World Ag Expo pumps up local economy

Every year in February the world comes to Tulare County for the World Ag Expo and a portion of that world stays in Porterville.

The largest farm equipment show in the world draws more than 110,000 people, about 10,000 of those exhibitors, for the three-day show at the International Agri-Center in Tulare.

Because of the influx of people, nearly every hotel and motel from Bakersfield to Fresno and Porterville to Hanford enjoys the benefits, and so do local restaurants, gas stations and more.

This year’s show opens Tuesday and promises to be huge.

More than 1,700 exhibitors will be displaying everything from the smallest microchip to the largest tractor.

Approximately 30,000 people visit each day, with Wednesday’s crowd generally the largest and can reach 40,000 people.

“Oh yes, we’re booked, sold out,” reported John Salas, general manager of Best Western Inn in Porterville. The same is true for the Holiday Inn Express and Motel 6. It has been that way for years during the week of the farm show.

Renee Franklin, general manager of Motel 6, said Porterville gets the overflow from Tulare, but they also have their regulars who return year after year.

Many rooms are booked a year or more in advance. Salas said they generally are sold out for Tuesday and Wednesday nights of the show by October.

Paul Jariwala, general manager at the Holiday Inn, said that normally they are solidly booked Monday through Wednesday every year. They used to book the entire week, but in the past few years companies have cut back on the stay from five to three days.

“We get the same customers year after year,” he said.

All three motels see people from all over the nation and world.

“In previous years I’ve had people from Australia, Japan and Europe,” said Salas. “We get people from everywhere — Germany, Sweden, Austria. They travel in groups,” said Franklin.

Jariwala said they get some of the same companies every year, like John Deere that brings in so many people they are spread out over three towns.

“It’s always been a good week. I think the entire city benefits,” said Franklin.

That’s true, said Black Bear restaurant manager Jose Rios.

“We kind of get busy on those days,” he said, adding they get both a breakfast and dinner boost the week of the show.

Franklin said they are constantly giving patrons ideas for where to eat.

Jim Valencia, public relations coordinator for Eagle Mountain Casino, said they have been trying to work out a shuttle from the motels to the casino, but said that has been difficult because the exhibitors can’t say for sure when they will return to Porterville.

The show runs until 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and most visitors leave after the show closes on Thursday.

Jerry Sinift, World Ag Expo’s chief executive officer, said a recent study found that the show pours more than $1 billion in the local economy.