Here’s a wrap-up report on World Ag Expo from Gary Schulz. Maybe next year will be the year I get to go. I’ve got to go out there in a couple weeks but just couldn’t get that coordinated to coincide with the Show. Thank you very much Gary for taking the time to provide us with your updates. A lot of AgWired readers were there or are involved with the show in one way or another so it’s been great.
The third and final day of the 41st annual World Ag Expo in Tulare, California experienced bright, warm sunshine and no morning fog.
World Ag Expo is the largest of its kind and generates an economic impact of $1.2 billion with over 1,600 exhibiting companies on a footprint of 2.5 million square feet! California agriculture generates $31.7 billion of farm-gate revenue. $4 billion of this is attributable to Tulare County, which is up from $2 billion when I arrived in the San Joaquin Valley from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1990. During this time I have seen the Tulare County ag economy shift towards a heavy dominance by the dairy industry with an average today of over 2,000 cows per dairy (compared to 750 in 1990) and total revenues of over $1 billion.
It was a treat to renew acquaintances with Heather Baumgardner and learn that Fastline will celebrate their 30th anniversary next week. Congratulations to Heather, Joe McWilliams and Bill Howard on this landmark accomplishment!
I was very impressed to see many FFA youth in their official dress. Congratulations especially to the Livingston FFA members who I observed on Median Street at about 2 p.m. They were very polite, dressed very sharp, and good representatives of a fine organization.
Over the many years of the World Ag Expo, many dedicated industry professionals have put their stamp on its production. One of my fun conversations this year was with service contractors Jim Gilroy, Frank Craig, Gil Montano, and Lee Oliphant. These guys are real pros and I salute them for the extraordinary work they do.
Candy Hansen of the Center for International Trade Development-Fresno and Eduardo Torres of the United States Department of Commerce have worked tirelessly over the years promoting World Ag Expo to many international trade delegations and this year was no different. Today I observed Eduardo with a Latin delegation while Candy hosted a delegation from the Henan Province in China. Both Candy and Eduardo and their hard-working staffs should be thanked for their tremendous efforts.
2009 World Ag Expo Chairman Paul Simon will take the reins shortly. He brings to the show an immense experience with the exhibitors, unloading and delivering freight. He is a great leader of volunteers and a very deserving chairman. Congratulations, Paul, and good luck.
Whoever was in charge of praying for good weather did a great job.
Gary Schulz, General Manager of World Ag Expo, 1990-2005.
Currently Program Director of the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology Incubator in Fresno, CA and Senior Strategist for Gary Schulz Consulting