hold the show and said they could offer a solution to that problem. But Thompson said a recent study by his board found that it still made sense to keep the show moving from year-to-year.

"You don't get a lot of applications, but we have enough connections that we find enough counties that are willing to support this opportunity, so, we usually have one or two good ones each year," Thompson told WCCN. "But never say never."

FTD is a not for profit organization operated by a 15-member board. Right now, the sites of future shows are scheduled through 2011.

CCEDC Director Sheila Nyberg said last week their goal was to have Farm Technology Days move to Clark County by 2013.

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