The annual Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum will be held Feb. 1-3 in the Spokane Convention Center's Group Health Exhibit Hall and is expected to attract about 5,000 visitors, with an estimated $3 million economic impact here, says Myrna O'Leary, show manager.

Ag Expo organizers have sold all of the available booth space, with 250 exhibitors expected, O'Leary says. Exhibits will range from large farm equipment to products for small family farms. Also, entries in the 2011 Inland Northwest agriculture photography contest will be on display.

In conjunction with the Ag Expo, the adjacent Doubletree Hotel will host the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum. This year's program features a 2011 weather forecast by Art Douglas, professor emeritus of the atmospheric science department of Creighton University, and an economic forecast by John Mitchell, of M&H Economic Consultants, of Portland, Ore. Thirty-six educational seminars are scheduled for the forum on topics ranging from crop and livestock marketing to tax and estate planning.

New this year, Future Farmers of America will provide a farm-safety program, which will include a first-aid certification course, O'Leary says. The Ag Expo also will hold a scavenger hunt, ending in a drawing for all participating visitors.

For the third consecutive year, the Ag Expo will partner with the Dump Hunger program to gather food for local food banks, O'Leary says. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or a cash donation either to the ticket lobby or to the Western States Equipment Co. exhibit.

A one-time admission fee of $10 covers all three days and all events. Half-price tickets are available at Aslin-Finch Feed Co. stores. Free parking, with free round-trip shuttle bus service to the convention center, will be available at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena parking lot.

For more information, visit www.agshow.org or call 321-3633.