Illinois Governor Pat Quinn visited the 2013 Farm Progress Show in Decatur this week to honor the memory of a show supporter and to launch a statewide cover crop demonstration project.

The governor proclaimed August 28 as “Emmett Sefton Day” in Illinois in honor of the man who helped secure Decatur as the show location.  Emmett’s family was on hand to accept the proclamation from Governor Quinn as well as local leaders from nearby Richland Community College.  Quinn says, “Illinois farmers have been quick to adopt proven technologies, and each year the Farm Progress Show gives them an opportunity to compare the latest equipment and evaluate the newest field trials of seed varieties and production methods.”

The Farm Progress show alternates each year between Decatur, Ill. and Boone, Iowa. The Decatur site, dubbed “Progress City,” was first used in 2005 and expanded for the 2007 show to host more than 600 exhibitors and record numbers of show visitors. Sefton, a member of the Richland Agriculture Advisory Committee who passed away earlier this summer, was pivotal in securing Decatur as the show site every other year. Governor Pat Quinn press conference

Special thanks to Jeff Nalley, Cromwell Ag Radio Network, for sharing his audio of the governor!

2013 Farm Progress Show Photo Album