The star power of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may have kicked off opening day, but it was the appeal of 1,600 exhibitors displaying the latest in farm equipment, chemicals, communications and technology that drew 100,000 attendees to all three days of World Ag Expo.

Held Feb. 9-11, 2010, in Tulare, Calif. World Ag Expo marked its 43rd year with a "Powering Global Agriculture” theme.

Considered the world's largest annual farm and equipment show, World Ag Expo generated $280 million in sales during its three-day run, according to Steve Knudsen, the event's director of communications. The event delivers a year-round economic impact of $1.2 billion for the local economy, he added.

World Ag Expo's 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space almost wasn't enough for 2010.

"We were four exhibit spaces away from being sold out this year,” Knudsen said.

Opening-day rains and muddy ground made getting to exhibits tricky but didn't stop attendees.

"The rain might have held down attendance on Tuesday but the people who stopped were serious, and I sold a unit in the first hour of the first day,” said Larry Scheiler of Scheiler Harvesting.

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