FORESTRY EXPOSITION RETURNS TO CAPE

The Midwest Forest Industry Show returns to Cape Girardeau this weekend.

The show, to be held Friday and Saturday at the Show Me Center, will feature more than 100 exhibitors of new machinery and equipment used in the forest industry.

"Visitors will have an opportunity to talk with manufacturers and distributors of machinery and equipment," said Ken Christgen, executive director of the Missouri Forests Production Association, which sponsors the show. "They will have a chance to see what is new in tomorrow's technology."

The forestry industry is a $3 billion-a-year business in Missouri, said Christgen. "The industry is diverse," he said. "It ranges from sawmill and pallet operations to individual loggers."

Christgen said the industry in Missouri employs more than 33,000 people and has an annual payroll of more than $500 million.

The Midwest Forests Production Association, headquartered in Jefferson City, held its first show at Cape Girardeau in 1988.

"We sponsor a show every two years," said Christgen. "We've been doing this for more than 30 years. Previous shows have been held at Poplar Bluff, Van Buren, Rolla and Springfield, but the last four have been held here.

"Everything here is great for the show," said Christgen. "The physical layout is good; the people we work with are great."

The show will feature 120 exhibitors, up from the 113 of two years ago.

"We have more than 200 booths," said Christgen. At this time 175 of the booths are occupied. Some exhibitors take several tables. Forty exhibitors are setting up operations outside, said Christgen.

A variety of visitors are expected.

"More than 6,000 people have attended the past two shows, and that many or more are expected this weekend," said Christgen. "People involved in logging, sawmills and pallet plants will be here, along with the general public, who want to see how everything works."

Two of the outside exhibitors are Missouri industries -- Baker Enterprise of Ellington and Ozark Machinery Co. of West Plans.

"Both of these companies have sawmill and pallet backgrounds," said Christgen. "They have developed some high-tech machinery and have national and international markets for their products."

The exposition, which is held every two years, includes exhibits of machinery and equipment used in the making of lumber, wood, paper, and furniture products.

"This show is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S.," said Christgen. "Our exhibitors are well pleased with the Cape Girardeau area as a show site."

The show will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

"We'll have people from the forestry industry coming in from all over the U.S., Canada and England," said Christgen.