NM Ag Expo 20th Year
New Mexico Ag Expo set for Feb. 21-22, 2012 in Portales, NM
In 2012 the New Mexico Ag Expo celebrates its 20th year Feb. 21-22, 2012 with a new facility and renewed commitment to provide education, information and valuable connections for those involved in agribusiness on the High Plains.
This year’s Expo is sponsored by Plateau Wireless and Dairy Farmers of America.
“I believe 20 years for any event is a milestone for any event and we’re especially proud that we’ve been able to serve our area farmers, dairymen and ranchers for two decades,” said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry.
The focus of the two-day event is on providing producers with information on products and techniques that allow them to solve problems and grow their operations. The Expo’s reach includes thousands of dairymen, farmers and ranchers.
The show normally attracts more than 150 vendors and 200-300 representatives. Booths run the gamut from dairy equipment and tractors and implements to irrigation systems and seed. While most vendors are from the plains states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, the Ag Expo attracts businesses from as far away as Canada and California.
With New Mexico State University as a main sponsor of the event, educational seminars and workshops are a big component of the Expo. This year those seminars will include sessions on silage, cotton, pest management in hay, CRP, beef cattle and more. In addition, Dairy Farmers of America holds its annual meeting at the Expo and plans its own program of lectures and seminars including a national guest speaker at the DFA luncheon open to all dairy farmers.
Well-known horse trainer Scott Daily of Ark City, Kan. will present morning and afternoon workshop sessions on Tuesday on colt starting.
New this year in conjunction with the Expo is the Tumbleweed Classic Winter Stock Dog Trial on Wednesday. Programs on working dog health and training are also planned. The inaugural event this past fall was a big hit and dog owners are excited about coming back during the Ag Expo.
The biggest change this year is the new Roosevelt County Events Center which will house all of the indoor booths under one roof for the first time. The building, which is nearly 70,000 square feet will have convenient vendor setup and should provide excellent crowd flow and good electrical availability. Use of this building will free up the Jack Lopez Community Center building for seminars, lectures and luncheons and the Idsinga Pavilion will be utilized for indoor demonstrations including Daily’s colt workshop.
The hours of the show are also changing this year. Tuesday, Feb. 21 the show will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 22 the show will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Expo attendees, 18 and over, will have the opportunity to win a brand new 14 foot stock trailer. Entry forms must be validated at various vendors to be eligible for the drawing.
There is no admission to the grounds or any of the events during the two-day run of the Expo. For applications or more information about vendor booths or attendance call (800) 635-8036, email the Expo at chamber@portales.com.
Event Info
