The 2011 International Poultry Expo drew 20,742 attendees, up from 18,896 in 2010, according to U.S. Poultry & Egg Association numbers.
There were 903 exhibitors this year (up from 806 in 2010), along with an increase in square footage. Overall, international visitors from 102 nations totaled 4,371, a 13% increase from 2010 numbers.
USPOULTRY President John Starkey said the show's concentration on educational programs helped to draw in additional attendees. "One of the things we've heard is that people need more than one reason to come to the show, so this year we added a salmonella and campylobacter conference; it was very successful, very well attended," said Starkey. "We moved our hatchery-breeder clinic here, and again, had a good deal of success and attendance in that." The clinic attracted over 300 attendees. Other popular programs included the International Poultry Scientific Forum, which saw nearly 1,200 people in attendance, and the Pet Food Conference, which drew over 250 attendees.
The success of and revenue from IPE helps to fund industry research projects, and Starkey said those contributions have totaled $23 million so far.
