Little Expo Promotes Agriculture in a Big Way

Matt Hale, Corner Post Special Contributor

Sept. 26, 2002 - Agricultural Systems Management (ASM) club members put their work "front and center" outside Memorial Union today for the 2002 Little Expo - an Ag Week tradition that brings farm machinery to the heart of campus.

"Little Expo is a display of past to present agricultural equipment to promote agriculture awareness," Leon Schumacher, ASM club faculty mentor, said.

Several types of equipment were on display. The tractors included John Deere, AGCO, Massey-Ferguson, Ford and New Holland. Also on hand were two brush-cutters, a field cultivator, a combine, a round baler and a chisel plow. Much of the machinery was procured from two area dealers: Sydenstricker Implement and Henderson Implement.

"Awareness of agriculture is difficult because of the disparity on campus," Schumacher said. "Of the close to 25,000 students on campus, only approximately 2,000 are in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Some students at MU have never seen a tractor or other agricultural machinery."

Ag Systems Management Club member Doug Felter, left, and John
Rich show a John Deere 7810 to pre-schoolers. 
(Photo courtesy of Marilyn Cummins)

ASM Club members organized and moved machinery to Memorial Union early this morning. Members were on hand throughout the day to answer questions about the machinery.

"Everything went pretty smooth," Matt Beach, ASM Club member, said. "We had to rearrange some of the equipment for landscape services, but all in all, it was a good exhibit."