Wichita Falls Ranch & Farm Expo Draws Thousands

The annual Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Expo kicked off today at the J.S. Bridwell Ag Center, providing hundreds of people with information, equipment and how to make a profit during the continued drought.

From tractors to livestock to much, much more.

Hundreds of people headed to this year's Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Show.

And the topic on everyone's minds centered around how to continue their livelihood while lacking rain.

"You'd just about have to talk to an expert to make this thing work out for everybody. I was talking to a lady and while ago and she... we were talking about wheat this year and if it don't come out with rain this year for wheat we're in trouble," says Dennie Mathews, who attended the

So experts focused their discussion on helping farmers and ranchers deal with the drought.

"So, we're talking about how to identify weeds, different chemistries to use, production practices that will make the most out of the resources we have, whether it's moisture or fertilizer, those are restricters in yield," says Fred Hall

This expo will no doubt provide attendees with vital information.

And that information has expanded over the past four years when it started operating under a new manager.

Officials say it's grown from about 275 vendors to 400 and it includes the only production bull sell which is a big draw.

"Producers from across 7 states will have the opportunity to buy production breeding bulls. We'll run about 55 head through the ring. Last year we had about a $2,750 average. This year with the agriculture economy demanding more and better quality bulls we expect that average to be higher," explains Hall.

The growth of the Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Expo is attracting thousands of people today and tomorrow, which is turn, is pumping thousands of dollars into the local economy.