Ag News
2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo - Agriculture in Action
Posted on Oct 12, 2023 at 20:15 PM
The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 45th Anniversary show Oct.17-19. Over 1,200 exhibitors will display and demonstrate products and welcome thousands of visitors to the 100-acre show site.
Crowned as North America’s Premier Farm Show and the largest farm show in America with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of agribusiness, including farmers, educators, policymakers, ag enthusiasts, and families. Those attending the show will see the latest innovation and technology that the agriculture industry has to offer.
Georgia Farm Bureau is a 45-year Sunbelt Expo sponsor and will be on hand to share information about the organization’s programs and advocacy work on behalf of Georgia agriculture. Visitors can pick up “No Farmers, No Food” bags and peanuts, and have a great time taking pictures in GFB’s photo booth in the Georgia Agriculture Building.
A highlight of the show is the naming of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.
Colquitt County’s Bart Davis, the Georgia Sunbelt Farmer of the Year, will join winners from nine other Southern states for a luncheon to learn who will be selected as the overall winner. This year ushers in a new era for the award as Sunbelt welcomes new sponsors and a new look for the program.
Education is the key component of the show, with more than 300 seminars and demonstrations offered over the three-day event. These seminars and demonstrations are taught in exhibit areas for beef, dairy, poultry, forestry, pond management, equine, and cattle management. Farmers and ranchers attending gain beneficial knowledge on the latest in cutting-edge techniques from industry leaders and university specialists.
The Expo works with more than 20 education sponsors to host a strong seminar and demo schedule. These education sponsors include major universities and colleges with six of these having permanent exhibit buildings on site.
The Expo will feature Youth Educational Challenges sponsored by Country Financial for students in grades 6-12 to demonstrate their knowledge in five different content areas. Additionally, an Ag Mechanics contest sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Georgia will be offered for students.
The Advocacy in Action contest sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau will be held for high school and college students with a particular interest in ag policy, law, and communication.
The Backyard Garden Area focuses on topics for the specialty gardener. Flint River Fresh, created by the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) and run by Fredando Jackson, “Farmer Fredo,” will organize the display that attracts hobby gardeners and enthusiasts alike. A bounty of information on gardening tips, tools, healthy recipes, and more will be offered in the Georgia Metals Pavilion and in the demonstration garden. Be on the lookout this year for all things “pollinator bees!”
A crowd-pleaser is the 600-acre research farm’s field demonstrations. These demos showcase harvesting and tillage equipment for multiple crops. In addition, hay demos will include all facets of hay harvesting, from cutting to baling, and will provide visitors the opportunity to see different types of hay harvesting equipment run in a true farm setting.
Expo is honored to have Alabama as the 2023 Spotlight State. Take a road trip through Sweet Grown Alabama exhibit. The Expo always features an array of aromatic compliments of the delicious food sold within the grounds during the show. In addition, many demonstration areas, including the Aquaponics display, the Georgia Peanut Commission building, and the Georgia Grown Marketplace within the Family Living Building, host segments throughout the day with chefs and food enthusiasts alike. Be sure to stop by for a sample of some scrumptious treats.
There’s never a dull moment during the three-day show, and attendees will find there is something for the entire family. There is a daily rolling antique tractor parade, and this year’s Expo will feature an antique tractor pull.
Don’t forget to make the Cow Milking Contest held every afternoon part of your plan.
Add in rural lifestyle fun, truck, tractor, and ATV test drives, and the venue is perfect for rural enthusiasts.
“The Sunbelt Expo is an unbelievable showcase of rural living blanketed with agriculture’s newest ideas and technologies,” said Sunbelt Show Director Chip Blalock. “It's three days of fun, education, and dreaming about agriculture’s future as we team together to feed, clothe and house a growing population around the world.”
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is open Oct. 17 & 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission at the gate is $10 per person per day. Advanced and discount tickets can be purchased online.
The show site is four miles southeast of Moultrie on Georgia Hwy. 133. For more information or to buy advance tickets, visit www.sunbeltexpo.com.
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