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Growers Break Records Again at 2013 Commodity Classic

Mar 07, 2013

Visitors to the ASA booth could use the Soy Action Center, sign up to become a member, visit with farmer-leaders, enroll in member benefit AchieveLinks and learn about the Conservation Legacy Awards. (ASA photo by Steve Dolan)

Visitors to the ASA booth could use the Soy Action Center, sign up to become a member, visit with farmer-leaders, enroll in member benefit AchieveLinks and learn about the Conservation Legacy Awards. (ASA photo by Steve Dolan)

Attendance records continue to be broken at Commodity Classic. This year, record attendance totaled 6,214, including a record number of 3,324 corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers. There were also 1,078 first-time non-exhibitor attendees, another record set.

"By the growth of attendance at Commodity Classic, it's clear that farmers are seeing the advantage of coming to this great show," said ASA Vice President and Classic Co-Chair Bob Worth. "The quality of the trade show and all of the educational opportunities makes attendees happy to come back year after year, and invite their neighbors and friends."

This year’s show also experienced the highest number of exhibitors. The 1,010-booth trade show was sold out with a waiting list of interested parties ready to take advantage of cancellations.

Before a standing-room-only house, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made his fourth straight appearance before General Session attendees. As sequester became a reality in Washington, Vilsack encouraged farmers to continue pushing Congress for a five-year farm bill and reach out to strategic partners that rely on farming for the health of their industry.

The 2014 Commodity Classic will be held Feb. 27 to March 1 in San Antonio, Texas.