Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Changes in business, lack of vendors cited as drivers in decision.
PORTALES — After 25 years, the Portales Ag Expo will not be returning.
Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry said Friday the decision to suspend the event indefinitely was made shortly after the 25th annual Ag Expo ended last March.
He cited a changing agriculture business as the primary reason the event was nixed.
“Back when we started, the main way for people to market to ag people for new products and new solutions and techniques was by going to a farm show. Back in the day it was a good method, but these days, when they’re thinking about buying a new tractor or piece of equipment, they test-drive it online, and that’s really hard to compete with,” he said.
Terry added that in recent years, more vendors have been unable to attend the expo due to shrinking budgets.
In an interview with The News from March 28, Terry reported that a downturn in attendance led to a lack of vendors.
“That’s been the biggest hurdle is getting the vendors in and getting the attendance that they expect,” he said.
He added that the decision to suspend the event came from a perceived need to “go out while we were still up and holding our head high.”
“We made the decision to get out while we could, while the timing was right,” he said.
