-Messenger photo by Lori Berglund U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, above, took a few questions outside as he visited the Farm Progress Show in Boone Tuesday.

BOONE — After a COVID cancellation in 2020, rains that hampered the show in years before that, lightning that closed it for a day another year, the sun was out bright and the crowds were out in force for opening day of the Farm Progress Show at Boone Tuesday.

It was a day picture perfect for politicians to bring their message to farm families. Officials attending included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull.

Kids just liked the big machinery, and there was plenty of that to see. From combines that list above $800,000 (and that’s without a corn or bean head), to the giant Big Bud tractor, to vintage iron that still draws a crowd, if it moves in ag it was here at the show.

More than 600 exhibitors, from rain gutters to giant farm machinery and so much more were on hand with swag bags and buckets to entice visitors in to their areas. Ag business people settle in for the three days of the show to meet and greet the public.

The Welker family, Montana farmers with a large social media following, created as much buzz as any of the dignitaries when they appeared at several tents and wandered the show, spreading their message of farm, faith, and family values.

-Messenger photo by Lori Berglund Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, center left, and U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra, center right, chat with broadcaster Max Armstrong, left, and Jacqui Fatka, policy editor for Farm Progress, on the opening day of the Farm Progress Show at Boone.

Vilsack boosted the work of the Biden Administration on behalf of farmers when he went before the crowd on hand at the Wallace’s Farmer Hospitality Tent. From efforts to tame inflation, to enhanced broadband access, to climate smart technology Vilsack said the administration was working hard on behalf of farmers.

‘Climate Smart’ practices were a big focus of Vilsack’s talk and previewed an upcoming September announcement regarding funding of grants and awards to build awareness and implementation of ag practices that better serve the environment for the long-term, while also working to create new markets for ag commodities.

By investing $1 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation, the USDA hopes to improve markets for farmers and build climate smart practices for the future, according to Vilsack.

When the program was announced, Vilsack said they expected a relatively small number of applications. Instead, they received more than 1,000 applications, seeking more than $20 billion in funding. While it sounds a like massive program, the goal, he noted is to create new markets for farmers and, in so doing, create better practices for the environment

As a preview of the awards, Vilsack said the Iowa Soybean Association offered a proposed producer partnership on millions of acres that would provide out-come based payments, based on those climate smart practices.

“It’s not limited to Iowa,” Vilsack said. A number of states are looking at the program. “We want to create more, new, and better markets.”

Reynolds took note of the high technology and digital agriculture that was a part of so many exhibits at the show. From drones that spray crops to a ‘flying tractor’ that gives farmers an up-close view of remote areas, technology was all over the show.

“Iowans love seeing innovation and technology on full display and what farming of the future looks like, so it’s been a great day,” Reynolds said, noting she had been stopping by several booths and visiting with farmers and exhibitors alike.

With that advanced technology in mind, she noted, much of rural Iowa still struggles with broadband connectivity issues. Without better connectivity, these advances in digital farming are lost on farmers in those areas of the state.

As governor, Reynolds said she has put a high priority on improving broadband access to such areas so that more Iowans can take advantage of today’s high tech ag world. Forming partnerships with private entities and coupling that with government sector funds has made a huge difference, she noted.

“With state, federal and private sector funds, we will have allocated, when this is all done, almost $600 million broadband connectivity,” Reynolds said. “This is a great example of helping private partnerships.”

Fourth District U.S. Congressman Feenstra talked about his freshman term as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the priorities he has for agriculture.

“We want to make sure we have a safety net for our producers; that’s No.1,” Feenstra said.

“No. 2 is conservation,” Feenstra continued. “We have to make sure we have voluntary conservation practices, that is so crucial.”

Such practices succeed, according to Feenstra, when they are voluntary for the farmers, a sentiment that drew applause from the crowd on hand.

Finally, Feenstra drew attention to progress — the real reason people were at a show all about progress on the farm.

“Why is progress happening?” he asked. “Progress happens because of research. We have to make sure that we are very active in pushing for research.”

Whether it be investing in research at Iowa State University or other ag entities in Iowa, funding for research needs to an important component of any farm bill, he noted.

The Farm Progress Show continues today on the grounds of the Central Iowa Expo at Boone.

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