Agricultural safety, rural stress and mental health, weed plant identification, data centers in North Dakota, and leadership and civic engagement will highlight the North Dakota State University Extension exhibit at the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in West Fargo, North Dakota, on Sept. 15-17.

NDSU Extension personnel will feature exhibits at the east end of the Hartl Ag Building. In addition, NDSU Extension agents and specialists will be available to answer questions about crop and livestock production and other rural topics.

“NDSU Extension has had a longstanding presence at Big Iron, and we are happy to be present at the show again this year," says Rob Proulx, NDSU Extension ag technology and grain systems specialist. “Please stop by to view the displays, ask questions, provide input, or simply to visit – all are welcome.”

Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, and farming is one of the few industries in which family members, who often share the work and live on the premises, also are at risk.

Grain entrapment is one of the major hazards related to grain farming. Visitors will have an opportunity to measure their “pull” in a tug-of-war with grain entrapment. A person buried to the waist in grain requires an extraction force equivalent to their own body weight plus an estimated 600 pounds. Proper grain entrapment rescue procedures will be shown along with other grain safety guidance.

Another aspect of the exhibit will focus on resources available to help farmers and ranchers thrive amid occupational stresses and challenges. Working in agriculture is accompanied by managing a variety of stresses on a regular basis. NDSU Extension specialists who focus on farm and ranch stress will be available to discuss resources and methods of appropriately dealing with stress.

The exhibit will also feature live plant samples of several economically important weed species. NDSU Extension personnel will be on hand to demonstrate the proper identification of each species.

Copies of the NDSU Extension publication “Data Centers: A Guide to Common Questions” will be provided at the exhibit. Recently developed by the leadership and civic engagement team, the guide is designed to help communities engage in informed, transparent and respectful conversations about proposed data center development. An accompanying video display will provide a factual overview of existing, in-progress and planned data centers within the state.

Additional resources from leadership and civic engagement specialists will be available at the exhibit. Learn about leadership programs such as Rural Leadership North Dakota, Lead Local and Community Impressions, in which participants look to strengthen their leadership skills and become leaders in their communities.

Elsewhere on the show grounds, NDSU students representing the Bison Pullers and the Bison Antique Tractor Club will feature their exhibits. The Bison Pullers will display their one-fourth-scale tractor, which is part of an annual effort in which club members design and build the tractor for an international collegiate competition sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Their 2026 entry placed within the top 15 overall. The Bison Antique Tractor Club will have one or more antique tractors on display, which were reconditioned as part of an annual club activity.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Aug. 25, 2026

Source: Rob Proulx, 701-231-5389, rob.proulx@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu