“We put in close to 3,000 hours to make this possible,” 2015 Expo president Keith Echols said at Main Street Brewery. He thanked the 32 volunteers who are on scene every day.
“We meet monthly for 10 months, and for the last two months leading up to the Expo we meet weekly. ... When it’s over, we start planning for next year the next day,” he said.
At Thursday appreciation dinner, the Expo board also named the best indoor and outdoor booths, chosen by Cortez Mayor Karen Sheek. Pleasant Journey Alpaca was recognized for its indoor booth; and Southwest Agriculture, for its outdoor booth.
The board also honored Dusty Beales (president, 2011-2013) and Kevin Lanyon (president, 2013-2014). Lanyon says two the biggest changes he and the board went after last year was adding more children’s programming, and diversifying adult programming.
“I really pushed for more hemp programming last year, with the goal of getting away from the stigma and broach the topic for our local farmers who might be interested in learning more,” said Lanyon.
The expo featured the showing of the industrial hemp documentary “Bringing It Home” and a Q&A with Ryan Loflin.
Echols said the goal is to bring clinicians and exhibitors from far and wide.
“We always try to keep the local industry informed of the latest information and technology,” said Echols.
Radiance Beales, executive director of the Expo, says it’s that reason that keeps the board enthusiastic about putting in the extensive hours every year.
“Agriculture is so important to everyone’s lives, it touches everything. I think a lot of people today might take that for granted or don’t realize what a big role farmers and ranchers play in everyday life,” said Beales.