DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Twenty years ago, community leaders in Decatur turned a dream into reality. What started as a bid to land the Farm Progress Show has since become Progress City USA, a permanent show ground that has reshaped how the world’s largest outdoor farm show is experienced.
The Farm Progress Show had been a moving event for decades, hosted on different family farms across Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. Those early gatherings had a nostalgic charm but often came with headaches. Visitors trudged through muddy fields, traffic backed up for hours, and basic infrastructure like bathrooms and paved roads was absent. Organizers wanted a more permanent site for future shows.
Decatur seized the opportunity.
“We felt like Decatur was the epicenter of agribusiness,” recalled Randy Prince, who served as executive vice president of the Macon County Farm Bureau at the time. “Everyone we asked stepped up. Over 70 companies and organizations pledged support to make this happen."
The effort included local government, Richland Community College, the Farm Bureau, area businesses, and everyday farmers. Prince said the community presented a united front to Farm Progress officials, lining up representatives to show off what Decatur could offer.
"If you ask Matt Jungmann, who is still the show director, he and his boss will tell you that they had to come to Decatur because Randy Prince wouldn't let them go anywhere else."
In 2004 the plans included roadways, bathrooms, electricity, and parking. Prince told WAND News the roads built with unique drainage systems. He recalled visiting the Milwaukee Brewers new stadium to get ideas on concourses.
"We built roads in Progress City in reserve. So, the water drains to the middle of the road." he said.
Construction wrapped up just days before the inaugural show at Progress City in 2005.
Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, who was with the Chamber of Commerce when Decatur secured the show, said the victory was transformational.
“This community proved itself,” Wolfe said. “We showed that we could host something of this size and make it work. This isn’t just an event—it’s the world’s fair of agriculture, and it belongs in Decatur.”
Since then, Progress City has become a symbol of Decatur’s role in global agriculture. Every other year, the site welcomes tens of thousands of visitors, from farmers and industry leaders to international guests. The show rotates with a second permanent site in Boone, Iowa.
Farm Progress Show On-Site Manager Rick Wild said Decatur’s investment in a permanent location has paid off.
“Twenty years in Decatur has been fantastic,” Wilde said. “The technology, the number of exhibitors, and the size of the crowds have all grown. What you see now as an empty field becomes a full city every time the show comes here.”
The show has also evolved into a multigenerational experience. Farmers who once attended as young adults now return with children and grandchildren. Meanwhile, school groups tour the grounds to see the latest in agricultural technology.
“I’m so excited when kids come out and realize there’s more to agribusiness than just farming,” Wolfe said. “They get to see their own opportunities for the future.”
For many, Progress City’s success is proof of what a united community can achieve.
“I saw this as a big economic development project,” Prince said. “If even two or three people had said no back then, it might not have happened. But everyone said yes, and here we are 20 years later.”
As Progress City USA celebrates its 20th anniversary, local leaders say the site is more than just a collection of roads, lots, and buildings. It is a reflection of Decatur’s agricultural legacy, its community pride, and its determination to showcase innovation on a global stage.
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