Rain forecast for Colusa Farm Show

Rain is expected to greet visitors when the Colusa Farm Show opens for its 47th straight year on Tuesday — the longest running show of its kind in the state.

Hundreds of vendors are scheduled to be on hand at the Colusa County Fairgrounds, in an expanded venue that includes more product and service locations in the parking area as well as in and around the community building.

"The best part of this show is most of the people who come here are from the area," said Vinny Allen, who was setting up equipment for the Valley Truck & Tractor Company out of Chico on Friday.

This will be Allen's 26th show.

"I've been coming a long time," Allen said. "It is a heck of a show and it gets better each year."

The idea that there might be a little rain on Tuesday does not bother Frank Calderon at all.

A former Colusa County resident who now lives in Yuba City, he said rain means money in the agricultural industry.

Calderon said 2012 has provided a good start for his employer, Schaben Industries, which had a variety of chemical, fuel and other tanks and sprayers on display.

"It is starting off really good; and as long as everyone gets some water, I think everything will be OK," Calderon said.

Calderon and Ken Kessler, a Willows resident who works for ITF Supply — the Northern California distributor for Schaben — were busy setting up their vendor locations Friday as well.

"We have these big trailers, so it's always best to get them out here early," Calderon said.

The show officially opens at 9 a.m., and the opening day includes a 2 p.m. seminar at which Robin Bevier will discuss estate planning and related matters in the Stagehands Theatre.

The activities pick up on Wednesday, starting with the 10th annual Alumni Breakfast hosted by the California State University, Chico, Agriculture Department at 7 a.m. at St. Bernadette's Hall, 745 Ware Ave.

Not an official part of the Farm Show, the breakfast attracts a large crowd, and this year features Sandra Schubert, the undersecretary of the state Department of Food and Agriculture, as the guest speaker.

Two seminars on tap during the day. There will be a 10 a.m. event at which the California Highway Patrol will discuss the transportation of hazardous materials and other matters.

At 1 p.m., Pacific Gas & Electric officials will discuss rate changes and the possible impacts on agriculture.

The show closes at 5 p.m. each of the first two days, and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.