The 23rd New Mexico Ag Expo opens its two-day show Feb. 20-21 at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds in Portales, NM. This is the first year the event has been held on a Friday and Saturday. The Expo is sponsored by long-time title underwriter Plateau. Other sponsors include J.D. Heiskell, Roosevelt County Electric Coop., Xcel Energy, New Mexico Gas Company, Yucca Telecom, U.S. Bank and Western Bank. The event is organized and run by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce and New Mexico State University Extension Service. “We’ve taken a bold step this year in going to a Friday-Saturday format,” said Chamber Executive Director Karl Terry. “We’ve had lots of requests for the change over the years and we need to remain responsive to the needs of our vendors and our audience. We’re anticipating increased attendance with the change in days and other additions.” According to Ag Expo Chairman Patrick Kircher, who develops the programs presented at the show, home and garden segments have steadily become more popular. “We hope that holding those on Saturday will give even more folks an opportunity to attend,” he said. New to Ag Expo this year is the Official Taste Challenge Chili Cook-off. It will be held in the Youth Building at the fairgrounds. The teams will begin cooking Saturday morning and at noon the public will be invited to purchase tickets that will allow them the opportunity to taste the chili recipes and to cast a ballot. Winners will be determined by popular ballot. Seminars that Kircher has lined up include Cover Crop Choices – the Limitations Imposed by Residual and In-season Herbicides and Soil Testing and Chemical Fertilizer Management for Small Grains, led by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist with Texas Agri-Life; a cattle segment entitles Replacement Females – “Options?” and “Water Harvesting & Making Your Own Rain Barrel on Friday. Saturday Dr. Jason Turner, NMSU Extension Horse Specialist will present “An Update on Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals,” Curt Jaynes of Garden Source in Portales will discuss “Xeriscaping and Other Low Maintenance Ideas for Improving Your Yard.” Kyle Dillard of Milnesand will give a day-long clinic on working with stock dogs beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday. Trevor Carter of Carter Ranch Horses in Farwell, Texas will offer a clinic entitled “Advance Your Horsemanship” beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and continuing for much of the day. Both Carter and Dillard have been popular presenters at previous Ag Expos. Roosevelt County Extension Home Economist Connie Moyers always has some of the most popular educational segments at Ag Expo. This year she will present “Simply Prepared Meals & Menus” at 10 a.m. Friday and “Crazy About Succulents & Farm House Treasures” at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The focus of the event has always been on providing producers with information on products and techniques that allow them to solve problems and grow their operations. Terry says that goal remains unchanged. 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. Other activities include a Mounted Shooting Demonstration at 1 p.m. Saturday in the outdoor arena. Also returning is the Rotary Club pork chop luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. The antique tractor parade and a live chuckwagon village will also be a part of the fun. The hours of the show are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. 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 (except the luncheon and chili cook-off) during the Expo. For applications or more information about vendor booths or attendance call (800) 635-8036, email the Expo at chamber@portales or visit the website at nmagexpo.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:30:40 +0000
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