Western Farm Show is Feb. 24-26

The 61st Western Farm Show is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 24-26, at the American Royal in Kansas City. MFA will once again be a primary sponsor of the popular show, which features the latest agricultural equipment and many other attractions for farmers, ranchers and their families.

Produced by the Western Equipment Dealers Association, the show is one of the largest farm events in the Midwest with hundreds of exhibits, acres of things to see and do, the latest in agricultural technology and much more. MFA will have a prominent presence with several booths at the show.

“Attendees can browse 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, all under one roof, with aisles and aisles of equipment and other agricultural products and services,” said Jami Applegate, Western Farm Show manager.

MFA Incorporated sponsors the low-stress livestock-handling demonstration, which will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Scott Pavilion, adjacent to the American Royal. The demonstrations will be led by Ron Gill, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialist, who has been providing technical expertise to livestock producers in beef cattle nutrition, management and livestock handling techniques for over 25 years. Admission to the demonstrations is free to all Western Farm Show paid attendees.  

New this year, MFA is also sponsoring livestock seminars featuring best showmanship practices for 4-H and FFA families. A Cattle Showmanship Seminar is planned Friday at 1 p.m., and a Sheep/Goat Showmanship Seminar will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

John Deere will sponsor another new addition to the show, The Farmer’s Life! with Brian Scott, a farm influencer based in Indiana where his family farms multiple crops.

Returning to the show is the popular Health & Safety Roundup, which is coordinated by the Missouri Farm Bureau and will be open during regular show hours. It will offer interactive and educational health and safety exhibits for the entire family. There will also be free health care screenings, including blood pressure and hearing tests, tetanus shots, vision screening, glaucoma testing and children’s eye screening (infants to 6 years). Cholesterol screenings will also be provided for a nominal fee.

Another show tradition, FFA Day, will be held Friday, drawing members from Missouri and Kansas. An integral part of FFA is the Unite Against Hunger annual food drive. FFA students also have the opportunity to take part in the Farm Equipment Career Development Event that day.  

The upper level of the American Royal houses the Family Living Center, where attendees can shop for clothing, crafts, food, health and home décor products, and more.

Western Farm Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-26, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27. Tickets are available online at the show website for $10 in advance or can be purchased at the door for $10 daily.

A $3 off coupon is available by visiting a participating MFA location or Western Equipment Dealers Association member. Children ages 12 and under are free. On Sunday only, veterans and active-duty personnel with proper ID will be admitted free. Parking is $10 cash at the gate. 

For more information, visit westernfarmshow.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.