World Ag Expo opens this week in Tulare. See what’s happening
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- World Ag Expo opens Feb. 10 in Tulare, expecting about 100,000 attendees.
- Indoor pavilions available; staff work year-round to prepare for rain or fog.
- Program highlights include women’s sessions, a California FFA auction, and seminars.
The World Ag Expo, the largest annual outdoor agricultural show, opens Tuesday morning at the International Agri-Center in Tulare.
The farm show, which is celebrating its 59th year, is expecting around 100,000 attendees from around the world during the three-day program that showcases the latest in agriculture across 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.
While rain is expected Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, Ag Expo officials said they are prepared for any inclement weather, whether it is rain or fog.
“We have a huge amount of indoor space if the weather’s bad,” Ron Clark, 2026 World Ag Expo Chairman said of the indoor pavilions throughout the show.
Megan Lausten, marketing manager with the farm show, said staff works year-round to make sure grounds are prepared for any inclement weather that could happen during the second week of February, when the show takes place.
“As always, it is a rain or shine show, so be sure that you’re wearing comfortable clothes, and your boots if that’s necessary. Hopefully, this year we’ll just get enough rain to keep the dust down,” said Lausten.
“We’ve had rain and inclement weather in the past. We have a wonderful group of volunteers and staff that are prepared to take care of things should we get a large amount of rain,” Lausten said.
Tuesday’s opening ceremonies includes remarks by Luke J. Lindberg, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the winners of the Top-10 New Products Competition sponsored by F3 Innovate, and the recipients of the “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, sponsored by Coast Counties Peterbilt.
This year the Ag Expo is celebrating the role of women in agriculture worldwide with several sessions, panel discussion with women leaders at the Women’s Conference Pavillion including remarks from California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to celebrate the International Year of the Woman farmer.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture will be doing cooking demonstrations at the women’s conference pavilion as well, Lausten said.
Lausten said some of the new things this year at the show include a California FFA auction at the show’s WW demonstration pavilion where FFA members will be competing and auctioneering to qualify for a state competition.
“Our mission here at the International Agri Center revolves around ag education and connecting people through agriculture. So, we’re really happy to bring that to the show this year,” Lausten said.
College of the Sequoias in Visalia has a new pavilion to showcase the college’s agricultural trades and technologies program, she said.
Lausten said the Ag Show app was updated this year to provide new features for attendees. World Ag Expo opens Tuesday, Feb.10, and runs through Thursday, Feb. 12. Attendees can enjoy daily seminars, demonstrations, networking opportunities, and more.
“We have two and a half million square feet of exhibit space, and it’ll all be filled, and we’re looking forward to a great 2026, World Ag Expo,” Clark said.
A full schedule of events, additional show information, or to purchase tickets for the 2026 World Ag Expo, visit www.worldagexpo.com.
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM with the headline "World Ag Expo opens this week in Tulare. See what’s happening."