crops, agtech and grain · 2027 location not confirmed yet
ARA Conference & Expo 2027Exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines
Ag retail's own room: ARA Conference & Expo 2027 booths after Austin
- Event dates
- 2027 dates not confirmed yet
- Exhibit hall
- Not confirmed yet
- Venue
- Not confirmed yetLast edition: Austin, TX
4.9 star client ratingSince 201510,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors
Quick answers
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 in 30 seconds
The ARA Conference & Expo is the annual meeting of the Agricultural Retailers Association, the trade group for U.S. crop input retailers. Its 2027 dates and host hotel are not confirmed yet; the 2026 edition ran December 1–3 at the JW Marriott Austin, after Salt Lake City in 2025. More than 600 ag retail professionals attend, per ARA. It is a hotel conference with an expo hall that hosts the receptions and meals, with more than 11 open Expo hours in 2026. Suppliers book booths on a floor plan and sponsor tiers. Purple builds compact displays for it.
- When is ARA Conference & Expo 2027?
- The 2027 dates and location are not confirmed yet. The last edition was in Austin, TX.
- When does the ARA Conference & Expo exhibit hall open?
- Not confirmed yet for 2027. In 2026 the Expo opened with a reception December 1 (5–7:30 p.m.) and ran set hours December 2; teardown began 9 a.m. December 3.
- How big is ARA Conference & Expo?
- 600+ expected attendees (2026 edition).
- What is the all-in cost of a 10×20 booth at ARA Conference & Expo?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in the host city: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed separately by ARA Conference & Expo.
Official ARA Conference & Expo 2027 links: ARA Conference & Expo 2027 hotelsARA Conference & Expo 2027 booth space
Crops, seed & inputs · Austin · 2027
600+
ag retail leaders in one hotel each December, per ARA source
The lookAg retail, December 2027
The people who sell the inputs. One hotel, one week.
The ARA Conference & Expo brings more than 600 ag retail professionals together each December, per ARA. The 2027 city is not confirmed yet; 2026 met at the JW Marriott Austin, December 1–3.
Everything about ARA Conference & Expo 2027 in one place
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | ARA Conference & Expo 2027 |
|---|---|
| Event dates | 2027 dates not confirmed yet |
| Exhibit hall dates | Not confirmed yet In 2026 the Expo opened with a reception December 1 (5–7:30 p.m.) and ran set hours December 2; teardown began 9 a.m. December 3 |
| Venue | Venue for 2027 not confirmed yet (2026: JW Marriott Austin) 2027 venue not confirmed yet; 2026: JW Marriott Austin, 110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Organizer | Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) |
| Size (2026) | 600+ expected attendees source |
| Who attends | Owners, managers and agronomy leads of cooperative and independent ag retailers, plus supplier executives |
| Nearest airport | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), named by ARA for the 2026 venue 8 miles from the JW Marriott Austin, about 20 to 30 minutes by car (2026); 2027 not confirmed yet |
| Hotels | 2026 block at the JW Marriott Austin from $295 a night through Convention Housing Management; 2027 housing not confirmed yet Official hotel page → |
| Official website | aradc.org |
Official ARA Conference & Expo resources
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 calendar
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 dates and deadlines
In order: the dates the ARA Conference & Expo organizer has published, each linked to the page that states it. The next one is highlighted.
01 Purple at ARA Conference & Expo 2027
Ag retail's own room: ARA Conference & Expo 2027 booths after Austin
The ARA Conference & Expo is the Agricultural Retailers Association's annual meeting, a hotel conference where more than 600 ag retail leaders spend a few set hours in the Expo between general sessions. We build the compact display that gets those hours right.
