Ag Expo/Farm Forum in Feb.

The 2015 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum scheduled for February 3-5, 2015 at the newly expanded Spokane Convention Center Complex convenes in less than three weeks. The largest farm machinery show in the Inland Northwest will host 300 exhibitors and conduct 36 educational seminars and forums relating to agri-business from large-scale operations to small-acreage farms and ranches. Exhibitors will range from large farm equipment manufacturers and service providers to businesses catering to small-acreage and part-time farmers who hold down other jobs while also running their family farms. Spokane Ag Expo has been bringing agri-businesses and farmers together for 38 years.

Spokane Ag Expo will again fill the Spokane Convention Center adjacent to the Spokane DoubleTree Hotel. Every foot of the new 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall will be ready to welcome over 6,000 visitors. Three hundred exhibitors, including large and small acreage equipment dealers and a host of agri-business service providers with the latest in farming innovations, will be on hand to talk the business of agriculture with attendees.

For 60 years, the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum has scheduled seminars ranging across a wide spectrum of current topics of interest to both full-time and part-time farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. This year’s seminars are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 12 to 3 p.m .; Wednesday, February 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m .; and Thursday, February 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For a complete time and topic schedule of the seminars, visit the Spokane Ag Expo’s website at http://www.agshow.org.

The opening session of The Pacific Northwest Farm Forum on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. again hosts Dr. Art Douglas, retired Professor Emeritus, Atmospheric Science Department, Creighton University, presenting his “2015 Forecast for Weather Conditions in the Pacific Northwest.” Following Dr. Douglas is a presentation by Professor Randy Fortenbery, the Thomas B. Mick Endowed Chair in the WSU School of Economic Sciences discussing the 2014 Farm Bill Impact on Acreage Allocations and Land Prices. Also at the opening session, Ag Expo will announce the winners in the annual Excellence in Agriculture awards. Winners in each of the two categories, Youth and Business/Organization were chosen from nominations received by Ag Expo staff in early December.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the DoubleTree Main Ballroom, Kevin Van Trump, Chief Executive Officer, Farm Direction returns this year and addresses the current agriculture markets with his analysis of what is changing and how to better manage the risks in the world marketplace.

Pacific Northwest Farm Forum is also offering 36 educational seminars scheduled to include topics relating to cattle, marketing crops and livestock, small farm planning and marketing, tax and estate planning and several recertification courses. View all the seminar topics and scheduled times by going on-line to Spokane Ag Expo’s website at http://www.agshow.org. All seminars and speaker events will be presented in the various meeting rooms at the DoubleTree Hotel adjacent to the convention center.

New this year are events in Exhibitor Rooms, where more detailed and hands-on opportunities exist with 17 floor exhibitors. These rooms are in the newly constructed expansion of the Spokane Convention Center and provide a different experience for expo visitors. The Exhibitor Rooms are available all three days at different times and are posted on the Ag Expo website.

Free parking is available at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Parking Lot with free, round-trip shuttle bus service to and from the Spokane Convention Center Complex. Spokane Ag Expo is open to the public on Tuesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the final day of the show, Thursday, February 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For all detailed information regarding the 2015 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum, visit http://www.agshow.org.