It's Farm Show Time!

We got the trees planted! Yay!
   Now all we have to do is prune 10,000 trees, drop sleeves around them, realign and flush the drip hoses. Always something to do on the farm.

The Farm Show

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright January 2012

            OK, I have to admit- the Farm Show in Tulare is kind of like Disneyland for farmers. If you make a living growing things, there is something for you in Tulare. There are tools and tractors, software, equipment, colleges and clothing.

         And everyone is there. It is like Old Home Day for farmers.

         And if it hasn’t rained yet during the winter, it usually rains the week of the farm show. The first time I went to the farm show I was a student at West Hills College in Coalinga. We took a school bus to the farm show. I didn’t know until then that you could go four wheeling in a school bus. It was a sight to see.

         I don’t make it to the farm show every year. Often something pops up on the farm and that takes care of that. But, I always enjoy it when I go there. There is something for everyone to see at the farm show.

It’s Farm Show Time Again

By Paul H. Betancourt

Copyright February 2013

                  It’s farm show time again, and a young farmer’s thoughts turn to --- new toys. OK, even old farmer’s thoughts turn to new toys.

            The farm show is one of the first signs of Spring. You know I like cooler weather, but by now most of us are thinking that’s enough of that, it’s time for warming up. Here in the Valley the farm show is one of the first signs of Spring. Next, the almond and fruit trees will start blooming. There is a lot of unsettled weather ahead, but the days are getting longer and Spring is on its way.

            Farm equipment is pretty amazing. The engineers and inventors who create new farm equipment are some of the most creative problem solvers in the world. We all owe them a lot. They have eliminated a lot of drudge work. They have helped increase our food supply as well as the variety of food available to us. They are true innovators and my hat’s off to them.

So, it’s time to head to Tulare, look at new equipment and find some good barbecue. You don’t think we go just for the tractors do you?