03/28/08 Washington Potato Conference looking at location options

Farm and Ranch March 28, 2008 The Washington State Potato Conference board is reviewing its options for locating the Conference for next year's event and beyond. Exhibitor participation and attendance at the event have been declining. In recent years the Conference program has been held at Big Bend Community College and the trade show at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Mike Dodds is the newly elected Conference board chairman. Dodds: "Well, we kept getting comments from the vendors and the growers that they would like to see the Conference and the trade show in one location. So we are trying to accommodate those needs." Dodds says more trade shows are vying for the same companies and the current facilities at the Grant County Fairgrounds have not been up to the standards of similar competing shows. He says the exhibitor fees and sponsorships are the main source of income for the Conference's multiple activities. On April 2nd the Potato Conference board will review and discuss proposals from the Tri-Cities Convention Center, TRAC, Big Bend Community College and Grant County Fairgrounds. Both the College and Fairgrounds have options for new facilities. Dodds: "I would think that the goal would be to keep it in Moses Lake if we can meet the needs of the vendors and the growers." The board has set a May 1st deadline to make a decision on the 2009 event. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.