Rain doesn’t dampen Ag Expo enthusiasm as final day features food, water seminars and, of course, big red tractors

Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative. 

Hydrogeologist Luis Busso believes in being one with your well.

“Use your senses,” he told the crowd gathered for “Become Your Own Well Whisperer,” one of several water-related seminars held on the final day of the World Ag Expo in Tulare. 

Busso encouraged listening, smelling, feeling and observing, especially when turning on a pump. 

“If you maintain what you have, you will avoid those giant, expensive repairs.” 

Busso, of environmental consulting firm Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, talked well anatomy and got into the nitty gritty of well health during his half-hour seminar. He encouraged well owners to maintain precise records about their well’s lifespan, including driller’s notes, video logs, production rates and sand content.

“That is helpful to me coming in and trying to solve your problems,” he said. 

The art of well whispering was one of several water-focused sessions at the massive annual agriculture show.

In the aptly named presentation “Planning Around Limits: SGMA Strategies,”

representatives of SWAN Systems, an Australian irrigation technology company, explained the basics of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to have local entities bring aquifers into balance by 2040 and the importance of complying with local regulations.

SWAN’s Shannon Rinkenberger encouraged landowners to engage with their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies.

“The whole point of this is to keep the conversation moving forward and talk about what kind of solutions and opportunities are out there for growers,” Rinkenberger said.

With steady rain falling throughout the day, attendees and vendors dodged puddles and donned plastic ponchos while mouth-watering smoke from barbecues holding hundreds of ribeye steaks wafted through the air. Some ate lunch under the protection of giant tractors or huddled under vendors’ pop-up tents. 

The rain didn’t curtail enthusiasm at Kaweah Equipment Company’s booth, where salesman Marcelino Medina eagerly awaited prized customers – farmers. 

“The people who will be out today are serious about equipment,” he said. “When the ground is wet, farmers can’t run their tractors or till. Regardless of the mud, they’ll be out here.” 

Medina was happy to see so many high schoolers at the expo on field trips. 

“I hope talking with them will encourage them to consider a job in equipment,” he said. “Trades are a great part of the success of our country.”

Mariela Ramirez and Annabella Salinas, both freshmen at Shafter High School in Kern County, inched closer to the food booths in search of some grub. Their tennis shoes and jeans were splattered with mud, but they had smiles on their faces.

They came to the expo as part of their agriculture class and they were enjoying the sights, smells and sounds.

“I have never been this close to a tractor,” Salinas said, looking over to a nearby booth with big, bright red tractors. “They’re huge.”

“It’s been pretty fun walking around and looking at everything,” Ramirez said. 

Inside a giant white tent where irrigation equipment companies lined the walls, Cosmos Costales with College of the Sequoias’ Tulare campus connected with students and employers alike. 

“This is a great place for me to recruit companies who may offer internships and find work experience for students,” he said. “We see a good return on our time here.” 

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