Staff photo by Fritz Busch Owen Lynn of Courtland spins a wheel at the Brown Soil and Water Conservation District booth at the New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show Friday.

NEW ULM — Interest was high as the 43rd Annual New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show began at the New Ulm Civic Center Friday.

“When we opened the doors, kids ran inside. We had a good crowd at the start and it’s been steady,” said farm show chairman Brian Fischer.

“A number of vendors told me they’re just happy to be here because it’s a good show for them. They come in here and get sales out of it, which is awesome,” he said.

Fischer said the show is full with 60 vendors.

“Some big farm trucks had to be parked outside because we didn’t have room inside like we did before. We also had to limit tractor sizes this year, but it’s worked out. All the vendors showed up and they’re getting along,” he said.

Fischer said the show’s success has a lot to do with a great New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show Committee.

The show highlights the latest in farm equipment, technology and services.

Exhibitors include farm equipment suppliers, agricultural lenders, auctioneers, communications companies, ag building suppliers, car, truck and implement dealers, government services and more.

Rod Schumacher of New Ulm, a salesman for Ellingson Companies, a leading provider of infrastructure management, agricultural drainage, and trench-less utility and construction services talked about the value of the farm show.

“We’ve been at the show for quite a few years. The show is valuable to us because we can communicate with a bunch of clients in a short span. We can listen to their needs and build relationships with other vendors too,” said Schumacher.

Exhibitors include the Brown Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD) that works with local landowners and other governmental units on soil and water conservation programs and practices.

The organization assists landowners with enrolling and managing perpetual conservation easements, monitor and prevent aquatic invasive species, assist landowners with maintaining buffers along public waters and ditches, reduce tillage, plant cover crops and integrate livestock into crop rotation.

“We talked to one landowner who was interested in perpetual easements, which is what we do,” said BSWCD Conservation Technician Jarin Spence.

“By the end of the show, we’ll have conversations with people interested in our programs that often call us later about them,” he said.

Hub Club door prizes at the show include fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors and a shop vacuum. Door prize winners need not be present to win.

Farm show proceeds help the hub club support agricultural education for area youth with scholarships and FFA/4-H leadership programs.

The farm show continues 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Nicollet and Brown County Dairy Princess coronation is set for 1 p.m. in the New Ulm Civic Center upstairs classroom.