The North Louisiana Agri-Business Council sponsors Ag Expo, an event that promotes the agribusiness industry and educates the public on the importance of agriculture.
The event will be held at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe. Approximately 8,000 people attend.
Hours are Friday, Jan. 18, 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $5 per person, with children 6 and under free.
The LSU AgCenter coordinates Ag Alley, a combination of several "alleys" filled with information about different commodities grown in Louisiana. Sweet potatoes, horticulture, cotton and equine exhibits are featured this year.
Ag Expo events include antique tractors, farm equipment and technology displays, a Junior Livestock Show on Saturday, tasting of Louisiana commodites, and visits by Smokey the Bear and Elsie the Cow.
A Forestry Landowners’ Meeting targeted for landowners on how to hand down their property is $10 and includes a ticket to the expo. Steve Hotard, LSU AgCenter agent, will conduct the seminar from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
The Louisiana State Pecan Show will be held in West Monroe during Ag Expo in the Ike Hamilton Center, also Jan. 18-19.
Growers are encouraged to participate in the show to share their knowledge with visitors.
The display and literature will provide information about the health benefits of eating pecans. Non-dessert pecan recipes will be provided to pecan show attendees to encourage the healthy use of pecans in a person’s diet.
For pecan show information, contact John Pyzner at (318) 797-8034. For Ag Expo information, contact Janet Rutledge at (318) 355-2495. The expo Web site is www.agexpo.org.