Sometimes things just feel right.

For the first time in 26 years, the Agricultural Machinery Conference will be held in downtown Waterloo. Before the three-day event starts Monday at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, organizers said they already feel so at home they'll mostly likely keep the conference here permanently.

Conference chairman Jim Evans said it just makes sense. Not only is Waterloo home to the world's largest tractor manufacturing facilities, but it's centrally located to other ag production plants in Northeast Iowa and the country.

Perhaps one hardly could blame Evans, a drivetrain engineer for John Deere, for being a homer. However, he truly believes the conference and Waterloo go together like his employer and green.

"We needed a new home. Besides, (Waterloo is) the mecca of the agricultural equipment industry," Evans said. "I see no reason to move it."

Previously the conference was held in downtown Cedar Rapids. The U.S. Cellular Center is closed for renovations, and events like the machinery conference and a state pool tournament, which was held in March, relocated to Waterloo.

That's just fine with the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau. The organization is heavily marketing The Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center as a permanent alternative.

Erin Schmitz, director of convention sales for the bureau, said the Cellular Center's closure has worked out in Waterloo's favor.

"It's huge," Schmitz said. "Folks are coming to events and we want to showcase what Waterloo has to offer. (Hopefully) they'll grow accustomed to coming to Waterloo."

About 600 people are expected to attend the conference and trade show geared toward agricultural design engineers, organizers say. However, the public is welcome.

While not one of the larger conferences held at the convention center, Schmitz said the ag machinery event will help the local economy. An estimated $100,000 will be generated in rent, hotel reservations, food and other purchases.

"We're very excited about the group. It's a good one to have," she said.

The event is a forum for professionals to gather and exchange ideas, see the latest in component technology and learn new design practices. Experts also can find out what's important to the industry, in order to meet the growing demand for food and fuel.

Opening night ceremonies - a new attraction this year - will be held at the Cedar Valley TechWo-rks at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Evans and Waterloo Mayor Buck Clark will give welcoming comments, followed by a tour of the National Ag-Based Lubricants Center. The first keynote address is by Darrin Drollinger, executive director of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, about "The Future of Agriculture."

Participants will have two more days to visit with ag equipment suppliers at the trade show and choose from nearly 50 presentations to attend in fields as varied as engines, ergonomics and economics.

The big topics the last few years are precision farming and designing equipment to meet more stringent environmental regulations.

"We focus on equipment, but not necessarily tractors and combines," Evans said. "How are we going to feed the world and increase yields? What type of equipment is needed?"

Sixty to 70 exhibitors, including a few from Northeast Iowa, are scheduled to attend the trade show. The majority are mostly component, engineering and service companies.

Diedrichs and Associates Inc., based in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, purchased a booth. The company designs, tests and builds prototypes of components and entire machines, as well as consulting work, for clients.

Owner Bob Diedrichs is elated the conference moved to the Cedar Valley. More employees will be able to attend, he said.

"Waterloo is an excellent location. It's the center of gravity for a lot of machinery (interests)," Diedrichs said. "It's a chance for us to meet new people. They can ask what we do and that can lead to a project."

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