Texas Farm, Ranch and Wildlife Expo is Feb 21-22 in Abilene

Includes Big Country agribusiness event, Agriculture Legacy Luncheon

By Susan Himes, Susan.Himes@ag.tamu.edu

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Taylor County and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce will cohost the 2023 Texas Farm, Ranch and Wildlife Expo, the region’s longest-running farm and agribusiness show Feb. 21-22 in Abilene.

A cotton and crop conference are among the Texas Farm, Ranch and Wildlife Expo events offered Feb. 21-22. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

The 24th annual event will be held at the Taylor Telecom Arena at 1700 Highway 36. Lawrence Hall-Abilene is the presenting sponsor.

The event will be held from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Feb. 21 and from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Feb. 22.

There is no cost to attend and there will be over 150 vendor and educational booths.

The focus Feb. 21 will be crops and commodities. Cattle, ranch and wildlife will be highlighted Feb. 22.

Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units are offered. On Feb. 21, a total of seven CEUs are available: three general, three integrated pest management and one laws and regulations.

Feb. 22 will offer 10 CEUs — five general, three integrated pest management and two laws and regulations.

“Our goal is to meet the needs of as many people in agriculture as possible and, in addition to our mainstream agriculture topics,” said Steve Estes, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Taylor County. “This year we’ve expanded to include topics for veterans, those involved in agricultural land real estate, and people who may be new to agriculture or thinking about becoming involved.”

Texas Real Estate Commission continuing education units are also available, four on Feb. 21 and three on Feb. 22.

Visit the AgriLife Extension office in Taylor County website for a complete schedule of events, demonstrations and social activities.

Feb. 21, Crop and Commodity Day

The first day of the Expo will feature the following:

• Cotton and Crops Conference.
• Town and Country Women’s Fair.
• Trade Show Opens; Ribbon Cutting at Lawrence Hall Abilene Booth.
• Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Annual Meeting.
• Property Tax Valuations.
• Hemp Production Update.
• Pig Brig Demo.
• Stock Pond Management.
• Intellectual Property Basics for Rural America.

Feb. 22, Cattle, Ranch and Wildlife Day

The first Agriculture Legacy Luncheon, to honor the Farm Family of the Year, will be part of the Feb. 22 event activities. The luncheon will feature Joe Leathers, general manager of 6666 Ranch, Guthrie, and celebrity cowboy chef Mike Newton, Stephenville.

The Feb. 22 topics are:

• Range and Pasture Seminar.
• Tree Care Seminar.
• Real Estate Market Outlook.
• Texas AgrAbility and Battleground to Breaking Ground.
• Wildlife Management Seminar.
• Pig Brig Demo.
• Backyard Poultry Production.
• Livestock Industry Updates: What Is on the Horizon?