The 2008 Farm Progress Hay Expo will return to northeast Iowa this summer. The largest two-day hay event in the country will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 25 and 26 near Ossian.
    The expo will be held at Clarence and Becky Winkler’s and Mark, Chuck and Ron Knutson’s farms just south of Ossian. The two familys are neighbors who have collaborated on several farm-related projects throughout the years, and will bring that experience with them while hosting the Hay Expo.
    “The timing worked out well to host the Hay Expo this year,” Mark Knutson said. “We’ve all attended several shows in the past, but hosting the show on our farm will be great.”
    A number of exhibits will be displayed on a 10-acre field, including some from major and shortline hay and forage equipment manufacturers; seed, building and storage facility suppliers and several related product suppliers. Farming products, such as ballers, rakes, tedders, telehandlers, forage seed, disc mower conditioners and bale stackers, will be on display.
    “Northeast Iowa has proven to be an ideal location for the Hay Expo, and this year’s location is well situated for field and equipment demonstrations,” said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress National Shows manager.
    Visitors interested in evaluating products will see side-by-side operational comparisons of the various equipment brands in the field demonstrations. Fields of alfalfa will showcase mowing, conditioning, chopping, bagging, raking, baling and hay handling demonstrations.
    Admission to the event is free, and parking is $7 per vehicle. The event is open to the public.
    For more information, go to www.HayExpo.com or call 866-264-7469.