The International Hoof-Care Summit Trade Show is an attendee favorite year after year, offering you the chance to see first-hand the latest footcare products. However, the 9 hours of trade show time can be overwhelming if you don’t have a game plan.

Take a look at the following suggestions to make the most of this once-a-year opportunity.

1. Prepare. Once you know that you’ll be attending the IHCS, determine what products you want to see, suppliers you want to meet and what you’re looking to buy.

Visit www.americanfarriers.com and click on Exhibitor Information located under the 2012 IHCS tab. This will allow you to see all the vendors that will be at the show. Go to their websites to learn more about their products. Make note of the products that are of interest to you, bring this information along to the Summit and visit those booths first.

2. Determine Your Budget. Figure out how much you are able or willing to spend on the Trade Show floor. Make a list of your must-have items and stick to it. Nothing’s worse than realizing you spent a lot of money on products you didn’t really need.

3. Plan Your Time. The IHCS Trade show is open for 9 hours over the course of 2 days. There are no presentations during Trade Show hours, so you won’t miss a thing.

Trade Show times are Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m…