COLUMBUS, Ohio — New days, new layout and new innovations: Those will be the marks of distinction at the 45th Power Show Ohio, Jan. 29-31 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

In years past the show ran from Friday-Sunday. Now, it runs Thursday-Saturday. “The change in days comes in answer to exhibitor requests indicating a desire to reserve Sundays for family and church,” Show Manager Dennis Alford said.

“Holding the show Thursday, Friday and Saturday still provides a day for those who work Monday through Friday. Thursday will provide an extra day for those who attend the show as part of their job.”

In years past attendees had to trek among four structures on the grounds at the Ohio Expo Center, forcing patrons to brave the elements of cold January weather. Now the show is housed in just two buildings – the Bricker Building and Celeste Center.

“Our new floor plans are exciting,” Alford said. “We’ll encompass the entire show under 212,000 square feet of space and just two buildings. The same amount of exhibit space has been maintained, by narrowing the aisles and making more efficient use of the exhibit floor.

“Having all exhibits in two buildings that are in close proximity to each other will reduce the amount of walking for attendees, allowing them more time to talk with exhibitors.”

Power Show Ohio will feature more than 500 brands of equipment and many new innovations in such areas as agriculture, construction and outdoor power equipment.

“You don’t have to live on a farm to enjoy this show, and this is one thing that sets us apart from other shows out there that are strictly farm equipment shows,” Alford said.

“We feature over 500 brands of equipment, including tractors, skid steer loaders, commercial mowing equipment, all-terrain vehicles, grain handling, fencing, hay equipment, buildings, backhoes, firewood equipment, compact tractors, livestock equipment and a number of lifestyle items.”

According to Alford, the show is quite appealing to those in the construction and landscaping businesses. He noted 55 percent of those in attendance, though, are from the agricultural community.

“With all the outdoor gear on hand we’ll see landscapers and commercial outfitters,” he said. “A lot of cities and municipalities that use this equipment will be in attendance. And, there’s a lot to see for the typical homeowner as well, things such as riding mowers, walk-behind mowers, trimmers, blowers and vacuums.

“There will be furnaces, heaters and stoves that burn corn and wood, used oil, propane, kerosene and all different heating applications. We have farm-related items and a lot of things there for the home. We have one exhibitor that will showcase his company’s firewood processing equipment that will split and bundle the wood all in one.

“Every year there are new innovations for visitors to see.”

In addition to two huge arenas full of equipment and dealers, special daily educational seminars will be running. Special speakers will address issues  affecting today’s farmers, including farm  bill commodity title decisions, crop programs, pipeline development briefings (see related article), use of cover crops to improve soil health, drainage laws, a grain marketing seminar and more.

“When this show began in 1971 we needed just 54,000 square feet of space for exhibits and just 51 exhibitors, so we’ve grown enormously,” Alford said.

This annual show has always been in January.

The thinking behind the choice of month, he said, was to make it at a time when farmers aren’t busy, thus giving them a chance to look at the new equipment and make decisions about what kind they might need for the spring.

“The timing of the show works well for the commercial landscapers and cutters (too), except if it snows they’ll be out plowing snow,” Alford quipped.

Discount coupons are available from equipment dealers throughout Ohio. The coupons offers a $2 discount on the $10 carload admission and parking fee.

Power Show Ohio is sponsored by the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Assoc. Ohio Expo Center is located just off Interstate 71 at Exit 111 in Columbus. Show hours are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.

For more information, go to www.omeda.org/powershow