More for Visitors at 2009 Husker Harvest Days

Enlarge Image Image Gallery A crowd gathers for a field demonstration during the 2008 Husker Harvest Days near Grand Island, Nebraska. courtesy Husker Harvest Days

Grand Island, Nebraska – There will definitely be more to see at this year’s Husker Harvest Days, scheduled for September 15, 16 and 17 and located just west of Grand Island, Nebraska. With a sold-out exhibit field filled with more than 600 exhibitors there will be plenty for farmers and ranchers to check out.

Visitors to this year’s Husker Harvest Days will be treated to a change in the corn planted for field demonstrations this year. The corn to be harvested Tuesday and Thursday during the show was planted in twin rows, rather than the conventional 30-inch rows. Roger Luebbe, HHD farm manager, says more farmers expressed interest in twin-row corn and the show is responding. Corn harvesting demonstrations are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Charitable Drives

This year’s event has inspired additional charitable programs. Monsanto and Husker Harvests Days are teaming up to stock Nebraska’s emergency hunger-drive food shelves with the Genuity Farmer Food Drive.

"We’ve had several businesses experiencing layoffs and some have even closed so we have a number of people out of work,” says Kathy Rathke, president of Heartland United Way in Grand Island, Nebraska. “As a result, our local food pantries got really short of food this year."

As part of the initiative, Husker Harvest Days visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the show. Each gate will have a drop-off location. For every pound of food donated, Monsanto will donate $1 in cash to the Heartland United Way chapter in Grand Island, up to $20,000.

For those who forget to bring food to the show, Monsanto will have canned goods available at their tent for farmers to purchase. For a cash donation, Monsanto will move food into the "donated" pile.

Don Tourte, Farm Progress director national business development, says an event like this is a great way to further strengthen the bond between Husker Harvest Days and the local community. "We are excited to be part of this food drive," said Tourte. "It is an excellent opportunity to give something back to the community that is our home during Husker Harvest Days."