We drove out 3 years ago, attended the show for 2 days.  Loved it.  As noted, if you're a corn-n-bean person, you'll spend a lot of time going "what in the h377 does that thing do?"  We learned a lot about crops we weren't familiar with at all.  The dairy exhibits were fascinating.  Most of the folks manning the booths are more than willing to visit and explain their products.  Can't imagine how OSHA looks at the fruit tree pruners with several unguarded saw blades spinning.   On the way out, we went the south route, I-40 thru Bakersfield and on to Tulare.  We spent about a day and a half road-tripping around the area, looking at ag crops, facilities, operations etc.  Went up into the mtns to see the Sequoia trees, and to San Simeon to see the ocean and the Hearst Castle.  Coming home, we took CA99 to Sacramento and then followed I-80 on home.  Roads were reasonably good; we had one evening of blowing snow across the road that made passing semis a nearer-to-God experience.  The next morning, everything was clear and drove 75mph the rest of the way.