World Ag Expo continues to excel

I have been covering in one form or another the World Ag Expo in Tulare for about as long as the show is old, well maybe, not quite that long.

This is the 45th year of the show that continues to grow in size and stature. If you haven’t ever attended and you live in Tulare County, it ought to be added to your bucket list. It is a marvel to see.

I have had the fortune of covering the “farm show” from both The Recorder and as editor of the Tulare Advance-Register for six years. It was during my stint as editor of the Advance-Register that I got a close and behind-the-scenes look at the largest farm equipment show in the world.

Just a little history. The show began in 1968 when the Tulare Chamber of Commerce and others decided that having a show to showcase farm equipment would be a good idea. It began as “Tulare’s Field and Row Crop Equipment Show,” then became “California Farm Equipment Show and International Exposition.” After a few years it became known as the “California Farm Equipment Show” and will probably always be called by locals “The Farm Show.”

The show grew rapidly. According to the history on the WAE website, the first show had 157 exhibitors and 28,000 attendees. That doubled by the second year and officials have told me the show has generally grown by 3 to 5 percent every year. This year’s show sold out the earliest in history and by the time it ends at 4 today, it will have had 100,000 visitors, including visitors from more than 70 countries.

Those early shows were held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. It was in 1982, after the International Agri-Center, Inc. was formed, that the show moved to its present site on South Laspina Street.

The site has been expanded many times. This year’s show has 1,700 exhibitors and well over 2,500 exhibit spaces. The grounds now offer 2.6 million feet of exhibit space.

Not everyone knows what a labor of love the farm show is for the people of Tulare. Much like Porterville’s Fair that is mostly a volunteer effort, the World Ag Expo relies on an army of more than 1,000 volunteers every year. Those bright orange jackets you see all over the show belong to volunteers. They do everything from manning the gates, escorting visitors, acting as translators for the many foreign visitors, providing food and a myriad of other chores. They work sun up to sun down ensuring the show runs smoothly.

There are many fascinating stories about the volunteers. Many children, and even grandchildren, of the original volunteers now volunteer. There are at least a few marriages that began as romances among those volunteering and the camaraderie of the volunteers is amazing. They are like one big family that gets together for three days every year.

There have been a few glitches, the biggest a strong wind storm, I think in 1983, that blew down some of the large tents. That year, if I remember correctly, the show’s opening was delayed, but just like Hollywood, the show did go on. Rain, however, is not only not a problem, but welcomed because it holds the dust down and because farmers cannot get into their fields, they visit the show. You see, the farm show is all about buyers.

When I worked in Tulare, one of my favorite parts of the show was covering the international visitors reception. It was exciting to see so many people from so many different companies gather to enjoy each other’s company. It was like I was a fly on the wall watching the interaction of the many different cultures.

Then, there was the year I actually strained a ligament walking around the grounds. You do a lot of walking at the show. Agri-Center General Manager Jerry Sinift told me it was about a mile from end to end, and about a half a mile wide. There are at least six pavilions, each holding hundreds of exhibits. Then, there are the large equipment displays and every year I marvel at the innovations. I always enjoy the John Deere, IH Case and New Holland exhibits. The technology that goes into farming today and in the future is just amazing. The use of GPS allows growers to not only perfectly lay out their fields, but there are sensors available on harvesters that will inform a grower where extra fertilizers might be needed next year.

Being I grew up around a car dealership, I also enjoy stopping by the GMC, Chevrolet, Honda, Chrysler and Ford displays, but you’ve got to like trucks or SUVs.

Of course, innovations in irrigation and solar power are big today. Farmers have got water use down to nearly perfect, using just enough water that the crop requires and not wasting a drop. With the scarcity of water and the price of water, they have been forced to be as efficient as possible.

If you are not a farmer, besides looking at all the cool equipment, there is the home arts pavilion that has all sorts of neat stuff, from the Salsa Guy, to flavored nuts, home improvement tools, jewelry, knife or pan sets, small tools and much more. People come out of that pavilion with all sorts of giveaways. I know there are a few I have collected over the years that my family still uses.

Speaking of giveaways, if you are a collector of such things, then the farm show is for you. It is funny to watch all the people walking around with loaded bags of goodies.

I did not make it to the show this year, although I did walk around it for a while on Saturday. I hope to go next year, but if I do, I think I’ll practice my walking so I’ll be able to get up the next morning.


Rick Elkins is editor of the Porterville Recorder. He can be reached at 784-5000, ext. 1040, or by e-mail at relkins@portervillerecorder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.