If farming is what you are into, the Tulare Farm Show is the place for you. The farm show had been advertised on television and in the newspaper for weeks. People from around the world were anticipating the opening of the show. I attended the 32nd annual farm show on Feb. 11, 1999. This show is the world's largest agricultural exhibition, covering 100 acres of exhibit space and having more than 1,500 exhibitors, many from other countries, with the latest in farm, dairy, construction, and industrial equipment. Other topics such as technology, communications, insurance, and the future of farming were presented. During the six hours that I was there, I went to numerous exhibits.

On my way to the Tulare Farm Show, I was wondering what it would be like. I read in the newspaper that they would take pictures of the farm show and put them on a web site.The picture on the web site changed every fifteen minutes. I wonder if I would be in any of those pictures.

Finally, my mom and I reached a parking lot for the farm show. A program called "Park and Ride" provided free transportation to the actual show. Along with the free transportation, we also received a special ticket which allowed us to get one dollar off the admission price. The admission price was six dollars a person. I thought that was a neat idea.

When I finally arrived at the farm show ticket booth, it was packed! People, mostly farmers and their families, were milling around from exhibit to exhibit. It was hard to imagine that they could fit all that equipment and all the people inside the farm show. All kinds of gigantic farm equipment could be seen everywhere you looked. They had tractors, hay balers, front loaders, sprayers for both tractors and helicopters, plows and lots, lots, lots more! I had never seen this type of farming equipment before. Inside the exhibit tents, a variety of food could be found. Classes on various topics such as insurance were also available inside the tents. I did a lot of walking, so that I wouldn't miss anything. I walked "aaaalll" the way from one side of the show to the other side of the show. The most interesting thing I saw was a barbecue grill that was about thirty feet long. The grill was being pulled by a truck. Succulent steaks and mouth-watering chicken were being cooked on the grill. The one booth that I missed dealt with future farming methods. I bet it was neat!

The purpose of the Tulare Farm Show is to sell equipment and inform farmers about new and imporved methods of farming. The three day event was a huge success!