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Let the Trade Show industry analysts debate whether the 2009 edition of the National Farm Machinery Show bucked the economic downturn or was an early harbinger of better times to come. The fact is that the 44th National Farm Machinery Show, held in February at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, attracted 306,706 attendees—the second highest attendance total in the history of the event.

The National Farm Machinery Show, the nation's largest indoor farm show features the agricultural industry's most comprehensive display of equipment, services and technology. The event, which occupies more than1.2 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, is one of Louisville's largest annual conventions, generating an anticipated economic impact of $21.5 million—one of the largest contributors to the nearly $7 billion in economic impact of annual direct visitor spending in the state of Kentucky.

"Even with the additional space of the North Wing, which opened in 2007, we sold out of exhibit space more than two months ago," said Harold Workman, President & CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board, which operates the Kentucky Exposition Center and produces the National Farm Machinery Show.

The National Farm Machinery Show was first held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in 1966, created as an offshoot of the Kentucky State Fair. A highlight of the event is the Championship Tractor Pull, which was added in 1969 and is believed to be the oldest Tractor Pull competition in the country. The National Farm Machinery Show is one of a major national showcase of the latest in irrigation and harvesting equipment, which range from fertilizers and mechanized farming equipment and vehicles to the latest in computer software and technology. The Family Living Center, located in the East Hall, features arts and crafts.

 "It was quite satisfying to see the show's exhibitors and attendees filling more than 1.2 million square feet of agricultural displays," added Workman.