Montana State University was the venue of choice for the John Deere Ag Expo, which took place between Nov. 13 and Nov. 15 to showcase some of the advancements in the agricultural industry.
Events hosted at the expo included livestock judging, agricultural mechanics presentations and agronomy workshops for attendees. More than 1,350 4-H students from Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota were estimated to participate in the event. Students were also given the chance to meet with MSU faculty members and learn about the various careers in agriculture.
“This is a very large and important event for regional 4-H and FFA students,” said Bill Jimmerson, Montana FFA program manager, according to the Montana State University website. “The expo is a wonderful melding of a recruitment tool for MSU, an introduction to higher education for many junior high and high school students, and a rich program that celebrates the agriculture industry in myriad events.”
More than 1,400 people were expected to visit the community of Bozeman, Mt., for the expo, which was also cited as a potential boost to the local economy, according to NBC Montana.
"Having 1,400 additional people within the community of Bozeman, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, buying gas at our local gas stations -- it's a great economic driver,” Toni Lee, who works at the MSU office of Event Services, told the news source. “It means a lot to the community to have the kids here as well.”
Last year, MSU also hosted the John Deere Ag Expo, giving locals the opportunity to learn more about the state’s agriculture. The event included livestock judging, agricultural sales and speaking events. Students were given the chance to participate in contests and find more information about education programs at the MSU facility.
Image credit: www.montanaffa.org