- 2027 dates not confirmed yet
- 600+ ag retailers, 2026
- 11+ Expo hours in 2026
What makes ARA Conference & Expo different, and how we build for it
The ARA Conference & Expo is where the people who buy and resell crop inputs meet the suppliers who make them.The Agricultural Retailers Association runs it each December in a host hotel: in 2026 the JW Marriott Austin, after Salt Lake City in 2025. The Expo is the hub of the week: the Opening Reception, the Networking Breakfast, Lunch in the Expo and the Networking Reception all happen on the floor, and ARA counts more than 11 open Expo hours. Around it sit the Retailer-Only Tech Forum, the ARA Invitational golf tournament and the Dinner & Auction to benefit ARAPAC.
Leaders of cooperative and independent retailers who set supplier relationships for the next season and want to see who is investing in their channel.
Retail staff who choose the products, software and services their locations sell and support, from biologicals to AI tools.
Manufacturers and distributors of seed, fertilizer, pesticide and equipment, many of them ARA members, meeting their retail accounts.
Your team in Austin
How Purple runs the ARA Conference & Expo 2027
For a hotel expo the display is built light: fabric walls, rolling cases and counters that assemble without tools, made in Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas. Freight goes to the receiving address in ARA's exhibitor portal once the 2027 host hotel is named. Our project manager sets up in the exhibitor-only hours with the labor the hotel and contractor require.
Inside ARA Conference & Expo 2027
Rules that shape your ARA Conference & Expo booth
For 2026, expo reservations were open only to 2025 exhibitors until May 18, then to all, on an interactive floor plan. We help you pick a booth near the food and reception service the day sales open.
In 2026 meeting space was complimentary for Diamond and Platinum sponsors and sold to other tiers at $500 or $900 if space remained, with food and AV paid by the host. We brand the room you are given.
ARA uses Convention Housing Management as its only official housing partner and warns of scam callers selling rooms or attendee lists. We schedule staff travel through ARA's link only.
Programs worth planning for
A session for ag retailers only on the first day of the 2026 conference, on using AI to improve team efficiency; suppliers do not attend, which shapes what retailers ask about at the Expo afterwards.
An off-site evening with live and silent auctions for ARA's political action committee; companies can donate items or contributions, and tickets are bought separately with personal funds.
The golf tournament that opens the conference week ($250 in 2026), a common place for suppliers to spend time with retail customers before the Expo opens.
The ARA Conference & Expo is the national meeting of U.S. ag retail leadership in a host hotel; choose it over regional retailer shows such as MCPR and IFCA when you sell to cooperative and independent retail chains across many states. Line up ARA Conference & Expo against every agriculture show we build for →
agriculture at ARA Conference & Expo
The industry behind ARA Conference & Expo, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for ARA Conference & Expo 2027
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 booth and sponsor costs
ARA sells expo booths on an interactive floor plan inside the host hotel, opened to returning exhibitors first and then to all; 2027 booth sizes and rates are not confirmed yet. Sponsor tiers from Diamond to Bronze add visibility and side meeting space. We build compact, hotel-friendly displays: a back wall, a counter, a screen and lighting that set up in a short window.
Where the 2027 floor plan offers a double space: a product or software demo screen, a back wall with your retail program and a counter for two reps.
Above: Sedemac, a Purple inline booth
See 10×20 rental booths →
Multiple product lines, a small meeting nook
Shown: Kaizen Switchgear Products, a Purple island exhibit
See 10×30 rental booths →
Hanging sign, open floor plan, lounge
Shown: Piccolo Bambino, a Purple island exhibit
See 20×20 rental booths →
Demo stations plus private meetings
Shown: Olon / Fidia Pharma Group, a Purple large-format exhibit
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's ARA Conference & Expo price
- Your design and 3D rendering, revised until it is right for ARA Conference & Expo
- The structure, printed graphics, counters and storage your ARA Conference & Expo plan specifies
- Lighting and power distribution inside your ARA Conference & Expo booth
- Install and dismantle at ARA Conference & Expo, led by our project manager on the floor
- Every ARA Conference & Expo show-service order and deadline tracked for you
Billed separately by the show and its contractor
- Booth space, paid to Agricultural Retailers Association
- Material handling (drayage) at the venue, where the space rate does not include it
- Electrical, internet and rigging orders for ARA Conference & Expo
- Booth cleaning and any union labor the venue requires
Rates to plan with for ARA Conference & Expo:
- Sponsor side meeting room, 2026 Free for Diamond (full day) and Platinum (half day); $500 half day or $900 full day for Gold, Silver, Bronze source
- Registration, 2026 Members $700, non-members $1,300 regular; on site $850 and $1,500 source
- Host hotel, 2026 JW Marriott Austin from $295 per night plus tax source
- Booth build 10×20 rental $7,500–$15,000, Purple's 2026 planning range; table-top kits cost less source
Your proposal estimates all of these, so the total for ARA Conference & Expo is on paper before you sign anything.
