Photo by the New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the Civic Center will host the New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club’s Farm Show this weekend, with one of the new features showcasing a grain bin safety device called a Grain Weevil.

NEW ULM — After a year off, the 40th New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club’s Farm Show roars back to life this weekend on the south side of the New Ulm Civic Center.

“The last show in town” before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in March 2020 features a number of new wrinkles. The show runs 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 11, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 12.

“We’re pretty full. It fills up our arena,” New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jenny Eckstein said about the home show and its 69 exhibitors and 84 booths.

New farm show exhibitors include Hertz Farm Management, Jake the Snake Sewer and Drain Cleaning, M&K Forestery, Manske Drainage Equipment, MAT Industries Sanborn Manufacturing, Open Door Health Clinic and Wieser Concrete.

The usual farm show door prizes like fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors will be available, plus a red wagon full of items donated by the Farm-City Hub Club.

Kids door prizes will also be available.

Winners don’t have to be present but are asked to pick up their prizes at a local business.

Farm safety is emphasized with hourly demonstrations. Designated seating is at the far end of the show floor.

Grain bin safety will be the topic at 1 p.m. Saturday with a virtual presentation, including a Grain Weevil robot, invented for farm safety. The device is in the trial stage.

Seminars begin at 3 p.m. Friday, with Brown and Nicollet County veterans service officers discussing benefits for former military personnel. One-on-one discussions follow the seminar.

Participants are invited to bring their DD214 (military discharge paper) and any other documents individuals would like reviewed.

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) construction supervisor Todd Kjolstad will present a presentation at 5 p.m. Friday on the coming two-year Highway 14 four-lane expansion project between New Ulm and Nicollet.

Kjolstad will present maps and other visuals to help people understand the project. Attendees are asked to bring questions about transporting livestock and commodities on highway project detours.

A town hall meeting to discuss the legislative session begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants are Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska; Nick Frentz, D-North Mankato; and Rep. Susan Akland, R-St. Peter.

Grain Weevil co-founder Chad Johnson will present a virtual grain bin safety program at 1 p.m.

Brown and Nicollet County Dairy Associations will crown a dairy princess and goodwill ambassadors at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit farmcityhubclub.net.