The final sprayer demonstration of the 2014 Great Bend Farm & Ranch Expo never got off the ground.
Congressman Tim Huelskamp wrapped up a Town Hall in Expo III, making way so a representative from Straub International could bring in a Case I-H sprayer into Expo III. But the crowd never materialized Friday.
Brian Ellis, a sprayer specialist with John Deere dealership BTI said three dealerships took turns demonstrating equipment over the three days of the expo. Along with Case I-H and John Deere, Apache sprayers from Simpson Farm Enterprises were featured. Friday’s picture-perfect weather may have had something to do with the apparent lack of interest in the final demo.
“If you get a day like today, when the wind’s not blowing, anybody who cares about sprayers is out spraying,” Ellis said.
Overall, organizers were pleased with the show. Promoter Darren Dale noted the number of exhibitors — more than 700 — had grown by 18 percent from 2013.
Ellis said earlier sprayer demonstrations had a fair turnout, and the dealers will probably return in 2015. “We’ll try something different,” he said, describing plans for a more interactive demo.