Today, the very name Tulare makes us think of one and just one thing – the World Ag Expo, the largest outdoor agricultural and livestock exposition ever. The annual event being held this year from February 14^th to 16^th  2017 at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California is sure to delight all in attendance. Hosting its 50th exposition in 2017 is indeed a proud moment.  The United States Department of Commerce has designated this agricultural exposition as an affiliate of the Foreign Buyer Program. The aim of this program and thus, of this convention, is to encourage and boost the export of domestic agri-goods.

Here is all that the expo endeavors to do:

• Bring the latest invention and innovations in agriculture technology
• Open the newest dialogues
• Provide efforts to boost the producers, dealers as well as consumers to the top
• Celebrate the spirit of agriculture

Why Ag Expo Continues to Be So Important

When it started in the year 1968, neither at the same location, nor with the same name though, it was still a big thing. The first ever expo recorded a gathering of 28000 people. In 1982, it occupied its current location (2.6 million square feet), and in 2001, it was re-christened as what it is known today.

In 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger (the then Governor) made an appearance among 14,000 attendees, and in 2008, people from as far as China made their visits. Why? Because it is the biggest platform that agri-business and livestock business could be a part of. Now, the number of attendees and exhibitors have only increased manifold, and it is now international in its true sense; nations like Italy and Germany also become a part of it on a regular basis.

This time around the number of exhibitors has risen up to 1,400, and all of these endeavor to showcase the latest farm equipment, technology as well as communications. Why this expo matters so much is because International Agri-Center (IAC) is a non-profit corporation that promotes California’s agro-industry. So, there is no angle of profit or vested interests. The boost that it gives to all the exhibitors and the products and services that they have to offer is unbiased and incredible.

The Effectiveness of World Ag Expo

Why it is so much effective is clear by just one thing – IAC is totally run by volunteers. The board of directors is also all-volunteers. The 1200+ volunteer staffers work for the center full-time and dedicate themselves 100% for the success of this expo. So, what you will find at the expo is only agriculture and livestock products, but also, free seminars and discussions on things and trends that are going to benefit farmers, ranchers, dairy producers, as well as professionals that deal in agribusiness.

The Fun at the Expo

To make things more light-hearted than business as usual, the affair also includes wine tours at the popular vineyards in the county. The fresco area wineries are very much a part it, so the attendees have a chance to learn more about the entire process of wine-making while having to taste some great wine. It also offers (in collaboration) scholarships for agricultural education worth $10,000 for high school seniors. Apart from the winery tours, there are citrus and dairy tours as well which is such a great thing for getting acquainted to the cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology used by the farms in this area.

Not to leave the women behind, the World Ag Women’s Pavilion also has something for women who would want to interest themselves in gardening, cooking, fashion, and the like. There is also a wine and cheese section, where the attendees as well as exhibitors can have a good time.

In short, there is everything in this expo that a professional dealing in agri and livestock would love to be exposed to.

Come out and visit us at our booth in Building C – Booth 3604 – February 14-16th 2017.