This is a tractor lover’s dream. Five things to know about the World Ag Expo

The World Ag Expo, the biggest farm equipment and technology show of its kind, is on its was back to Tulare.

From Feb. 13-15, the grounds of the International Agri-Center will be invaded by more than 100,000 people and 1,500 vendors.

Visitors come from all over the world and nation. Last year, people from 43 states and 70 countries attended.

The amount of exhibit space is massive – at 2.6 million square feet it’s about the same size as 45 football fields. Let that sink in.

So to help you maneuver through the show, also known by locals as the farm show, here are five things you should know.

▪ Dress comfortably, you will do a lot of walking. It’s also not a bad idea to wear layers. A light sweater or jacket is useful during the cool mornings. And don’t worry if you get a little tired. There are plenty of places to sit. There is also a shuttle that drops you off at designated locations.

▪ Did we say the show is massive? It’s really big and it’s good idea to have a plan on what you want to see and where you can find it. The expo produces a handy guide that you can pick up at the show, or download their app. You can find it on the app store by searching, “2018 World Ag Expo.” And if you have a question, don’t hesitate to find a volunteer. You can’t miss them, they wear orange jackets and there are a gazillion of them.

▪ Eat up. There are more than 30 food booths serving some hearty grub. Among the favorites are rib-eye steak sandwiches with grilled onions, peach cobbler, breakfast burritos and the fried bologna sandwich. And don’t feel bad about overeating, the money from the food sales goes to schools, non-profits and civic groups.

▪ The big boys of the tractor world, including New Holland, John Deere and Case IH, will be rolling out some cool pieces of farm equipment, including big balers, forage harvesters and combines. Also a must-see is the futuristic-looking sprayer called GUSS, or Global Unmanned Spray System. The driverless sprayer, made by Crinklaw Farm Services in Kingsburg, uses GPS, lasers and sensors to maneuver in orchards and vineyards applying farm chemicals.

▪ And if tractors, steak sandwiches and walking 1,000 miles a day isn’t enough for you, there is also a free concert by country music singer Craig Campbell on Wednesday night in the expo arena.

This story was originally published February 8, 2018 at 4:10 PM with the headline "This is a tractor lover’s dream. Five things to know about the World Ag Expo."