WIU Ag Mech Club’s Farm Expo set for March 4-5 in Western Hall

MACOMB, Ill. — The 51st Western Illinois University Ag Mech Club’s Farm Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 5, in Western Hall. Free parking is available in Q-Lot, adjoining the venue.

The Farm Expo, considered the largest student-run agricultural event in the country, will have displays of farm tractors and machinery, ag sales and service, ag management, emerging ag technology, livestock and crop supplies, conservation and ag structures. There will be a variety of craft vendors upstairs in Western Hall, as well as free children’s activities, including a bouncy house, face painting, a balloon artist and glitter tattoos. WIU faculty and students will show displays of their research.

Display spaces for the event are available and can be registered for by visiting bit.ly/agmechshow.

In addition to the show, the WIU Aggies will also host an Aggies and Friends social from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Ice House (formerly The Change of Pace) in Macomb. Registration is $10 which includes appetizers. A cash bar will be available.

The event gives alumni an opportunity to visit with fellow Leathernecks and learn about happenings in WIU’s School of Agriculture, and the annual Distinguished Alumni from the School of Agriculture will be honored. Registration for the social can be completed by visiting bit.ly/Aggies23.

WIU Ag Mech Club president Devon Passalacqua, a junior agriculture major, of Carlinville, said the organization appreciates everyone’s cooperation and teamwork in making this year’s event “one for the record books.”

In a press release, Passalacqua said, “We appreciate all the vendors committed to the agricultural industry, and the WIU student body. The Ag Mech Expo is the perfect place for vendors to showcase their products and latest innovations. There will also be a variety of craft vendors and free activities for people of all ages.”

Show coordinator Jaclyn Janssen, a senior agriculture major from Avon, said this is the first Farm Expo held since she began attending WIU. Previous Expos were cancelled because of the pandemic.

“My family and I attended them over the years, but I am excited to play a part this year,” she said. “We still have booths for vendors to purchase, and we will continue pushing until we have a full show. We hope to see a large turnout to celebrate being back in action.”

The Ag Mech Club’s advisors are WIU agriculture instructor Jana Knupp and associate professor of agriculture Daniel Atherton.

Follow the Farm Expo on Facebook at facebook.com/WiuAgMechFarmExpo/. For more information about the School of Agriculture, visit wiu.edu/ahttp://wiu.edu/agg.