Plowing Money Back Into the Economy
Known as North America’s Premier Farm Show®, it is no surprise that an estimated 80,000 people visit the Sunbelt Ag Expo each year. Held in Colquitt County—the largest vegetable and row crop producing county in Georgia—more than 1,200 vendors from across the U.S. converge on the Expo’s expansive 100-acre exhibition site and 600-acre research farm.
Agribusiness is Georgia’s leading industry and represents more than $74.3 billion annually in total economic impact and approximately 411,500 jobs. According to Georgia’s Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, the state leads the nation in the production of poultry-related products, pecans, peanuts, and blueberries. Major agricultural equipment manufacturers have operations in Georgia, and the state has a robust agritourism market with its “Georgia Grown” brand.
Now in its 39th year, the Sunbelt Ag Expo—with an estimated $20 million annual economic impact—has a mission to provide agriculture-related information, as well as host exhibits and demonstrations that feature the latest agribusiness technology, research, and equipment.
“The Expo’s regional impact is significant,” said Tommie Beth Willis, interim president of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. “During the three days, thousands of vendors and visitors stay in Moultrie and neighboring communities throughout South Georgia, and they eat in the restaurants, buy gas, and shop in our stores.”
Held each year on the third week in October, at Spence Field in Moultrie, Georgia, the Expo has 1.6 million square feet of exhibit space filled with vendors representing every imaginable product and service that benefits agribusiness, as well as the average family.
“At the annual show, we provide an environment through which the exhibitors and farmers can come together and share ideas and ultimately establish long-lasting business relationships,” said Chip Blalock, executive director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo. “Throughout the year, we have indoor classroom space where the manufacturers can explain the latest farming technology and then within five minutes can demonstrate their equipment on our 600-acre research farm.”
In addition to the indoor space, visitors can tour the working research farm where cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and hay are grown. Harvesting presentations are a highlight of the Expo’s schedule and provide farmers the opportunity to learn about new research and watch equipment demonstrations in a field setting.
The three-day schedule not only includes the latest in agriculture technology and equipment, but is also packed with more than 300 seminars and demonstrations focused on everything from cooking to gardening, along with backyard safety, fish and pond management, hunting and fishing, family living, and even stock dog trials.
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is also an active year-round research facility that provides resources for industry representatives and university researchers to collaborate in finding solutions to a variety of challenges facing farmers through the planting, growing, and harvesting process.
“We work with ag companies and university researchers on a variety of trials for seeds in cotton, peanut, corn, and soybean, as well as crop protection,” said Blalock. “Soil fertility, irrigation, precision ag…everything we do is geared toward making life better on the farm. It is our goal to help farmers become more efficient and improve their bottom line.”
In addition to the Expo in October, a Field Day is held in July, and two arts and crafts shows, three car shows, and a variety of agricultural equipment demonstrations for dealers and farmers are scheduled throughout the year.
“With our research and daily farm operation we are plowing money back into the community every day,” said Blalock. “Our economic impact is really 365 days a year and upwards of $40 million annually.”