Corn Day!

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — Close to 400 people braved sub-zero temperatures last week to attend the West Otter Tail Crop and Forage Show in Fergus Falls.

They viewed open class and FFA crop and forage exhibits, took part in educational programs and visited with more than 70 exhibitors.

Crop show chairman and West Otter Tail Crop Improvement Association president Dan Roehl was pleased with the turnout.

In the grain contest, 27 open class exhibitors participated. In the FFA contest, 22 student exhibitors entered 70 grain and forage exhibits.

Ear corn entries were up, Roehl said. Small grains exhibited included buckwheat, soybeans, kidney beans, black turtle beans, oats and wheat. Forage exhibits were down due to a rainy growing year. All grain exhibits will be entered in the Minnesota State Fair in August.

Northern Crops Institute director Brian Sorenson explained how NCI helps buyers throughout the world learn more about grains grown in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

Sorenson travels overseas to meet with grain buyers and offers several sessions for foreign buyers at NCI headquarters in Fargo, N.D. The sessions instruct about the milling and baking properties of wheat.

Ken Herbranson, Clitherall-area dairy farmer and chairman of the Minnesota Division of the Midwest Dairy Association, showed pictures of and described his travels with the Minnesota ag trade mission to China.

The show also honored several couples receiving regional awards. Willis and Joyce Roehl of Fergus Falls were named Valley Farmer/Homemaker recipients; Joel and Britt PIekarski, also of Fergus Falls, were honored as West Otter Tail's Emerging Leaders; and Ron and Mary Moebius of Dalton were named Conservation Farmer recipients.