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. After an intensive judging process, ten state winners attend the show 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 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 attending gain beneficial knowledge on the latest in cutting-edge techniques from industry leaders and university specialists.

The Expo works with over 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. 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 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.

The Sunbelt Ag Expo grew out of a tractor show, and displays and demonstrations of farm equipment are still the backbone of the three-day event. “pollinator bees” as the SOWEGA Beekeepers join 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.

Finally, 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 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.

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 sure to stop by for a sample of some fantastic 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 we will once again be featuring a 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.

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.