Keystone Farm Show: Lessons Learned

By Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) Thanks to Lee Publications, the organizers of farm shows up and down the mid-Atlantic, for donation of booth space at the “farm show for farmers,” Keystone Farm Show 2013. This provides an opportunity for Advanced Biofuels USA volunteers to bring information about advanced biofuels to the Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia farming community; and to learn much from exhibitors and attendees.

Distributed/Centralized: Conversations with attendees again this year reinforced our enthusiasm for the idea of “follow-the-crop” and distributed/centralized conversion of biomass to soluable sugars or oils to facilitate longer range transportation to large scale refineries.

Need for USDA Online Interactive Tool: Similarly, farmers and growers we talked with again asked how they might participate in the bioenergy economy. We related our efforts to encourage USDA to add a tool to their special Energy website that could be use to help farmers, growers, landowners, extension agents and economic development staff determine what crops are most appropriate for their specific circumstances; and what kind of markets might be available or developed.

Small Engine Use of Ethanol: As can be expected, many had heard of problems attributed to using E10 gasoline in small engine equipment such as lawn mowers, chain saws, and boats. We spent hours in conversations related to these issues. Taking advantage of the resources at a Stihl booth at the show, I was able to confirm that, as I thought, their equipment is currently designed to operate using what is basic regular gasoline (E10).

Use of Biodiesel/Fuel Your Farm: Many who stopped by to chat related stories about their use of biodiesel, either home-made or purchased, in farm equipment and trucks. Some told of trial-and-error experiences in making the fuel work satisfactorily; some of keeping equipment in heated garages during winter to assure successful performance. All were very pleased to have the choice to use renewable fuel. At the Wisconsin-based Organic Valley Family of Farms booth, staff were promoting a how-to booklet, “Fuel You Farm: Sustainable On-Farm Biodiesel,” featuring sunflower, camelina and canola production along with biodiesel process and equipment information.

General Attitude: This show is billed as “The Largest Commercial Farm Equipment & Service Provider Trade Show in the State of Pennsylvania” and attracts a professional farming and farm support audience from around the mid-Atlantic region. It’s a farm show for farmers as opposed to a home-and-garden type show. BIG equipment. Technical, financial, transportation and banking services. Practical advice. Resources from around the country.

It seemed that there were more exhibitors with some connection to the idea of sustainability, from organic farming to on-farm biodiesel production.

Also, we joke that it seemed to be the social event of the season for the farming community. A time to get together after the harvest was in, after winter crops are in the ground, and before spring planting begins.

Each year has a particularly memorable moment. This year was the group of 6-7 high school students from Highland County, Virginia who got started at 5AM to come to visit the Keystone Farm Show hundreds of miles away up (actually, down the valley) North on I-81.

They were all very excited to see our booth as, they said, one of their teachers is a big biofuels enthusiast. Two students spent extra time at the booth learning to use our website. How great to be able to reinforce and validate what they are learning; to see them proceed with a greater context for their studies.

It is through the generosity of benefactors such as Lee Publications that we are able to reach this wider audience, to bring information and educational tools to the general public. READ MORE