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DAKOTAFEST 2019
August 2019
Dakotafest returns with big plans for 2019 show
Swine center, food drive are among new parts of annual event By Marcus Traxler The Daily Republic Dakotafest is back again in 2019, with plans for another big show in Mitchell. The show will take place Aug. 20-22 at the Schlaffman Farm on the southeast edge of Mitchell, with about 500 companies and vendors signed up for the show, event organizers said. They will be on hand to connect farmers and ranchers with industry professionals and experts showing off the newest products and technology for on the farm and in the field. Show tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Attendees ages 17 and under are admitted free. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21, while Thursday, Aug. 22 hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. IdeaAg Group, which manages the show, calls it the largest farm show in the Dakotas. Once again, the show -- which first started in 1996 -- will include demonstrations including drive and rides with equipment, livestock handling demonstrations, educational displays and discussions, vendor booths and seed plots. New this year is a Swine Education Building, which will have daily discussions about some of the key current issues in the swine industry. At 11 a.m. daily, Sioux Nation Ag Center experts will speak about the threat of the African Swine Fever, while a discussion will be held at 11:15 a.m. on hoof health and loose sow housing. At 11:30 a.m. daily, tips for keeping foreign animal disease out of feed ingredients in the United States will be a topic of conversation. The building is sponsored by Sioux Nation Ag Center, which will have its veterinarians on hand to discuss the latest animal health issues. One other notable partnership this year involves Legend Seeds, which is inviting show attendees to bring and donate non-perishable food items to its Dakotafest booth in Seed Row No. 19. Donations to the “Farming to Fight Hunger” campaign will benefit the Mitchell Food Pantry.
Other notable items on the schedule of events includes an 11 a.m. Tuesday event with South Dakota State University Extension, which will host a discussion on agri-tourism at its booth (No. 600), with representatives from the South Dakota Department of Tourism. At 2 p.m. Tuesday, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks will host a panel discussion on incorporating conservation practices to maximize farm and ranch profitability. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, there will be a forum discussing hemp in South Dakota, which was turned back by Gov. Kristi Noem in March after a proposal passed both branches of the South Dakota Legislature. The annual Dakotafest Women’s Brunch will also take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Highland Conference Center. At 1 p.m. Wednesday, a discussion will be had regarding tariffs affecting the agriculture industry. Both the hemp and tariff discussions will be at the Dakotafest Education Building. A pedal pull will be held daily at 1 p.m. at the Rural Lifestyle Pavillion.
