A spokesperson for the World Ag Expo said that Newt Gingrich is expected to tour the Heavy Equipment Area and the Dairy Pavilion for about an hour on Tuesday afternoon.
They say this year's expo will draw some high profile names and provide a big economic boost to the South Valley.
Workers in Tulare are putting the finishing touches on the heavy equipment at the World Ag Expo. The 45th annual event is expected to draw a 100,000 people to the area this week. City officials say the expo is a huge money-maker for Tulare.
"It's enormous -- World Ag Expo puts Tulare on the map," said Craig Vejvoda with the Tulare City Council, "We track people from all over the globe here, and it brings not only interest, but it brings people with dollars and they leave their dollars and they go back to their homes and that's a good thing for our community."
A spokesperson for the event says Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich will make an appearance on Tuesday. Former President George W. Bush is also scheduled to attend on Wednesday to speak at the Ag Warriors Gala.
Organizers say 2012's expo will have a trickle down effect on the community.
"We see about $1.3 billion dollars of economic impact in Tulare County alone, the hotel industry from Fresno to Bakersfield is booked up, the restaurant industry sees a big impact," said Liza Teixeira with the International Agri-Center.
Jose Perdomo with Tulare based apple Annie's Restaurant is bracing himself for this week's customers. "I think it's one of our biggest dates, week I would say for our business."
He expects about 500 people to sit down for a meal at the restaurant everyday throughout the expo.
Hotels throughout the area are also at full capacity. "We are completely booked, we have no availability for the whole week," said Rosie Moreno with Comfort Suites hotel.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani also made an appearance at the Ag Expo in 2007 before formally announcing his bid for the White House.
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PRESS RELEASE: Newt Gingrich to Visit World Ag Expo
Tulare, Calif. - Republican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich will visit World Ag Expo in Tulare, California on the opening day of the show, Tuesday, February 14.
The former Speaker of the House is scheduled to arrive at 2:00 p.m. and will take a tour of the world's largest annual agricultural exposition. While on the show grounds, Gingrich is expected to visit the Case IH and Oxbo International exhibit spaces as well as the Farm Credit Dairy Center.
The International Agri-Center is home to World Ag Expo, February 14-16, 2012 in Tulare, California. An estimated annual average of 100,000 individuals from 70 countries attend World Ag Expo each year. The Expo is the largest annual agricultural show of its kind with 1,400 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show grounds.