The Colusa Farm Show returns next week for its 57th running.
The Colusa County Fairgrounds will be open for the three-day trade show, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7, and will run through Thursday.
The exposition, hosted each year by the 44th District Agricultural Association, is a one-stop showing of the most recent innovations in farming technology, equipment, and services.
More than 300 exhibitors are expected at the exposition, which showcases the latest in agriculture equipment used in planting, spraying and harvesting many kinds of crops, lending institutions, and those who sell insurance, fuel, motor vehicles, farm insurance, tools, and more.
First billed as the Sacramento Valley Orchard Machinery Fair in 1965, the three-day farm show has been the model for all other farm shows in the western United States. The World Ag Expo, the largest farm trade show in the world held the following week in Tulare, was established one year after Colusa and was based on Colusa’s model for an agriculture exposition.
The Colusa Farm Show was first established by a committee of about 30 people, including local farmers, wholesale and retail merchants, manufactures, and other individuals, who developed the premise for the show in 1965.
The Farm Show Committee, which includes 44th District Agricultural Association President Terry Bressler, continues to organize the event each year, officials said.
The fairgrounds will welcome Farm Show visitors from 9 AM to 4 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9 AM to 3 PM on Thursday. Parking and admission are free.
Food from a variety of vendors will be available for purchase.
Many businesses will be handing out “bling” such as hats, pens, notebooks, and totes. Others will be raising money for a good cause. Visitors will have the opportunity to not only mix business with pleasure but philanthropy as well. Colusa County 4H will raise money through the sale of pies.
Longtime Farm Show vendor Napa Auto Parts will be participating at the Colusa Farm Show again as a vendor, and will be helping the Colusa County Animal Shelter at the same time.
“Napa Auto Parts is proud to play an active role in the farming community to supply them with all of their agricultural and automotive needs,” said Napa Regional Manager Frank Camilli. “This year, Napa will be running a promotion that will benefit a wonderful local nonprofit, Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter.”
Visitors can visit the Napa Auto Parts booth in the Main Exhibit Building of the Colusa County Fairgrounds. Napa will be supporting the shelter at the Colusa Farm Show by offering discounts and tool specials to show attendees who make a donation through the NAPA “Bucket” program. All donations will go directly to the FOCCAS.
“FOCCAS uses donations to make improvements to the shelter and improve the lives of shelter animals,” said FOCCAS Vice President Pam DaGrossa. “FOCCAS regularly provides vaccines and medicines, medical assessment and treatment, and transport to rescue partners. Upcoming projects focus on increasing sanitation at the shelter, and expanding exterior kennel capacity.”
Just ahead of the Colusa Farm Show, family-owned Herger Gas, a propane service based in Sutter County, announced it is expanding its commercial and agriculture service to Colusa and Glenn counties. The company has serviced homes, businesses, and farms in the Yuba Sutter area since 1935.
“It’s an exciting time for the propane business, especially for small companies like ours that are positioned well to bring great reliable service to farmers and midrange fuel consumers,” said owner Dean Herger. “With the increase in propane use for clean and efficient irrigation power, there’s lots of opportunity for growth.”
The announcement coincides with Herger joining three organizations to jumpstart the company’s footprint in the area ahead of the Colusa Farm Show, joining the Colusa County Chamber of Commerce, the Colusa County Farm Bureau, and the Glenn County Farm Bureau.
“With all the consolidation that’s happened in our industry lately, there’s a real hunger for local and family-owned services like ours,” said Devon Nishimura, Herger Gas sales manager. “Especially with family farmers who are using propane for a lot more than just their stove and water heaters these days.”
Visitors to the Colusa Farm Show can find Herger Gas in the outdoor area near Atwood Hall.
The company’s announcement that it is expanding into Colusa County comes on the heels of key mergers and acquisitions in the area, including All Service Propane and Reliance Propane, which served the northstate and were purchased by national servicer Thompson Gas. Midrange propane services also saw consolidations like Stockton-based Campora, which was purchased by Chicago-based Energy Distribution Partners, and Central Valley-based Kamp’s Propane was purchased by Canadian firm Superior Plus.
“We are proud to be a family-owned company and look forward to working with farmers and processors in this new territory as we earn their business,” said Herger, who is the third generation of Hergers to lead the company. “When my grandfather started bringing truckloads of propane one at a time from Fresno to our family farm in Rio Oso, I doubt he could have imagined us servicing five counties, let alone seven with Colusa and Glenn coming on board.”
In addition to general farm services, Farm Show visitors will see or learn about the newest models of tractors, ATVs, trucks, and accessories, from vendors from all over the U.S. and right here in Colusa, including N&S’s new Case IH Puma and Maxxum Series tractors, Beeler’s Kawasaki Mule Pro-Mx EPS, Hoblit’s new electric F-150, and Rimrock Manufacturing’s custom truck bed boxes and bumpers.
The Colusa Farm Show has something for everything, organizers said. ■