Minnesota Inventors Congress show will be held June 11-12
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 06/10/2010 2:40 PM
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REDWOOD FALLS, Minn.— Redwood Falls is the place to be June 11-12 for people who like creativity, innovation or have an idea for an invention.
Minnesota Inventors Congress is hosting their annual Invention and Idea Show both days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Redwood Area Community Center. The cost to attend is $5; children 16 and under are free.
Last year's show brought 70 inventors from across the country.They come in all stages of the invention process, from just an idea to talk about to a working prototype or a product that's already on the market. Some have patents for their inventions, some don't.
Their inventions could be anything, for any purpose. Among this year's displays will be the uberhose, a portable sprayer that switches from spraying water on plants to herbicides on dandelions to pesticides on mosquitoes to fertilizer on the garden and back to spraying clean water without cross contamination, and without a pump. Also coming is the Action Trackchair, an all-terrain wheelchair designed to go just about anywhere.
Inventors come to the show for feedback from the public about their idea.
"The best way to enjoy the show is to stop and talk to the inventors," said Deb Hess, executive director of the Minnesota Inventors Congress.
Inventors are also there to talk with people who can help their product do well in the marketplace, such as product scouts, patent attorneys, marketing experts and licensing experts.
They will be judged for prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize and a $500 people's choice award. Titles up for grabs include Best Display and Best Working Model.
New this year is the MIC Jump$tart contest, which gives the first 75 exhibitors who registered a chance to show judges how much thought they've put into their invention by submitting responses to 10 questions. Those deemed to be in the top 15 will pitch their ideas June 12 at 10:30 a.m. to the judges and the public. The judges will pick the best two. Second place gets $500 while first place gets $1,000 to advance their project. This competition is sponsored by the Malco Design and Deliver Group in Rogers.
The show offers many educational opportunities for people with an invention ideas.Attendees may speak with consultants at the Inventors Resource Center both days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Previous consultants have been staff from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or Small Business Administration.
Inventing Success Workshops cost $20 each and are open to the public. They will be held throughout both days. Experts will talk about how to spend time and money wisely as ideas are developed.
"If you're a person who has an idea, but are not ready to display, it's a way to learn the process," said Hess.
Both days of the show offer special activities for children. The 3M Visiting Wizards will put on shows at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to teach kids how science is fun. Kids can make their own creations at the Invention Creation Station from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Student inventors from communities across Minnesota, typically in grades third to sixth, will exhibit their ideas from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A small engine display and arts festival will be held during the show.
The event has been held since 1958, when farmers and businessmen saw young people leaving the area for better job opportunities elsewhere. They wanted to encourage innovation in the hopes of bringing new products, and new jobs, to local manufacturers.
"Creativity and innovation is the driving force in our economy," said Hess.