Show Information
46th Anniversary of World Ag Expo
It's All About Agriculture
Safety | Education | Sustainability
February 12-14, 2013
International Agri-Center
4500 South Laspina Street,
Tulare, CA 93274 [map]
Located in California’s Central Valley, 45 miles south of Fresno and 60 miles north of Bakersfield, just off Highway 99. Airfields are located in Tulare, Visalia, Fresno and Bakersfield.
World Ag Expo is the largest annual agriculture exposition.
- More than 1,400 exhibitors display the latest in farm equipment, chemicals, communications and technology on 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space.
- Free seminars focus on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals.
- Cooking demonstrations by chefs from California’s top restaurants in the World Ag Women Pavilion.
- Free parking and a Park-and-Ride shuttle service for off-site parking.
- International Business Center
Cost: $12 General Admission
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: (800) 999-9186; Fax (559) 686-5065; Email info@farmshow.org
The History of the World Ag Expo
The World Ag Expo began in 1968, and was held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare, California. When the first show was complete, this new show proved to be successful. The first show attracted 157 exhibitors and 28,000 attendees. By the second year, the show doubled in both attendees and exhibitors, and continued the rapid growth throughout future shows.
Tulare's location in the center of the state and the heart of the agriculturally-rich San Joaquin Valley is accessible and attractive to farm equipment manufacturers and dealers from around the world. Exhibitors find an organized show in a central location where they can display their agriculture products, services and equipment to an interested audience of farmers, and serious, potential buyers. Attendees have found a place where they can view the latest in agricultural technology, equipment and services in one location.
Originally named "Tulare's Field and Row Crop Equipment Show," it quickly outgrew its name, and became the "California Farm Equipment Show" for the second show in 1969. In 1972, the first foreign manufacturers began displaying their products, leading to another name change "California Farm Equipment Show and International Exposition". The current name, "World Ag Expo," was adopted in 2001.
With the increase in international exhibitors and visitors, the United States Department of Commerce sensed an opportunity to enhance the U.S. export trade possibilities. The Department of Commerce designated and publicized the show throughout the world as an official affiliate of the Foreign Buyer Program.
Throughout the 1970s, the show continued to grow, eventually leading to a shortage of space at the fairgrounds. In 1976, the show directors voted to explore the formation of a special corporation that would establish an international agribusiness show place somewhere within the Tulare area. The plan was found to be feasible, and a non-profit corporation was created - the International Agri-Center, Inc. A section of the Faria family farm became the site for the new show grounds.
The 15th California Farm Equipment Show and International Exposition opened its doors on the new show grounds on February 9, 1982. This new location provided Tulare with the first facility in the western United States ever constructed to house an agricultural trade show. Throughout the years, exhibitors have found World Ag Expo to be a sound investment in future business at a show devoted to the task of bringing buyers and sellers together.
The International Agri-Center is continually investing in, and enhancing the show grounds to improve World Ag Expo for both attendees and exhibitors. The Farm Credit Dairy Center was completed for the 1991 show, built in response to the growing need for more space for the popular demand of dairy industry displays. The construction of a permanent building for Pavilion C began in 2012 and will be complete for the 2013 World Ag Expo.
Mission Statement
World Ag Expo strives to be the biggest and best cutting-edge international agriculture trade show, driven by volunteers to provide an opportunity for buyers and sellers to come together.
World Ag Expo Chairman Timeline
For more than 40 years, World Ag Expo has set a standard for agricultural expositions. Click on the image below to view a listing of the World Ag Expo chairman and description of World Ag Expo events from the chairmen themselves.
