Staff Reports

MOULTRIE — The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition will celebrate its 46th Anniversary show Oct. 15-17 at Spence Field in Moultrie. More than 850 exhibitors 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.

All attending the show 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.

The Expo is honored to have Florida as the 2024 Spotlight State. While visiting the Expo, visitors can see how understanding the history of Florida agriculture combined with present-day research will aid in growing Florida’s future.

This year, there will be collection bins for donations to hurricane victims at each gate to the show. Canned, ready-to-eat food, bathroom necessities, baby essentials and paper goods are welcome but liquids will not be accepted.

“Our Southeastern communities have taken hard hits from hurricanes this fall with more projected to come later this fall,” states the Expo website.

Information on how to make monetary donations for hurricane relief to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee can be found on the Expo’s website at https://sunbeltexpo.com/hurricane-relief/.

As education is the key component of the show, there are over 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 who attend will gain beneficial knowledge on the latest in cutting-edge techniques from industry leaders and university specialists.

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.

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.

The Expo always features an array of aromas, 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.

For the specialty gardener, the Backyard Garden Area is not to be missed. Flint River Fresh, created by the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District 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.

There is a daily rolling Antique Tractor Parade, and this year they will once again be featuring a Tractor Pull. Don’t forget about the Cow Milking Contest held every afternoon. Add in rural lifestyle fun, truck, tractor, and ATV test drives, and the venue is perfect for rural enthusiasts.

Show director Chip Blalock said, “The Sunbelt Expo is 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. We hope you visit the show and take time to fully experience all that it has to offer.”

The Sunbelt Ag Expo is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 15 and 16, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. 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 on Highway 133. For more information, visit the show website at sunbeltexpo.com.