After a successful inaugural Expo in 2009 and an even bigger show in Orlando in 2010, Potato Expo 2011 is set to be held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas Jan. 5-7, 2011. It's sure to be the biggest yet with representatives from all corners of the industry gathering to network, learn about issues and trends and jump start the potato industry for the new year.
Steelers fan in the 1970s? You won't want to miss the keynote address by NFL legend Terry Bradshaw, even if you WEREN'T a fan of the Steelers in the 70s. You'll also be pleased to hear from an emeritus professor from Virginia Tech, Dr. Dave Kohl, speak about economic success in a modern operation.
And the optional events won't seem so optional for the explorer in you, from exploring the area to the Titanic to the backstage of a showgirl production.
To register or for more information, log onto www.potato-expo.com.
Terry Bradshaw, NFL Legend Thursday, Jan. 6 Noon to 1:30 p.m.
All-time NFL great Terry Bradshaw will deliver the keynote address. The only NFL player with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Bradshaw has found unparalleled success both on and off the football field. He led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories (no player has won the championship game more often), winning Super Bowl MVP twice, before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's won Emmy awards as a broadcaster for FOX on Fox NFL Sunday, written New York Times best-sellers and has bred champion quarter horses.
After retiring prior to the 1984 season, Bradshaw began what has gone on to be an incredibly successful NFL broadcasting career, earning several industry awards and being named TV Guide's Favorite Sportscaster in 1999. Add that to his impressive resume of best-selling books and appearances in feature films like Failure to Launch, Robots, Hooper and Cannonball Run, the always-energetic superstar has become one of the most sought-after speakers in this or any industry.
Dave Kohl
Professor Emeritus,
Agricultural Finance and Small
Business Management
Virginia Tech
"Economic Success on the Farm"
Thursday, Jan. 6
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
David Kohl received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University. For 25 years, Kohl was Professor of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Kohl has conducted more than 5,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups such as bankers, Farm Credit, FSA and regulators, as well as producer and agribusiness groups. He has published four books and over 1,000 articles on financial and business-related topics in journals, extension and other popular publications.
He has received 11 major teaching awards while teaching over 10,000 students, and 17 major Extension and Public Service awards from Virginia Tech, Cornell University and state and national organizations.
Dr. Kohl will speak about how technology, energy resources, global markets, land values and interest rates affect the agricultural industry. He will give meeting-goers a better understanding of how the domestic and global marketplace will impact risk in operations and what growers can do to build a financial fortress. Dr. Kohl will also share financial metrics for the New Economic Realities.
Tucker Carlson
Internationally Recognized Journalist and
Motivational Speaker
An original voice in American media, Tucker Carlson will bring insightful commentary, infused with humor and passion, to the new political landscape at the General Session. As a contributor to FOX News, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Caller news site and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, Tucker Carlson deconstructs the day's events with wry skepticism, a unique perspective and provocative interviews. Carlson has hosted a number of different nightly news programs on various networks over the past 10 years, including CNN's Crossfire, and several shows on MSNBC and PBS. One of the media's wittiest and most entertaining commentators, Carlson brings his informed viewpoint to discuss politics in America including his take on the 2010 midterm elections and the administration of Barack Obama. Author of Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites and a regular contributor to Esquire, Carlson's work has appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Reader's Digest, Forbes and GQ. He was a finalist for a 2004 National Magazine Award for an Esquire article chronicling his trip to Africa with the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Hoover Dam Discovery
Jan. 6
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Price: $95 per person if registered
between Nov. 2 and Dec. 12;
$115 per person after Dec. 12
One of the most inspiring manmade wonders of the world, the Hoover Dam is the gateway to beautiful Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in America. This engineering marvel will be sure to amaze all of its visitors. The tour guide will provide tourists with facts about Vegas and points of interest on a 45-minute journey to Hoover Dam, with spectacular views while winding through the mountains of the entire Las Vegas Valley.
Once at the Dam, tourists will be invited to tour the depths of this mighty wonder. A professional guide will take groups through the inside of the Dam, providing interesting facts about the facility. You will learn how it was built and how the Dam provides services today. In addition, the new and improved Visitors Center provides a breath-taking view of the Dam and the Black Canyon below, where the mighty Colorado River starts its journey. Audiovisual presentations and interactive multi-media exhibits are yours to explore.
Titanic Artifact Exhibition
Jan. 6
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Price: $95 per person if registered
between Nov. 2 and Dec. 12;
$115 per person after Dec. 12
The 25,000-square-foot exhibit features numerous items from the Titanic, including luggage, the ship's whistles, floor tiles from the first-class smoking room, a window frame from the Verandah Cafe and an unopened bottle of champagne with a 1900 vintage. In addition, the exhibit features a piece of Titanic's hull, a full-scale re-creation of the Grand Staircase as well as a newly expanded outer Promenade Deck, complete with the frigid temperatures felt on that fateful April night.
These actual artifacts, recovered from two-and-one-half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, tell the story behind the legendary Titanic's short journey from construction and destruction to eventual recovery. Walk her decks, peer into her cabins and meet her passengers and crew.
Described as a floating palace, the incomparable Titanic was deemed "practically unsinkable" by the White Star Line and its builders. However, on a calm April night in 1912, the massive luxury liner struck an iceberg and slowly sank into the North Atlantic. Since then, many items from the wreckage have been recovered and added to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.
The personal artifacts on display offer haunting, emotional connections to the forever-altered lives of those onboard the Titanic. Visitors even have a chance to walk through authentically re-created first- and third-class rooms, with furnishings by original manufacturers.
Red Rock Canyon Tour
Jan. 7
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Price: $95 per person if registered between Nov. 2 and Dec. 12;
$115 per person after Dec. 12
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, only minutes from the Strip, has scenery so dramatic it's often selected as the backdrop for movies and commercials.
Along the 13-mile scenic drive, you'll view the impressive Wilson Cliffs, part of the 65-million-year-old Keystone Thrust. Numerous geological features abound, including the fossilized sand dunes of the brilliantly colored Calico Hills.
A brief stop at the visitor center includes fascinating exhibits, a desert tortoise habitat and gift shop. A bonus to this tour is the off-road adventure up Rocky Gap Road. Beautiful desert wildflowers, ancient Native American pictographs and diverse vegetation make this tour one you'll never forget.
Jubilee Backstage Tour
Jan. 7
9 a.m. to Noon
Price: $95 per person if registered between Nov. 2 and Dec. 12; $115 per person after Dec. 12
Forget theater seating, the real show is behind the stage of Jubilee! Since the first Las Vegas production show, the image of a Vegas showgirl has been as synonymous with the town as the name itself. Visitors and locals alike visit shows like Jubilee! in droves each year, and by the end of the show they are left both fascinated and mystified with what they have just seen. The hour-long tour begins with a brief history of showgirls, stage spectaculars and the Jubilee! show. See for yourself the size and the mechanics of the stage, which is one of the largest and most technically complex in the country, comprising three lifts, two wagons and two revolves. Sounds a little technical? You'd have to see it in person to believe it.
A Jubilee! Showgirl discusses the everyday challenges of being on stage, such as catching your shoe between the lifts, getting caught up in your costume and the many time constraints of working in a live show. Showgirls, often wearing headdresses that weigh up to 35 lbs, make an average of 10 trips on two flights of stairs per show. Visitors are then guided to the various dressing rooms and allowed an up-close look at the elaborate costumes worn by the Jubilee! Showgirls.