The Bakersfield Business Conference wasn’t all politics. Several local and statewide businesses came to the event to both serve the guest and promote their goods.

With over 10,000 guests in attendance, businesses saw the conference as an opportunity to advertise new and existing services.

Food and drinks were provided by Choura Event for all guests, press and speakers that day. Kathy Clapp of Choura Events came to Bakersfield with 20 other employees, and she said 100 local volunteers from the Bakersfield community helped them.

While prepared food was served throughout the day, a farmers market offered fruits and nuts to the guests. Randy and Michelle Spoerstra of Alpha Produce oversaw the farmers market.

“All the products were donated by farms,” said Randy Spoerstra. Pamela Kaa, of Alpha produce, joined by the Spoerstras daughter, walked around the conference tossing fruit at guests.

“We were playing a game called ‘think fast,'” Kaa said. “Some people couldn’t make it over here because they were listening or sitting under the shade relaxing, so we’re just helping them enjoy some fruit.”

Not every business there was offering a service. The Ronald McDonald House was there to generate interest in the charity. Bakersfield house manager Scarlett Sabin said she was glad to be able to talk to the community about the charity’s services which include housing the families of hospitalized children.

The conference also gave people a chance to hear entrepreneurs, such as Wally “Famous” Amos, speak with hundreds attending these business-related presentations.

Mike Navarro, an architectural engineer, said, “I’ve been to this conference about five times. I’ve always enjoyed it.”

Navarro said he was spending the majority of his time listening to business-related speakers this year.

“I like this one, I like the fact that we have multiple venues going on,” he said. “I think in the past there have been just two other tents. It looks like this tent here is focused on business topics. There’s a good variety.”

Overall, the businesses and people in attendance were enthusiastic about the event.

“I think it’s exciting for the community of Bakersfield,” said Charlie Moe, AT&T’s Central California sales director. “It’s a chance for community leaders to get together with one another and share the experience. It attracts a lot of other business leaders from throughout the country, so it makes them interested in our community and potentially draws them into invest, maybe start a business or bring a product to market here.”