The annual World Ag Expo in Tulare ended its three-day run Thursday, with show officials saying it was a success despite rain Tuesday and muddy grounds Wednesday.

"The hardcore people come out to the show, no matter what," said Lee Coito, the 2010 Expo vice-chair. "It was a good show."

About 1,500 exhibitors attended, with some reporting less interest from buyers than in previous years.

"We have a lot of people who are wanting price quotes, but not a lot of people who are buying, yet," said Lauren Sepp, of Pacific Steel Buildings.

"So we will see how things go after the show. People are just a little cautious right now."

Buyers weren't as cautious at Charlie Cleveland's booth.

Cleveland, a sales manager for Humdinger Equipment in Lubbock, was busy Thursday answering questions about a piece of tilling equipment that looks like a huge chain with discs.

The equipment can till a 45-foot swath in everything from rice to wheat fields.

He sold three units, each with a $70,000 price tag.

Cleveland said farmers like the equipment because of its ability to work the field waste into the ground with fewer passes through the field.

"Right now we are building about four of these a week, and we are at least 24 units behind," Cleveland said.

Also gaining interest from visitors was Magswitch, a Colorado company that makes magnets that can be switched on and off.

The tool gives the user an extra set of hands for tasks such as welding or cutting pieces of metal.

The magnets sell for between $125 and $300.

"Oh boy, I like this product," said Don Averill of Oregon, a truck and farm equipment repairman. "This gives you the ability to hold what you are working with at different angles."

Ted Brooks of Magswitch said the response from the visitors was phenomenal.

At times there were nearly 30 people at the Magswitch booth.

"We knew we had a place in the ag world, we just didn't realize how big," Brooks said.

Vendors selling products to slumping industries, like dairy, had a tougher time at the show.

"It has a little slower than in previous years," said Joe Weber , marketing manager for the Wisconsin-based Hampel Corp, which makes plastic crates for dairy calves as well as other plastic products. "But we are hopeful things will be improving soon."

Rod Pomp knows all too well what dairy farmers are going through.

He used to grow alfalfa but decided to lease that land until the dairy prices begin to stabilize.

He also farms table grapes and raises beef cattle.

Despite his troubles, he still enjoys coming to the Expo to window shop.

"Every year we come, my wife has to take away my wallet and credit card," Pomp said.

"But that's OK. Sometimes I just like to come out and look at what is out here."