72nd Annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show Jan. 28

The 72nd annual National Hard Spring Wheat Show will take place at The Grand Hotel in Williston, ND, this Jan. 28. The event will feature speakers from all aspects of agriculture, presenting research findings from previous years, as well as predictions as to what this year holds for local ag producers in terms of market, weather, weeds, new products, and improving their operation. It is made possible by these sponsors: North Dakota Wheat Commission, Western Region Economic Development, Horizon Resources, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, Western Cooperative Credit Union, American State Bank and Trust Company, Ag Country Farm Credit Services, First State Bank & Trust, KEYZ Radio, First International Bank & Trust, Williams County Soil Conservation District, Ray Farmers Union Elevator, The Roundup/Ag Roundup, Farmers Union Oil Co. of Grenora, Zunich-Johnson Agency/Farmers Union Insurance, Dakota West Credit Union, New Century Ag, Gooseneck Implement, Birdsall Grain and Seed, City of Williston Economic Development, Kohler Communications of Williston, Inc., Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC, Thrivent Financial, US Durum Growers Association, North Dakota Assoc. of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Acme Tools, AGT Foods, EGT, LLC, and Frontier Precision Ag.

The show will begin with a free Ag Appreciation Breakfast sponsored by American State Bank & Trust at 7 a.m. The welcome at 8 a.m. will be from Beau Anderson, Williams County Commissioner, and Brian Kaae, Wheat Show President. Mark Ewens, Home on the Prairie Weather, will start the morning session with his "Weather Outlook"; which will consist of predicted weather patterns for the Northern Plains in 2025. Brian Jenks, Ph.D., NDSU weed scientist, will give his "Weed Control Update" at 9 a.m. At 10:15, a.m., they will take a break and hold their commodity election. Rob Sharkey, the keynote speaker, will speak at 10:45 a.m. Starkey, better known as the SharkFarmer, is a 5th generation Illinois grain farmer whose podcast, radio-show, and RFDTV show tackle controversial farming issues and share the "triumphs and struggles of the modern farmer and business owner". Following Rob is Carlos Pires, Ph.D., NDSU Extension soil health specialist, who will share "Why Soil Organic Matter is like Money in the Bank". At noon, the event will break for their Awards Lunch, where Wheat Show sponsors will be recognized. Lunch is sponsored by the North Dakota Wheat Commission and Williams County Farmers Union.

Rob Sharkey will give his keynote address at 12:30 p.m. "Sharks Don't Swim Backwards". Clair Keene, Ph.D., CCA, NDSU Extension agronomist, and NDSU assistant professor, will give her "Wheat and Durum Variety Update" at 1:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., David Weaver, Ph.D., Montana State University of the Wheat Stem Sawfly Laboratory professor, and Janet Knodel, Ph.D., North Dakota State University professor and entomologist, will hold their "Wheat Stem Sawfly Panel". They will take a break at 2:45 p.m., and resume at 3:15 p.m. with Frayne Olson, Ph.D., NDSU crop economist/marketing specialist and director of the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives, giving his 2025 Market Outlook.