Letter: Farm Tech donations don’t benefit host family

Fundraising for Pierce County Farm Technology Days continues as we move toward July.

Along with revenue from sale of commercial vendor space, gate ticket sales and donor sponsors, we need cash and in-kind contributions to defray expenses.

Our goals of $170,000 in cash sponsorships and $150,000 of in-kind donations represent 25% of the estimated $1.3 million dollars needed to produce the event. Expense for items like tent- and generator-rentals and liability insurance will exceed $100,000.

Farm Technology Days dollars are not being used to assist with the recent expansion of facilities at host family Roger and Bev Peterson’s River Falls farm.

The Petersons’ decision to expand was made independently, based on family members wanting to become more involved with the dairy farm.

The Petersons are modernizing for their farming needs. Like many Wisconsin dairy farms, enabling a transition from one family generation to the next is important planning. The timing of their project is coincidence.

The Petersons are making an extraordinary sacrifice to host the show and receive no net gain. They’ll only be reimbursed for crop inputs, such as fertilizer, seed and pest management on the 450 acres used for the 2010 show. They’re generously donating their farm site as good agricultural citizens.

Any net profits from the 2010 show will be returned to the county by way of scholarships, gifts to foundations and groups like 4-H and FFA.

Donors may contribute cash, in-kind or any combination. There are hundreds of in-kind needs. Pierce County FTD is a registered non-profit so gifts are tax deductible.

Anyone can attend the next PCFTD fundraising meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17, in the EOC room at the courthouse. Call me at (715) 639-2630 or visit www.piercefarmtech.com for more information.

Tags: letters to the editor, pierce county farm technology days, opinion