I go to an Agricultural Show

Yesterday my Brother and I went to the Willamette Valley Ag Expo. We needed pesticide credits so we went early in the day. Unfortunately we looked at the schedule wrong and the pesticide classes are today. I am not very excited about going back.

One of the highlights of the show is a hot lunch served cafeteria style. It is $12 with your admission ($5). This year it was chicken fried steak or lasagna. There was no steak left when we got there but there was iceberg lettuce. I do love iceberg lettuce and Ranch dressing. The lasagna stayed with me all day.

My brothers Wife and Son came up in the evening for a progressive type dinner that was supposed to feature Oregon grown delights. They were meeting with friends. 

My friend at the N&S Tractor booth gave me a ticket so I got to join the tour.

I think I was expecting something a little different. Perhaps more educational? It was supposed to feature Oregon grown items and I expected small portions with labels or maybe someone promoting products. Instead it was just dinner lines in each building with the main entree from a local meat producer. Also, Iceberg lettuce. I opted for the Italian dressing as I felt I needed to be more "cultured."

I also like meat. Not a huge fan of dead sheep but anything is good with salt and a little char.

You can't go wrong with meat! Mashed potatoes, boiled beans and Iceberg Lettuce!

Other than indigestion all day and much of the night, I was happy with the show. There were lots of free pens and key fobs this year. Lots of big ticket farming items. Four booths selling baler twine, (which I thought was a bit odd.)

The vendors were paying a lot of attention of the young people. Lots of kids were sporting new hats and had bags bursting with pens, cheap frisbees, writing pads, and candy. Lots of candy.

I have no idea what this says about the farm economy. There was almost nothing for small farmers. (IMHO) But there was a lot of equipment there.

I know the grass seed industry is not seeing much cash flow, commodity crops are crap, I think filberts are doing better, straw and hay are okay. 

Just my observations. The show seemed to have a lot more energy this year than in the past. There were very few empty booths. I saw two vendors I remembered from 20 years ago when we sold moisture testers at the Portland show.

I am sure this is a favorable result of the Booming Biden Economy!