45th annual Big Iron Farm and Construction show begins
WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — This year marks the 45th annual Big Iron Farm and Construction Show. With over nine hundred booths, training sessions, and demonstrations, the show provides farmers and industrial workers a chance to learn.
“We’re celebrating our twentieth year anniversary, and our mission is to help farm and ranch families in crisis due to injury, illness, and natural disaster,” said Luke Benedict, Senior Field Operations Manager for Farm Rescue
“We take and buy from farmers, and we process either whole products, split products for domestic or export. And then in our Minot facility, we actually use the product to make different protein and starch flours and ingredients,” said Mike Strand, Grain Buyer at AGT Foods.
Last year, more than 70,000 people came from across the nation and over 50 other countries to see demonstrations and exhibit booths. One of the many booths includes nonprofit agency Farm Rescue. The agency based in North Dakota serves farmers in need in ten states.
“Farmers and ranchers are some of the first people to offer help and some of the last people to take it. They’re proud people, they’re oftentimes successful because they do for themselves. And they don’t have the people to come and do the work for them. So there’s no days off when you have livestock,” said Benedict.
In the last year, AGT Foods USA has tackled the issue of tariffs within their market. Having to assure their customers in other countries that their products are still coming in and worthy of purchase.
“The grace period on some of the tariffs makes it a little bit difficult because they don’t know if they’ll receive the product before those grace periods might be off. So there’s just a bit more kind of calculated thought put into it. As far as when they’re looking to buy. And so it has made it a little more challenging at times, I’d say,” said Strand.
The company is continuously changing things and adjusting with the consumers’ needs.
The Big Iron Farm and Construction Show runs through Thursday, September 11th.
