Governor Scott Walker kicked off Farm Technology Days this morning during the opening ceremony in Algoma. The three-day event highlights the latest developments in production agriculture and is held in a different county on a different family farm every year.
“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland and a top U.S. producer of cranberries, vegetables, and cheese,” Governor Walker said. “It’s safe to say that agriculture is one of our top industries and remains crucial to our economic success. Farm Technology Days is a great opportunity for our farmers and other leaders to learn more about the cutting edge of agriculture technology.”
Launched in 1954, Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the largest agricultural show in the state. The event runs July 11 through July 13 and is expected to attract thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. Farm Technology Days allows visitors to tour Ebert Enterprises, the hosting farm, see field demonstrations, speak with commercial exhibitors, and learn about the latest in agricultural research.
Ebert Enterprises, host of this year’s Farm Technology Days, is owned and operated by sixth generation farmer Randy Ebert, and his wife Renee, who began raising heifers and crops after purchasing the farm from Randy’s parents in 1987. The farm employs 40 full-time employees as well as 15 part-time employees. Located in Kewaunee County, the farm doubled in size through internal growth and in 2012 acquired a neighboring farm that increased the farm to their current size of 3,000 cows. They grow corn, alfalfa, sorghum, triticale, and small grains on nearly 5,000 acres.
Agriculture is a crucial aspect of Kewaunee County’s economy, covering 176,735 acres, or 81 percent of the county’s land. The industry employs 2,058 people, approximately 20.7 percent of the county’s workforce. Their top agricultural commodities are milk, grain, cattle, fruits, tree nuts, and berries.