All-in 2026 rental ranges: design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle are included, and custom ARA Conference & Expo builds are quoted per project. The booth cost calculator gives an exact number for your ARA Conference & Expo booth; the 2026 booth cost guide has the 2026 ranges.
Share the booth size you have at ARA Conference & Expo and what you need the space to do. Expect a reply within one business day and, usually within a week, a rendering and a fixed proposal for ARA Conference & Expo. No charge.
The booth we would build for ARA Conference & Expo 2027
The retailer-program counter for reception hours
ARA's Expo works around meals and receptions in a hotel ballroom, so the booth must work for a retailer holding a plate or a drink for ten minutes. A low, open front, a screen with the retail program and a counter that takes a meeting request suit this room better than a tall wall.
Program wall
A fabric back wall that states what the retailer gets: margin, terms, logistics, training and support for their locations, in four lines.
Standing front
Open carpet at the front with a high-top for two, so a retail CEO can stop and talk during the Opening Reception without entering the booth.
Demo screen
A screen showing the software, product data or logistics tool at work in a retail location, ready to restart for each visitor.
The demo
Show a retail day, not a field: how an order, an application or an agronomy recommendation runs through the retailer's system with your product in it. Keep it under three minutes for the reception crowd.
The meetings
ARA gave sponsors side meeting rooms in 2026: a free full day for Diamond, a half day for Platinum and paid rooms for other tiers if space remained. Use the room for account reviews and the booth for new retailers met at the receptions.
More margin on every acre your stores serve.
Your team walks into a lit, stocked ARA Conference & Expo booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 displays for ag retail suppliers
Case study · SpecialtyRx
SpecialtyRx at a healthcare trade show
SpecialtyRx needed a booth that stayed busy from open to close in a room of distribution buyers, which is the job at ARA, where ag retailers who resell inputs visit the Expo in a few set hours around meals and receptions.
Read the SpecialtyRx case study All case studies →“Purple Exhibits made us look good. The booth was one of the nicest displays in our section of the convention center and generated a lot of positive comments from both customers and industry peers. Their attention to detail, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond made a huge difference.”
Kimberly Owens, Brand Manager, Owens Products · more reviews from Purple clients
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for fertilizer, crop protection, seed, application equipment, software and logistics suppliers to ag retailers at ARA Conference & Expo
Designing an ARA Expo booth for a hotel ballroom
1Build for the reception hours
ARA's Expo opens with an evening reception and stays busiest during the breakfast, lunch and networking receptions. We light the booth for evening conditions and keep a clear standing area at the front where retailers can talk with a drink in hand.
2Pack for a hotel loading dock
A hotel ballroom expo means a freight elevator, carpeted floors and a short set-up window. We build cases that roll, panels that lock without tools and a booth that two people put up in an afternoon.
3Speak to the retailer, not the farmer
ARA attendees resell inputs and services. Graphics that show margin, program terms, logistics and support for the retail location work better here than grower yield claims.
4Match the program themes
The 2026 sessions covered AI, biologicals, data and state policy. A screen that shows how your product fits those subjects gives retailers something to ask about after a breakout.
