DECATUR - Visitors to the Farm Progress Show later this month should find it easier to navigate the grounds of Progress City USA no matter what the weather is like.

In the past, rain has washed out the show and turned makeshift exhibit fields into giant mud puddles. However, an important step in making sure that doesn't happen in Decatur is nearing completion, with just under a month to go before the show.

Matt Jungmann, the show's manager, said Wednesday the roads at the site should be completely paved by the end of the week. Just a few finishing touches along the shoulders of the streets need to be done, but all the asphalt has been laid, he said at the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce monthly business breakfast.

Having the roads finished is good news for exhibitors ready to start rolling into town.

"The exhibitors have been looking forward to coming back even more so than we thought last year," Jungmann said. "From the moment it started raining in Amana, everybody started looking forward to coming back to Macon County."

Some of the major exhibitors have started preparations at the show grounds.

Officials from St. Louis-based seed company Monsanto took 115 area farmers through its future pipelines exhibit Wednesday as a way of preparing for the show.

"There has been a lot of curiosity to what is going on down here," said Dave Rhylander, the company's traits marketing manager. "It provides them an opportunity to see it."

The tours allowed company officials to see the size of groups it can comfortably accommodate at one time. The company hopes to bring more visitors through the exhibit this year and has split its display to include three tents, rather than a single large one.

Rhylander said the company is anticipating bringing as many as 9,000 people through the exhibit during the three-day show, which is Aug. 28 to 30. Last year, it estimates, 6,400 people toured the exhibit.

Visitors will be able to see the company's latest seed technology. Some of the products displayed at the show will not be ready to hit the market until at least 2012, Rhylander said.

"By seeing the drought tolerant corn, we hope it will start making the farmer think about how he will farm different three to four years from now," Rhylander said.

Meanwhile, Assumption-based Sloan Implement Co. salesman Jeff Kraft has been working to make sure all of John Deere Co.'s equipment is ready to display come show time. As the closest John Deere dealer to the show site, Sloan's works with corporate officials to have the equipment ready.

Kraft said despite the large effort and coordination it takes for the company, having the Farm Progress Show in Decatur is a good thing for the dealership, which is trying to expand its reach.

"Hopefully more people will come see Sloan's as the nearest dealer," Kraft said. "If it gets them to drive across our lot, it's all positive."

Kraft said the company opened five dealerships in Wisconsin in July, adding to the nine Central Illinois dealerships it already operated.

Jungmann said the work done to improve the site will help ensure the show goes on, rain or shine, especially given the large investment companies like Deere and Monsanto are making.

"It has become more of a weather-safe event," Jungmann said. "If they're planning a big roll out, they want to make sure it's going to happen."

Progress City Chief Operating Officer Cindy Laegeler said this year's infrastructure improvements have helped make the site more attractive to host other events.

"It adds incredible value as far as getting other events because it keeps the dust down," Laegeler said. "The only thing lacking now is a little more roof space."

Chris Lusvardi can be reached at clusvardi@herald-review.com or 421-7972.