International Sugar Beet Institute returns to the Fargodome

Attendees of the International Sugar Beet Institute look at booths and equipment. — Attendees of the International Sugar Beet Institute look at booths and equipment on March 17, 2022.

By Jenny Schlecht

March 13, 2023 at 4:04 PM

FARGO, N.D. — The International Sugar Beet Institute returns this week to the Fargodome for the first time since 2019.

The event, held annually and rotated between Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, features national agricultural leaders, legislators and sugar specialists. Scheduled this year for March 15-16, the show is filled with all things sugarbeet.

The last two shows have been in Grand Forks, at the Alerus Center, because the 2021 show that had been slated for the Fargodome was not held due to COVID-19 prevention precautions.

A woman in a blue shirt and black cardigan. — Bridgette Readel

The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 15 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 16 and will include a sugarbeet-focused trade show and speakers from the world of agriculture. Speakers Bridgette Readel and Zack Clark will be located on the south end of the show floor, right below Section 11. Also planned for this year are some fun events for the whole family, including sugarbeet Bingo and prizes for kids.

Readel, owner of Lilac Lane Media, a partner in AgMafia and the ag director for WDAY radio/Flag Family Media, will give her presentation "What local consumers want to know about you," at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Readel grew up on a Wishek, North Dakota, farm and now lives in Hunter, North Dakota. A former state FFA officer who describes herself as semi-retired from a 25-year career in the crop protection industry, she enjoys sharing the positive message of ag in North Dakota.

A man in a suit and glasses. — Zack Clark

Clark, vice president of government affairs for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, will present his talk, "U.S. sugar policy update and Washington, D.C., happenings," at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Before coming to ASGA, Clark worked for then-Sen. Joe Lieberman in various capacities and as a legislative assistant for Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, who was on the House Agriculture Committee during the 2012-2014 farm bill process; then he spent five years with National Farmers Union focusing on federal policies related to commodities, credit, tax and labor issues.

By Jenny Schlecht

Jenny Schlecht is the director of ag content for Agweek and serves as editor of Agweek, Sugarbeet Grower and BeanGrower. She lives on a farm and ranch near Medina, North Dakota, with her husband and two daughters. You can reach her at jschlecht@agweek.com or 701-595-0425.

International Sugar Beet Institute returns to the Fargodome

The event features national agricultural leaders, legislators and sugar specialists. Scheduled this year for March 15-16 in Fargo, the show is filled with all things sugarbeet related.