Ag News
GFB to announce Farm Dog of the Year at Sunbelt Expo
Posted on Oct 12, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is set to play its usual key role at the 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo, but with a new tail-wagging addition.
The winner of the inaugural GFB Farm Dog of the Year will be announced during the Willie B. Withers Sunbelt Expo Luncheon on Oct. 15. The contest drew nominations of 151 dogs from around the state. The winning dog will be highlighted as the cover feature story in an upcoming issue of Georgia Neighbors magazine and its owner will receive a $500 gift card. Four runners-up will also be featured in Georgia Neighbors.
GFB will also conduct the annual Advocacy in Action contest. The contest, which has high school and college divisions, is designed for students with a particular interest in ag policy, law, and communication. Teams from participating schools make presentations to judges on designated agricultural topics.
The organization plans to have an informational flip board and a pecan pronunciation poll for patrons who visit the GFB booth in the Georgia Agriculture Building just inside the front gate.
Sunbelt Expo’s 46th annual show will include more than 850 exhibitors, who will display and demonstrate products and welcome thousands of visitors to the 93-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, policy-makers, ag-enthusiasts, and families. Show attendees will see the latest innovation and technology that the agriculture industry has to offer.
A highlight of the show is the naming of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. After an intensive judging process, ten state winners, including Georgia’s Bruce Redmond of Effingham County, will be honored at the Sunbelt Expo luncheon on Oct. 15 and the overall winner will be named.
Education is the key component of the show, with over 300 seminars and demonstrations offered over the 3-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 different educational sponsors to host a strong seminar and demo schedule. These 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 6th-12th graders as a competitive and fun opportunity for students 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 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 Frenando 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” as the SOWEGA Beekeepers join the fun for the second year.
A crowd pleaser is the 530-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 equipment run in a true farm setting. This year, be on the lookout for the autonomous tractor as well as the drone demonstrations in the field.
Beyond the crops, the Expo is partnering with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) South Georgia to focus on farmers through its inaugural healthcare exhibit. PCOM is teaming up with regional healthcare organizations and providers to bring information about health and wellness to those in the ag industry so that they can do well and be well. Attendees can participate in seminars and even have basic health screenings.
Expo is honored to have Florida as the 2024 Spotlight State. While visiting this year’s Expo, see for yourself how understanding the history of Florida agriculture combined with present-day research will aid in growing Florida’s future.
The Expo always features an array of delicious food sold on the grounds of the show. In addition, many demonstration areas, including the Aquaponics display, the Georgia Peanut Commission building, and the Georgia Grown Marketplace in 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 fantastic treats.
There’s never a dull moment during the 3-day show, and attendees will find there is something for the entire family. There is a daily rolling Antique Tractor Parade, and this year Expo will again be featuring a tractor pull held at the entrance to the research farm. 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 Ag Expo is open Tuesday through Thursday, October 15-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission at the gate is $15 per person per day. Advanced tickets can be purchased online. The show site is four miles southeast of Moultrie, GA, on Hwy 133. For more information, see the show website at www.sunbeltexpo.com.
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