MonDak Ag Days & Trade Show March 2-3 in Sidney

The MonDak Ag Days and Trade Show, a Sidney Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture event has been set for Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3 at the Richland Event Center, Sidney. The Ag Days Banquet will be held at the Sidney Elks Lodge starting at 5 p.m. March 2.

Breakfast will be held on Friday, March 3. Lunch will be available both days.

A Free Education Schedule has been set up at the events center.

Thursday, March 2

10 a.m .: Drainage Tile: The Dos & Don'ts by Jerry Weiland

11 a.m: Getting More Bang For Your Fertilizer Buck by Dr. Clain Jones

1 p.m .: Prussic Acid & Nitrates In Forages by Marley Manoukian

2 p.m .: Updates To Medically Important Antibiotics by Gary Schieber

3 p.m .: Cattle Market Update by Katelyn McClintock

Friday, March 3

7 a.m .: Breakfast, sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services

10 a.m .: Input Costs & 2023 Projections by Ron Haugen

11 a.m .: Value Added Agriculture Opportunities by Hailey Vine

12 p.m .: Pre-emergent Herbicides & Modes Of Action by Charlie Lim (1 pesticide point)

The Trade Show provides the latest in technology and farm equipment for todays farmers and ranchers. The show will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

The Ag Days Banquet will be held at the Sidney Elks Lodge Thursday, March 2 with a pre-social at 5 p.m followed by a prime rib dinner at 6 p.m.Tickets are $45 and are available at the Sidney Chamber or at the door the night of the banquet.

Keynote speaker for the banquet will be Jay Bodner.

Bodner has been described as one of the most respected lobbyist at the state legislature. In 2022, he was named the outstanding agriculture leader, on behalf of the Montana State University College of agriculture, and the Montana agriculture experiment station.

For decades, he has worked with key associations in the state. He is known as someone who works with everyone from local, state, and federal officials, to ranchers and industry leaders.

He has a proven record of impacting agricultural policy. He's been described as an individual who serves cattle producers with dedication, passion, and collaboration.  Prior to the department of livestock Bodnar spent 20 years with the Montana Stock Growers Association (MSGA). He was appointed executive vice president of the association in 2018 and had previously served as the director of natural resources in 2002. During his tenure there, he focused on policy and natural resource Issues, with an additional focus on organizational effectiveness. He was engaged in issues, most heavily, impacting the agriculture industry, such as the waters of the U.S. portion of the clean water act, the Confederated Salish, and Kootenai, tribes, market, transparency, tax relief, and trade issues.

Bodner has been described as someone whose view of the cattle industry is more than just meeting the needs of Montana producers. He is involved in his community as well as his family's ranch near Rainsford, MT.

Along with his brother, John, he and his family continue to run cattle and operate the fourth generation ranch. He was a 4-H program leader for many years, coached youth sports teams, and helped develop a community park for a local school.

The event is sponsored by Tri-County Implement, EGT, C&B, Stockman Bank and ButlerAg equipment.