Concept rendering
Your proposal for ARA Conference & Expo includes a rendering like this one
The 3D view shows layout, graphics, lighting and product positions before we cut a panel, and we revise it until the ARA Conference & Expo booth is right. This one is a Purple concept for Scarlet Tech.
Start my ARA Conference & Expo conceptFloor at a glance
Where you could be at ARA Conference & Expo 2027
ARA puts its Expo inside the host hotel, and the Expo is where the week's meals and receptions happen. These are the spaces that shaped a booth in 2026.
The Expo (2026, JW Marriott Austin)
Home of the Opening Reception, Networking Breakfast, Lunch in the Expo and Networking Reception, with dedicated Expo hours Wednesday afternoon.
Our advice Staff fully for the receptions; that is when the most retailers are on the floor at once.
Side meeting rooms
Limited rooms for sponsors in 2026: free for Diamond and Platinum, $500 or $900 for other tiers if space remained.
Our advice Book early and bring a table-top display and a screen for the room.
05 Venue for 2027 not confirmed yet (2026: JW Marriott Austin) · Austin
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 set-up, freight and host hotel rules
The ARA Conference & Expo is a hotel conference, so the expo sits inside the host hotel with every session; in 2026 that was the JW Marriott Austin at 110 E 2nd St, 8 miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The 2026 schedule gave exhibitors set-up from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, then the Opening Reception from 5 p.m. Teardown began at 9 a.m. on the last morning. For 2027, the host city, venue, exhibit service contractor and set-up hours are not confirmed yet; our project manager builds the plan from ARA's exhibitor portal once it opens.
What Purple handles
- Compact expo displays that pack into rolling cases
- Back walls, counters and screens lit for evening receptions
- Sponsor side-meeting room graphics
- Freight timed to hotel receiving rules
- Exhibitor portal deadlines tracked for you
- Graphics reused at MCPR, IFCA or Commodity Classic
ARA Conference & Expo timeline, counted back from move-in
For ARA Conference & Expo, we need design sign-off by About 10 weeks before the conference.
- When ARA opens 2027 booth salesPick a booth on the interactive floor plan; returning exhibitors get first choice before sales open to all.
- About 10 weeks before the conferenceDesign sign-off for the back wall, counter and any sponsor meeting room graphics.
- 8 to 4 weeks beforeProduction in our Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas shop, packed in rolling cases for a hotel dock.
- About 2 weeks beforeFreight to the address in ARA's exhibitor portal, with hotel receiving rules followed.
- Set-up day, 2027 date not confirmed yetOur project manager sets the booth in the exhibitor-only hours before the Opening Reception.
- Conference days, 2027 dates not confirmed yetExpo hours around meals and receptions; teardown the final morning and freight back to storage.
Purple's planning timeline for ARA Conference & Expo. The official ARA Conference & Expo move-in, freight target and order dates come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; when you book, we confirm them against your booth.
Print the ARA Conference & Expo budget & deadline sheetBefore you book ARA Conference & Expo 2027
ARA Conference & Expo 2027: notes for first-time exhibitors
In 2026 the Expo was the venue for breakfast, lunch and two receptions, so the floor filled at meal times; staff the booth fully from 7 a.m. and through the evening receptions. source
Returning exhibitors got the 2026 floor plan to themselves until May 18, so a first-time exhibitor should be ready to book the day it opens to all. source
Side meeting rooms were free only for Diamond and Platinum sponsors in 2026; other tiers paid $500 for a half day or $900 for a full day if rooms remained. source
Group registration saved $100 per person for 5 to 9 staff and 50% for 10 or more in 2026, which matters for a supplier bringing a regional sales team. source
ARA does not share its registrant list with vendors and warns of callers selling it; attendee lists are visible only to registered attendees on the event site. source
Who you meet on the floor
Leaders of cooperative and independent retailers who come for the general sessions, policy updates and supplier relationships, per ARA.
2026 speakers included retail agronomy and digital agriculture leads, and sessions covered AI, data and biologicals.
Seed, fertilizer, pesticide, equipment, technology and capital suppliers are ARA members and meet their retail accounts here.
