Next month, the largest farm show on earth will return to Tulare. The World Ag Expo opens its doors at the International Agri-Center on Tuesday, February 10, and runs for three days before closing on Thursday, February 12th.
With more than 100,000 attendees, 1,200 exhibitors, and 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, the World Ag Expo can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve turned once again to Sam Baldivia, our Irrigation Sales Manager, to share some advice. He’s been attending all three days of the farm show for more than two decades, representing Fruit Growers Supply along the way. If anyone at this company is an “expo expert,” it’s him. Below, we’ve listed some of Baldivia’s suggestions for another successful visit.
Dress for inclement weather.
“Last year, we had nothing but rain,” Sam remembers. “It came pouring down on us! It usually rains at least one day during the farm show, every year, so remember to bring umbrellas and raincoats. We’re in pavilions, but people can still get soaked. Dress warm, too, because it gets cold in there. And remember your walking shoes!”
Take home some souvenirs from the trip.
Every year, FGS offers some giveaways to attendees who stop by the irrigation booth to chat with our engineers and managers. “We’ll be giving away keychains and other items,” Sam says. “People can also come taste our Sunkist fruit gems, which are always popular.”
Choose your parking spot wisely.
“If you park in the north parking lot, that will get you closer to the Irrigation Pavilion B, where the FGS booths are located,” Sam points out. This year, you can find Sam’s team in the same location as 2025. Just head over to booths 2319, 2320, 2419, and 2420.
Come meet the FGS team!
Sam isn’t the only FGS representative who’s planning on attending the farm show. “All of our sales teams will be there,” he says. “Customers can meet Girardo Garcia, the supervisor who’s in control of our installation crews, and Hermes Martinez, who’s been at the company for 30 years and is now our new Irrigation labor manager. Our engineers will be at the expo on Wednesday, and customers can talk to them about flow rates, pressures, automation, and our partnership with WiseConn.”
Don’t leave without trying the steak sandwiches.
The Sundale Elementary School’s ribeye steak sandwiches are a staple of the World Ag Expo. Sam can’t imagine attending the farm show without eating one. “They’re always there, selling their ribeye sandwiches and raising money for the school,” he says of the Sundale booth, where an average of 22,000 sandwiches are sold every year. “I’ve been going to the farm show for more than 20 years, and I still love that steak sandwich. It just doesn’t get old.”