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Harvest time for meetings
With its wide array of farms and fairgrounds, the US Midwest has become fertile ground for an important segment of the meeting market: agriculture.
That includes everything from cattle shows and horse competitions to farm equipment exhibitions.
“Ag is a good size market for us and it is growing,” said Michelle Travis, vice president of sales for the Indianapolis CVA. The city each year draws the National Future Farmers of America with its 55,000 attendees and $40 million in direct spending.
While other segments of the meeting market report volumes down, the agriculture market has remained strong.
“From an attendance standpoint, we haven’t seen a drop off,” Travis meetingsfocus.com. “I don’t think the segment has been negatively affected.”
“The agriculture industry is really strong,” said Kristi Thering-Tuschen, director of sales for the Greater Madison CVB, adding:
“They are still booking, not having attrition issues and not having numbers drop off.”
Some rural areas are adding new facilities.
Grand Island (population 45,000) is adding a 109,000 square foot Cattle Sheep Arena Building.
Agriculture meetings often require more than hotel rooms and restaurants. Areas to house animals or fairgrounds are often meeting requirements.
But CBS officials are glad to have them because attendees often add on vacation days after their meetings.
By David Wilkening
David
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