This year’s Northwest Ag Show is shaping up to be one of a kind. Yes, it’ll feature vendors and exhibitors offering the latest in ag equipment and services.

And yes, it’ll feature those all-important CORE credits from Oregon and Washington.

But the Northwest Ag Show will break the mold with its first-ever Boots & Bounty Barn Dance and Barbecue. It’ll feature some of the best barbecue this side of Kansas City and country music that’ll get your toes a-tapping.

Better yet, the profits from the dance and barbecue — and a silent auction — will go to the Oregon Agricultural Trust, which partners with farmers and ranchers to protect farmland for the future and helps them with succession planning.

It’ll be a good time for a good cause.

“The goal we’re after is a sense of community,” said Anne Long, the events manager and ad director for the Capital Press.

The ag show, which will be Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 17-19, at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center in Salem, features more than 100 vendors. It opens each day at 9 a.m.

Admission to the show is free, and parking costs $5.

The show will offer 4 CORE credits from Oregon and Washington state OSHA in morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in Cascade Hall.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, is the debut of the Boots & Bounty Barn Dance and Barbecue Benefit.

At 6:30 p.m. is a line dance group lesson presented by the Outlaw Shine band from Eugene. After that, the band will fill Columbia Hall with the best in country music.

Then, starting at 7 p.m., is a barbecue buffet featuring McKillip’s Catering of St. Paul. The award-winning food will be cooked on site, so be prepared to tuck in, Long said.

This year’s Northwest Ag Show is made possible by these sponsors. Be sure to visit them at their booth:

Title sponsor: Coastal Farm & Home

Major sponsors:

• Kubota Tractor Corp.

• George Packing Co. and Northwest Hazelnut

• Ernst Irrigation

• Energy Trust of Oregon

• Oregon Department of Energy

• Oregon Equipment Sales/Linn Benton Tractor

• AgWest Farm Credit

• Natural Resources Conservation Service

• McKillip’s Catering

NORTHWEST AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Location: Oregon State Fair and Expo Center

Address: 2330 17th St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301

Date: Jan. 17-19

Time: Wednesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Admission cost: FREE!

Parking: $5

Website: https://northwestagshow.com/

Email: events@eomediagroup.com

Phone: 800-882-6789