Dean Helene Dillard from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, or CA&ES, will gather with fellow scientists, staff and students in Tulare at the 2025 World Ag Expo, which connects farmers, growers, ranchers, prospective students, alumni and leaders throughout the agricultural industry.

World Ag Expo, which is held Feb. 11-13, is the largest annual agricultural show of its kind. Organizers expect the event to draw 102,000 people to the 2.6 million-square-feet International Agri-Center where 1,200 exhibitors will display the latest technology and equipment. Seminars, tours, demonstrations and scholarship are also part of the 3-day event. 

The theme this year is “Paving the Way for Ag and Technology.” 

This will be Dillard’s last trip to the World Ag Expo as dean as she is retiring later this year after 11 years in service to the college. 

“The World Ag Expo is a great opportunity to interact with the agricultural community, meet with partners and connect with students in person,” Dillard said. “I look forward to meeting the next generation of agricultural workers, reconnecting with alumni and learning about new technologies on the horizon.” 

Dillard will be at the UC Davis booth — located in the Ag Career and Education Center — from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 12 and invites alumni, students and others to stop by and reconnect. She’ll also tour Expo grounds that day and on Feb. 13. 

Associate Dean for Agricultural Sciences Jason Bond, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs Susan Ebeler, Assistant Dean of Development Annie Roser and Director of Communications Caren Weintraub are joining the dean. 

CA&ES experts are participating in seminar and panel sessions addressing hot topics in the dairy industry, avian influenza and navigating labor challenges and automation. 

College experts in animal science and other topics will be available to meet and visit with attendees. Aggie Ambassadors and undergraduate student advisors will also be on hand to answer questions about UC Davis majors and campus life. 

“We’re excited to meet with prospective students and to share information about the exciting majors and career paths available to students in our college,” said Ebeler, who will be at the UC Davis booth on Feb. 13.

Other college experts attending the expo include:

• Jorge Angeles, Cooperative Extension specialist in weed ecology and management 
• Ashley Chum, CLEAR Center digital communications specialist
• Madison Kindberg, CLEAR Center researcher and animal biology doctoral student 
• Deanne Meyer, Cooperative Extension specialist in livestock waste management
• Frank Mitloehner, air quality specialist and CLEAR Center director
• Briana Morales, animal biology graduate student in the Mitloehner Lab/CLEAR Center 

UC Davis is ranked first in the nation for agriculture, plant sciences, animal science and agricultural economics. In fall 2024, the campus enrolled 41,239 students, with more than 7,500 undergraduates housed in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The campus offers more than 100 majors and students may choose from a variety of disciplines in agricultural, environmental and social and human sciences.