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CapitalPress.com
November 13, 2015
Willamette Valley Ag Expo promises to be best yet
By GEOFF PARKS
For the Capital Press
ALBANY, Ore. — Filled-up
floor space, dynamic new exhib-
itors, the return of free forklift
training and the exploding popu-
larity of Dine Around Oregon are
highlights of the 15th annual edi-
tion of the Willamette Valley Ag
Expo.
The Expo’s doors will be open
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tues-
day, Nov. 17; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on
Wednesday, Nov. 18; and 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Admission is $4 per day, and
parking is free on-site at the Linn
County Fair & Expo Center, 3700
Knox Butte Road, Albany, Ore.
The Expo is presented each
year by the Willamette Valley Ag
Association, which is a nonprofit
educational and trade organization
whose members are either exhibi-
tors or sponsors of the event.
Proceeds from the Expo go
toward the association’s college
scholarships, which go to students
majoring in ag-related subjects.
Association Manager Jill In-
galls and her husband, Expo Pro-
ducer Scott Ingalls, work tire-
lessly each year to make the huge
event a success.
The popularity of the Expo
among exhibitors has put floor
space at a premium this year.
Other features are seeing in-
creased interest as well.
Back by popular demand,
Overton Safety Training will pro-
vide free forklift training.
“Thanks to their generous con-
tribution, we are able to make
forklift certification training free
to the first 75 that sign up,” Jill
Ingalls said.
“The Willamette Valley Ag
Expo board is pleased that this
is one more way they assist this
industry through education and
training,” she said.
The Expo will also feature sev-
eral new exhibitors this year, in-
cluding the Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association.
“We’re delighted to have them
as new exhibitors,” she said.
Kayli Hanley, communications
director of the cattlemen’s associ-
ation, said this is the OCA’s first
year participating in the Expo.
“We are excited to not only
have a booth presence, but to also
help sponsor the beef for the Dine
Around Oregon dinner,” she said.
Also on hand will be the Ore-
gon Women for Agriculture, who
will offer an educational area for
visitors.
Summing up all the hard work,
planning and considerations that
have gone into this year’s Expo,
Ingalls said: “This (new OCA con-
nection) is a great example of how
we should all be working hand-in-
hand to promote our members —
and, certainly, our food growers in
Oregon.”
The Expo is open to visitors of
all ages, and current FFA and 4-H
participants “are strongly encour-
aged to attend,” Ingalls said.
Courtesy of WVEA
Scott Ingalls, Willamette Valley Ag Expo producer, and his wife, Jill Ingalls,
Willamette Valley Ag Association manager.
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