By CECILIA PARSONS

For the Capital Press

TULARE, Calif. -- Driven by a surging agricultural sector, the 45th World Ag Expo opens Feb. 14 with 300 new exhibitors and a raft of farmers and ranchers who have money to spend after a record income year.

This year's show chairman, Patty Colson, said all exhibit spaces on the show ground's 2.6 million square feet were filled weeks ago. A total of 1,441 exhibitors will bring their products and services to the Tulare show, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors during its three-day run.

Besides featuring the latest innovations in equipment and technology, the show offers a variety of seminars on current agriculture issues and international trade plus demonstrations of the latest in production methods.

"Producers come to buy, but they also attend to expand their knowledge," said Jerry Sinift, World Ag Expo's executive officer.

In the last two years, the expo has been responsive to visitor surveys and made some important changes.

This will be the second year an entire pavilion has been dedicated to livestock and horses. Traditionally an equipment show, the expo's survey found 11 percent of visitors are livestock producers. Colson said a trip to a Nebraska beef expo gave show officials an idea of what to showcase.

This year's lineup in the demonstration area includes stock dog training, cattle carcass evaluations and equine first aid. Visitors can also learn about low-stress cattle handling and see a demonstration of a silencer hydraulic squeeze chute for cow ultrasounds.

Many of the demonstrations will be held daily. More than 30 livestock companies will have exhibits in the livestock area.

Making its debut this year will be the Ag Warriors Gala on Feb. 15. The evening event will feature former President George W. Bush and the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Chorus. The event is intended to help returning veterans secure training and careers in the agriculture industry. The International Agri-Center, home of World Ag Expo, and several state universities and community colleges are joining forces to develop plans to help returning veterans with their agriculture education.

Opening night entertainment will be a concert with country music artists Trace Adkins and Brett Eldredge.

The Top 10 New Products have become an expo tradition. This year's crop ranges from a high tech app for crop monitoring to a simple tree protection sleeve. Dairy producers have a new cow tag that monitors rumination and detects heat. There is a mechanical raspberry harvester and a table saw that detects human skin and shuts off before injury can occur.

On the final day of the expo, dairy takes center stage as the Airoso family of Tulare County will celebrate 100 years in the dairy business with an auction in the Entertainment Pavilion. The auction will be the first animal sale in the history of the expo and showcase 25 to 30 head of Holstein breeding stock.

This year a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices can help visitors plan their stay at the expo and find specific exhibits. The free download will provide mobile access to featured events, exhibitor directory, show grounds maps and visitor resources.

Less tech-savvy visitors can visit WorldAgExpo.com to plan their trip.

Registering online for tickets at WorldAgExpo.com will save $2 off the $12 admission price. Tickets can be printed at home or mailed. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 to 4 on Thursday.