Side by side
ARA Conference & Expo vs MCPR Trade Show vs IFCA Convention: 2027 at a glance
| ARA Conference & Expo | MCPR Trade Show | IFCA Convention | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | January 19–21, 2027 |
| Where | Not confirmed yet | Not confirmed yet | Peoria, IL · Peoria Civic Center |
| Size | 600+ ag retail professionals expected in 2026 | 56 companies on MCPR's posted exhibitor list | 110,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, 2027 venue |
| Main buyers | Ag retail owners and CEOs | Retail location managers | Ag retail managers and staff |
| Booth space | Price not published | Line booths, 2026: 10×10 $1,400 / $2,400; 10×20 $2,600 / $4,600; 20×20 end cap $5,100 / $8,600 (member / non-member) | Price not published |
Figures carry the year and source shown on each show's own page.
Travel to ARA Conference & Expo 2027
Getting to ARA Conference & Expo 2027: airport, hotels and parking
Fly in
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), named by ARA for the 2026 venue
8 miles from the JW Marriott Austin, about 20 to 30 minutes by car (2026); 2027 not confirmed yet
Stay
2026 block at the JW Marriott Austin from $295 a night through Convention Housing Management; 2027 housing not confirmed yet
Park
2026 hotel self-parking $54 a day, valet $59–$69
Find the venue
Venue for 2027 not confirmed yet (2026: JW Marriott Austin)
2027 venue not confirmed yet; 2026: JW Marriott Austin, 110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
Travel facts from ara.swoogo.com.
ARA Conference & Expo by the numbers
ARA Conference & Expo year by year
How ARA Conference & Expo 2027 compares with other agriculture shows
The agriculture shows closest to ARA Conference & Expo on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each show name opens our agriculture exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Ag ExpoIowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Lincoln, NE | Nearly 760 exhibitors (2026) |
| Amarillo Farm & Ranch ShowIDEAg Group | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Amarillo, TX | 400+ exhibitors (2026) |
| Tulsa Farm ShowMidwest Shows | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Tulsa, OK | 350+ exhibitors (2026) |
| ASTA Field Crop Seed ConventionAmerican Seed Trade Association (ASTA) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Chicago, IL | – |
| MCPR Trade ShowMinnesota Crop Production Retailers (MCPR) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Minneapolis, MN | 56 on the posted list exhibitors (2026) |
| USA Rice Outlook ConferenceUSA Rice Federation | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Nashville, TN | 18,000+ sq ft hall at the Omni Nashville, about 53 booth spaces on the floor plan exhibitors (2026) |
| WIN ExpoWine Industry Network | December 2027, dates not confirmed yet | Santa Rosa, CA | 2,000+ each year attendees · 250+ exhibitors (2026) |
| WSTFA Annual Meeting & NW Hort ExpoWashington State Tree Fruit Association | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Kennewick, WA | – |
| The Almond ConferenceAlmond Board of California | December 2027, dates not confirmed yet | Sacramento, CA | 3,592 attendees · 212 exhibitors (2025) |
| ARA Conference & ExpoAgricultural Retailers Association (ARA) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Austin, TX | 600+ expected attendees (2026) |
ARA Conference & Expo exhibitor questions
ARA Conference & Expo 2027 questions from suppliers
When is the ARA Conference & Expo 2027?
The 2027 dates are not confirmed yet. ARA holds its conference in early December: the 2026 edition ran December 1–3 at the JW Marriott Austin, and 2025 was in Salt Lake City. We update this page when ARA announces 2027.
Where is the ARA Conference & Expo 2027?
ARA's 2027 host city is not confirmed yet, and neither is its hotel. The 2026 conference was at the JW Marriott Austin, the official host hotel, with all events on site unless the agenda said otherwise, per ARA.
How many people attend the ARA Conference & Expo?
More than 600 ag retail professionals, per ARA: the 2025 Salt Lake City conference drew more than 600, and ARA expected more than 600 in Austin in 2026.
