This year being not only my first CMA Music Festival but also my first time In Nashville, I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew there would be country music stars but was unaware of all the other attractions going on downtown. This festival brings in so many companies with booths and prizes that one day really isn’t enough! There is so much to do from watching the flying dog show to watching street performers like the Naked Cowboy. In addition to the already booming downtown, the festival brings in around 200,000 people to the area over four days! That is amazing.
Most people come to watch performances throughout the day. Stars perform on many stages around downtown, from the Hard Rock to the waterfront to the main stage at LP Field. Entering LP Field for the first night of performances I could not believe the amount of people in the stands and on the field. I had never seen anything like it and was thrilled to be apart of that. Not only were so many people sweating it out in the stands for their beloved performers but they even toughed it out through the rain delay and stayed to watch til 3 in the morning! Now that is real country music dedication!
One of the great things about the CMA Music Festival is the opportunity to meet stars of the stage. Michael Peterson introduced me to Ricochet. They were in the kickoff parade and will be competing in the New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday.
Sharing a booth with New Holland at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville this year is the 
APHA is the second largest horse breed registry in the United States with nearly 100,000 members and Ginger says they are a very exceptional horse. “The color really sets them apart, they’re basically a stock horse with color and each one is unique – no two are alike, they’re like a snowflake,” said Ginger. “They’re very fun to ride and they can do all sorts of things.” 
For the third year in a row I got to sit in the studio with Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board (left) and Michael Peterson (right) while they were guests on the 
This evening the CMA Music Festival had a storm issue at the LP Field concert. The second act was Reba McEntire and she was just getting started when they had to clear the field. We got to see Brooks & Dunn and then a couple songs by Reba. It was very disappointing and I’m sure most fans stayed underneath the stands in the hopes that they might restart the program. We decided not to wait and returned to our hotel. It was a nasty storm and we had tornado watch to go with it.
In this week’s program we’re going to hear all about how well the New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race, hosted by Michael Peterson, is working for the company. I sat down with Gene Hemphill, New Holland Public Affairs, and we talked about this project that we’ve been involved with for 4 years now. Gene says he and Michael took the idea to the CMA about a year before the first tractor race and were welcomed to become CMA Music Festival participants. The event has grown to the point that, outside of the evening concerts, it’s now one of the top attended events during the festival.
You’ll hear Gene say that this project has accomplished a lot of things for New Holland as it has developed. Besides just the race event and all the celebrities New Holland is also able to support the FFA, work with Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board and Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and interact with people who fit the ideal demographics for the company and its products.
Michael Peterson recruited Carly to ride on in the parade with him here at the CMA Music Festival. 
In case you’re wondering if that really works, there are pictures in the photo album from Cindy when I took this photo of her.