Looking back on the history of Farm Progress Show

ARMSTRONG, Ill. (WAND) - It was in 1953 when the Farm Progress Show was born.

It was hosted at the Earl Bass Farm near Armstrong.

"One of the first things that really struck me was the fact that they were expecting like 35,000 people and between 75,000 and 100,000 showed up," said Susan Richter, president of the Vermilion County Museum.

Back in 1953, it was all about the new tools and ideas to help farm families.

"This was something that in this area, with all the farming, was really important to the individuals that were in that profession at the time," Richter said.

The show also showcased some new appliances.

"As well as their housewives and the children that resided on the farm steps, because there were all sorts of new appliances as well as farm machinery that they were all able to see and new ways to do the farming," Richter said.

Fast forward 50 years, and Vermilion County was once again the host of the show, this time at the Gernand and Clark Farms in Armstrong.

"I think that it is very important for the county. We're still an agriculturally based county, and I think that it gives people a chance to really learn about some of their local history. especially as it does relate to farming, because there have been immense changes over the last 50 years, then progressing forward to the year today and the Progress Show today," Richter said.

Through the years, the size of the tractor and combine has gotten bigger, but the importance of agricultural communities has stayed the same.

"I think it really shows the progression of agriculture, not only in Vermillion County or adjacent counties or the state of Illinois, but across the nation and how things have changed over the century," Richter said.