Much like the disappearance of mom-and-pop businesses in cities, local farmers say small, traditional family farms are falling into the same rare category because of corporate takeovers.
So, it's crucial for events like the 25th Ag Expo, which runs from today through Thursday at MSU on the corner of Farm Lane and Mount Hope Road, to offer valuable exposure to the community on the declining traditional agriculture world, Michigan farmers said. Event organizers are expecting about 20,000-25,000 visitors over the three days. It costs about $200,000 to put on, which the university makes back through various fees.
"We'll always have ag in this area, but there is a lot of silver hair out there," said Jim Droscha of Droscha Family Dairy in Charlotte. "We are losing a generation and a population of experienced agricultural individuals."
Droscha said costs are too great for younger farmers to continue the work, and the family-run farms are losing out to large corporations.
Karen Redman, administrative assistant for the Michigan Bean Association, said there is a decline in agriculture appreciation and the Ag Expo also allows the community to learn more about the science of farming.
"There's fewer smaller farmers and more bigger farmers," Redman said.
But people like Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said he hopes events such as the Ag Expo, which features lawn care demonstrations and horse presentations, will rekindle interest in the agricultural community.
"The Agriculture Expo is a wonderful learning opportunity and a great exchange of knowledge," Armstrong said. "We target the citizens of Michigan with a special emphasis with those whose livelihood is based on natural resources."
Although the Expo is aimed at farmers, this year's event also reaches out to the public.
"It is one of MSU's showcase events because it illustrates an outreach to the community, not only to farmers but general home owners," Ag Expo Director Kirk Heinze said. "It is a source of pride within the ag community."
The 35-acre site will hold more than 300 commercial farm equipment exhibits, field demonstrations and about 25 educational seminars, including Christmas tree management on the farm.
One of the new events available to the public is a farm utility vehicle obstacle course.
"Anybody who takes a ride gets to drive the vehicles." Heinze said. "There's someone sitting next to them so there isn't any danger."
Some of the exhibits at the Ag Expo focus on the vintage machines once used in farming. Antique tractors and wood-burning thrashers are among the various devices presented at the show.
The Expo helps farmers from around the upper Midwest to learn about new equipment and techniques to best suit their needs.
Part of the exhibition features a breakfast with speakers, including MSU President M. Peter McPherson, Provost and president-designate Lou Anna Simon and Armstrong.
MSU officials agree that over coffee and eggs, this event provides guests with a platform for discussion when the expo officially opens its doors this morning.
"The Ag Expo will be a window for people to the university and this will help us in the long run," Simon said. "This event has been a historical way to make these connections across generations of farmers and agricultural business leaders."
The Ag Expo began in Tuscola County in 1976 but moved to MSU in 1979 because of its land-grant university status. MSU's farming roots date back to 1855, when it was called the College of Agriculture.
In 1862, when the national government passed the Morrill Act, which provided federal funding for universities to use in agricultural development. MSU became the first land-grant university.
MSU continues to focus on mixing liberal arts and the sciences pertaining to land production.
"The college, the research and the extension service are so diverse because the land grant was set up to help the needs of the state and as the needs have changed, the programs have," said Eunice Foster, associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
It is the needs of the farmers that is the main focus of this event, even with the changing demands of the agricultural market.
Heinze agrees with Droscha that the industry is changing, but believes it's following a different course.
"There's no question that large farms are getting larger and small farmers are focusing on niche markets like soy diesel, jam and apple cider," Heinze said.
Focusing on the importance of agriculture is heavily stressed by event officials. With farms changing, Paul Streng, an assistant to Heinze, said he wondered what would happen to the nation's food supply without agriculture.
"My knee jerk reaction is 'people gotta eat,'" Streng said. "Ag is very important to society and without it, we're in trouble."
