60th Annual Hard Spring Wheat Show | Video

Evan Kruegel | 2/5/2013

Williston has always been an agricultural stronghold, and that was especially apparent today at the 60th annual Hard Spring Wheat Show. Agricultural producers from across the region came together to share suggestions and improve their farms.

"Some people are trying this variety, maybe trying this technique, or have done this modification on a machine part. Those are the kinds of ideas that are shared," said NDSU Extension Agent Warren Froelich.

Doug Opland drove west from his farm in Minot to take part in the event. "Anytime you go somewhere, and mingle with other farmers you learn something. That`s the part I enjoy the most about it, is when I go somewhere I always learn something, you hear someone else`s opinion and they find out what you`re doing, it`s a good thing."

Opland is also the president of the U.S Durum Growers Association, so he was there both as a farmer and as an educator.

"The biggest question I`m asked is, ‘What`s the price of durum going to be?’ But I`m a farmer just like them, so I can`t tell you what the price is going to be!"

Froelich says the event is a great social gathering.

"There`s a lot of information that`s shared out in the hallways. I`ve always felt that we come for three reasons. One is information, one is for the social aspects, and another is for the entertainment."

The entertainment was a big hit throughout the day, as professional speaker and farmer Jolene Brown captivated the audience with her stories.

"Well I am a real Farmer Brown, and I am a real person on the land. I don`t do speeches during planting or harvest otherwise I wouldn`t be married. So yes 90 percent of my work ranges from the grassroots farmers and ranchers to the corporations and associations, from kiwi growers to cut flower people to all kinds of people, and what I know is that people on the land are good people, and they really want to do what`s right. So I hope to give them some tools to help. I want them to honor the family by doing business right."

The event used to focus specifically on wheat, but it`s been broadened significantly to encompass all forms of agriculture. After all, North Dakota is the largest single producer nationwide of fourteen different crops.

"Because of the legacy of the wheat show, it is still called the wheat show. And we`ve had the discussion of changing the name but nobody really wants to do that, they have a love affair with the wheat show!” said Froelich.

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