View from the Cab: MAGIE returns this month

By: Kent Casson

The Midwest Ag Industries Exhibition, or MAGIE, Show has been connecting ag retailers from throughout the nation with leading agricultural companies for more than 40 years now.

MAGIE returns to the Mclean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington Aug. 23 and 24, which is the week before the Farm Progress Show. The show as created by the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association which has assured its success over the years.

The first time I attended this show I was blown away with how big it really was. Ag retail professionals from all over the country visit Bloomington to see what’s happening in the industry. The sprawling fairgrounds is the perfect spot to hold this large event in late summer.

IFCA will present the “Customer Applicator of the Year” award at a tailgate party that Wednesday afternoon. This honors those who work hard in and out of the field and have a positive attitude while caring for customers and their crops. It is a great way for IFCA to give a big thank you from everyone involved in the ag industry. IFCA’s Kevin “KJ” Johnson notes custom applicators spend countless hours out in the field each year applying fertilizer and chemicals on thousands of acres.

More than 70 exhibitors will be featured at this year’s MAGIE Show allowing attendees to engage with the professionals who designed, developed and tested the equipment on display. The latest chemical and fertilizer products will be available for viewing and demonstrations.

MAGIE has something for everyone, from those looking to innovate with the latest ag technology to learning from experts in the industry.

A ride and drive demonstration is one of the event highlights as those attending can test drive self-propelled applicators and spreaders in what is designed to improve services offered by various ag retailers. MAGIE is the only show in the country that provides these types of experiences. Also, live demonstrations and direct interactions are offered with the newest equipment and technology.

You could create an entire ag vacation around the MAGIE show as it is held the same week as the Half Century of Progress over in Rantoul. That is what I did a couple of years ago as I started at MAGIE in Bloomington during the morning and made by way to east central Illinois in the afternoon to take in the vintage farm equipment at the old Rantoul Air Force base.