Potato conference could relocate

BBCC, fairgrounds Tri-Cities sites submit proposals

COLUMBIA BASIN - Organizers for one of the Columbia Basin's largest events are considering location options for next year and beyond.

The Washington State Potato Conference board meets April 2 to review location proposals and discuss its options.

"We keep getting comments from the growers and the vendors that they would like to see both the trade show and the conference in one location," new conference board chair Mike Dodds said. "So that's what we're trying to look at."

The board is receiving proposals from the Tri-Cities Convention Center and the Pasco-based TRAC Center, as well as Big Bend Community College and the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake. The community college and fairgrounds have options for new facilities.

"Basically what they're looking to do, and I know exactly where they're coming from, they want to house the entire conference on one facility," Grant Country Fairgrounds Manager Bill West said. "We made a proposal where we would have the potato conference, all their meetings and everything that's been split between ATEC and the fairgrounds before, all on the fairgrounds. That's what their goal is and that's certainly what our goal is also."

The fairgrounds would locate the trade show in the Ardell Pavilion again, and have the conference in the new 4-H building and its commercial building.

While there are still some unknowns, West said, the proposal included four to five buildings to house the conference.

Community college President Bill Bonaudi said the school offered use of their facilities. The conference and trade show were hosted at the college before.

"When we were aware the area was in jeopardy of losing the conference, we said as a short-term measure, until better facilities are available, we would consider allowing the use of the gymnasium as part of the facilities here," Bonaudi said. "Basically for two years."

A long-term commitment to continue to hold the conference at the college would enhance the school's chances to secure financing for and construct its Bend Dome facility, which Bonaudi said would be three times the size of the Ardell Pavilion and house a full-size, indoor soccer field.

More than 1,500 participants attended the 47th Annual Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show in February. At the time, then-conference chair Dale Lathim said figures were down about 100 people from the previous year.

"With the Spokane Ag Show being the exact same days as our show, we saw a number of vendors choose to go there rather than our show because of the larger number of attendees who would be seeing their products," Lathim stated in February. "We also had fewer non-potato growing farmers attend this year who told me that they chose to go to Spokane because of the better facilities."

Dodds said potato growers and industry members also want easier access between the conference program and trade show. More trade shows are vying for the same companies, he added.

"Our current facilities at the (Grant County) Fairgrounds have not been up to the standards of similar shows that are our competition," he stated.

West responded that he knows there's stiff competition in the Tri-Cities.

"I think if we had a convention center like they have (in the Tri-Cities), we would be more attractive to them," he said. "The dirt floor we have to cover up with a tarp in the pavilion is a concern to them, and we have to have propane heating. So there's a lot of concerns there. I know the potato conference is looking to make their people happy. They have to have happy customers and we have to have happy customers. I want whatever's best for them, and I also want whatever's best for the fairgrounds and for Grant County."

Exhibitor fees and sponsorships are the main sources of income for the event's multiple activities, Dodds noted.

The board visited sites in Moses Lake and traveled south to visitTRAC and the Tri-Cities Convention Center in 2004. The board chose to use the Grant County Fairgrounds and continue the convention in Moses Lake.

During the time of the 2004 visits, there was no room at any of the locations for the conference and trade show to co-locate.

""We are right now still exploring that," Dodds said. "We are looking at other alternatives, which includes those other places."

At that time, the conference board voted to keep the event in Moses Lake for the next three years, with the program continuing at the community college and the trade show moving to the fairgrounds.

"We certainly see the value of the potato conference to our entire community, and we've had a history of hosting that conference for many, many years," Bonaudi said.

"We're doing our very best to keep it here local," West said. "We're looking at it very positively and trying to keep it on a positive track."

"We're definitely looking at keeping it in Moses Lake, things we can do there," Dodds said. "But we're also looking elsewhere."