What were the ARA Expo hours in 2026?
Exhibitor set-up ran Monday, November 30, 4 to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, December 1, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the Opening Reception was 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday had breakfast, lunch, Expo hours 1 to 4:30 p.m. and a Networking Reception; teardown began 9 a.m. Thursday.
How much is a booth at the ARA Conference & Expo?
2027 booth rates are not confirmed yet; ARA publishes them in its expo prospectus and floor plan. In 2026, booths were reserved on an interactive map, open to 2025 exhibitors until May 18 and then to all.
How do I become an exhibitor at the ARA Conference & Expo?
Pick a booth on ARA's online floor plan, select Rent Booth Now, complete the application and pay; the confirmation email gives access to the Exhibitor Portal for deadlines, invoices and your profile, per ARA.
Can sponsors get a meeting room at the ARA Conference?
In 2026, side meeting space was free for Diamond sponsors (one full day) and Platinum sponsors (half a day); Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors could book remaining rooms at $500 a half day or $900 a full day, with food and AV extra, per ARA.
Who attends the ARA Conference & Expo?
Cooperative and independent ag retailers and distributors of crop inputs, plus their suppliers of seed, equipment, fertilizer, pesticide, technology and capital, per ARA's membership description. Attendee lists go only to registered attendees.
What did ARA registration cost in 2026?
$700 for members and $1,300 for non-members at the regular rate in 2026, after an early-bird of $550 and $1,100, and $850 or $1,500 on site, per ARA. Groups of 5 to 9 saved $100 each and groups of 10 or more saved 50%.
Where did ARA attendees stay in 2026?
At the JW Marriott Austin, the host hotel, from $295 a night plus tax through Convention Housing Management, ARA's only official housing partner; the rate was not guaranteed after November 9, 2026.
What is the difference between the ARA Conference & Expo and the MCPR Trade Show?
ARA's conference is the national meeting of U.S. ag retail leadership; the CPM Short Course & MCPR Trade Show is Minnesota's regional meeting for crop production retailers and agronomists. Choose ARA for national accounts and MCPR for Minnesota locations.
Is the ARA Conference & Expo worth it for a startup?
It can be for a company that sells through ag retailers: the room is small, around 600 people, and the Expo is the hub for meals and receptions, so a startup gets real time with retail decision-makers.
Before you sign for ARA Conference & Expo
Ask any ARA Conference & Expo exhibit builder these five questions:
- How will the booth pack and ship into a hotel ballroom with a freight elevator and a short set-up window?
- What lighting do you use for an Expo that runs evening receptions as well as daytime hours?
- Can you brand our sponsor side meeting room as well as the booth, and ship both together?
- How will you handle hotel receiving and storage rules once ARA names the 2027 venue?
- Can the same graphics travel to MCPR, IFCA or Commodity Classic in the following months?
What ARA Conference & Expo exhibitors ask us
The 2027 city is not announced. Can we plan now? The booth can be designed now: ARA's format is a hotel expo every December, so a compact display that packs into cases works wherever it lands. We set freight and set-up once the city and venue are confirmed.
Is a booth enough, or do we need a sponsorship? The booth gets you the Expo hours; a sponsor tier adds visibility and, at Diamond or Platinum in 2026, a free side meeting room. For account reviews the room is worth it, for new retailers the booth does the work.
With only 600 people, is the cost justified? The 600 are retail decision-makers who resell inputs across many locations, and the Expo hosts their meals and receptions. One new retail account can carry the cost of the whole week.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your ARA Conference & Expo booth
What happens next
- You get a reply within one business day, asking about your products, goals and footprint at ARA Conference & Expo.
- You get a concept rendering and a fixed proposal for ARA Conference & Expo, usually within a week. No fee left off: every ARA Conference & Expo cost is listed upfront, on paper.
- Production runs 30–45 days, then we ship to the advance warehouse and install before the ARA Conference & Expo hall opens.