COME ONE, COME ALL. Despite its name, the Eau Claire Farm Show is not exclusive to practicing farmers. As new event owners, Morgan and Jeff Milas want to continue the six-decade legacy the founding Henry family has built – while including some new opportunities, vendors and ensuring folks know anyone is welcome to check out the annual event.

The Eau Claire Farm Show has become a longstanding tradition over the years – and is the second longest-running farm show in the state – thanks to the Henry family, who created the annual event more than 60 years ago.

This March, the 62nd annual event will be held at the Chippewa Valley Expo Center (5150 Old Mill Plaza, Eau Claire), and folks can expect another great event – now organized and hosted by Morgan and Jeff Milas.

Bill and Sally Henry, who continued the family business of running local business North Country Enterprises and the Eau Claire Farm Show – and after founder Steve Henry – befriended the Milas’ several years ago.

In Midwestern fashion, the conversation which led to the Milas’ acquiring North Country Enterprises took place during a hunting trip with Bill, Jeff recalled.

"You'd be really surprised how many industries, businesses and services intertwine through agriculture. There's so many things to learn about. Our world is changing; come see what's available, have conversations."

JEFF MILAS

NORTH COUNTRY ENTERPRISES, EAU CLAIRE FARM SHOW

It’s been about five years since the Milas’ took on North Country Enterprises, a tent rental and events business, alongside their “day jobs” as local educators.

“We’re still friends (with Bill and Sally) today,” Jeff said. “They’ve helped us with it all.”

In more recent years, the Henrys were looking to downsize further – and through their ongoing friendship with the Milas’, it only made sense to approach them again about taking the reins of the Eau Claire Farm Show.

The Milas family, pictured. (Submitted photo)

The Milas’ have homegrown appreciation for the agriculture scene in the Chippewa Valley. Morgan Milas grew on a dairy in the Stanley area; Jeff worked on dairy farms through high school and college.

“Once you do that kind of thing, it becomes part of your being,” Jeff said in a recent interview, Morgan wrangling their little one in the background. “(The Eau Claire Farm Show has been) a big undertaking, and it’s exciting.

“We’re nervous but Bill and Sally have been there through it all – I just talked to Sally on the phone,” he continued. “We want to put our own spin on it, sure, but we’re not reinventing the wheel; this is already a longstanding tradition.”

Planning for the 62nd annual event ramped up this past December, Jeff described many late nights of folding contracts and stuffing envelopes to send out to vendors – all after putting their kiddo to bed.

Folks can expect well over 100 vendors at this year’s farm show, as has been the case for years. Familiar features include Eau Claire County’s offering of healthcare check-ups and resources on site; returning and longtime vendors ranging from relevant manufacturers, equipment providers and financial institutions.

New or unexpected vendors, too, will be at the show. From drone flyers to genetics-related companies, to resources on how to incorporate or how to properly complete agricultural taxes, the event is more than what some may think, Jeff said.

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THE RESPECT THAT COMES FROM THAT – LITERALLY MAKING YOUR FOOD – YOU JUST CAN'T TEACH THAT (ANY OTHER WAY).

JEFF MILAS

NORTH COUNTRY ENTERPRISES, EAU CLAIRE FARM SHOW

The Eau Claire Farm Show is not just for practicing farmers, he emphasized.

“You’d be really surprised how many industries, businesses and services intertwine through agriculture,” he said. “There’s so many things to learn about. Our world is changing; come see what’s available, have conversations.

“It’s a free and family-friendly event, open to anyone – not only farmers – to see what’s out there; services, products, options,” Jeff continued. “The next generation needs to see this stuff too.”

The Eau Claire Farm Show draws around 7,000-10,000 people each year, and is free to attend on both event days. That accessibility piece will continue to be a priority for the Milas family.

“We don’t want to burden people (or) deny access,” Jeff said. “We want the opposite. (We want people to be able to) come by for even a half-hour.”

“We both – (Morgan) more than me, because she grew up on the farm – grew up seeing where our food comes from and the work that has to happen in order to get there. Caring for the ground, the forest, ensuring people are giving back to our land the outdoors… The respect that comes from that – literally making your food – you just can’t teach that (any other way),” he added.

You heard it here, folks: Come one, come all to this year’s Eau Claire Farm Show, returning from 9am-3:30pm, March 3-4.

The Eau Claire Farm Show returns March 3-4, 9am-3:30pm, at the Chippewa Valley Expo Center (5150 Old Mill Plaza, Eau Claire) and is free to attend • Learn more about North Country Enterprise online