2026 South Carolina Farmer of the Year: Jeffrey (Jeff) Massey
Download SC Press Release - Word Download SC Press Release - PDF After marrying into a family in the seafood business, Jeffrey Massey soon developed his passion for the industry. For the past 26 years, he’s spent his career working to advance the family business by...
2026 North Carolina Farmer of the Year: John H. Gross
Download NC Press Release - Word Download NC Press Release - PDF As a 5th-generation farmer on Gross Farms, John Gross has deep roots in Sanford, North Carolina, where his family has farmed the land for over a century. When he was in the 11th grade, he became an owner...
2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year: Pete Gelber
Download GA Press Release - Word Download GA Press Release - PDF Pete Gelber grew up in the Bronx, a part of New York City. His parents purchased a cabin three hours north of the city to keep the five children out of trouble in the summer. After his brother obtained...
2026 Florida Farmer of the Year: Woody Larson
Download FL Press Release - Word Download FL Press Release - PDF Growing up in a dairy farming family, Woody Larson always knew he wanted to farm. As a young child he’d sweep the feed room floor, bagging the sweepings to feed the dry cows for 15 cents a day. While his...
2026 Arkansas Farmer of the Year: Murry Henderson, Jr.
Download AR Press Release - Word Download AR Press Release - PDF A crop farmer from Northeast Arkansas, Murry Henderson Jr., has established his operation with dedication and resilience. As a first generation farmer, Murry understands facing challenges and overcoming...
2026 Alabama Farmer of the Year: Charles (Chuck) T. Madaris III
Download AL Press Release - Word Download AL Press Release - PDF What started as weekends at his grandparents cattle operation has grown into an industry leading family farming operation in Hope Hull, Alabama. Chuck Madaris, alongside his wife, Katie, have built and...
The Buzz About Backyard Gardens: Learn the Benefits of Gardening & Importance of Pollinators During the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo
While nobody can feed the world on a single large produce or livestock operation, just about anyone can grow something fresh at home for their family. Whether it’s a large backyard garden with just about every crop available to grow in the summer, a blueberry bush, or...
Building Rural Connections: How Modern Infrastructure Changes Everything
By Bobby Walters, SVP of Construction at Kinetic There’s a version of rural life a lot of people outside it don’t fully understand, and it’s not the one you normally see in think pieces about the “digital divide.” It’s the farmer...
Sunbelt Ag Expo Spring Farm Update: Drought Conditions, Precision Technology & 2026 Hay Contest
As the planting season is officially in full force, the Sunbelt Ag Expo has had a busy start to spring with much more planned in the next couple of months. The Darrell Williams Research Farm is in the heart of planting season. New this year, the farm is utilizing a...
Spring is in Full Swing on the Research Farm
Spring is in full swing, and so is preparation for the 2026 planting season at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. The Darrell Williams Research Farm has been busy at work preparing the ground for this year’s crops. Corn was planted at the end of March, and the team will be planting...
Feel the Value of the Past, See the Benefit of the Future: Why You Don’t Want to Miss the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo
Some may recognize it as a time to reconnect with familiar faces, an opportunity to see the latest and greatest advances in agriculture, or a chance to exchange ideas with industry experts. Maybe you’ve never been before, or maybe you have been attending for decades....
The Pull that Keeps on Growing: Sunbelt’s Antique and Garden Tractor Pull
By Shelby Wentz, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Social Media Intern Engines thundered and dirt flew as the Antique and Garden Tractor Pull returned for its third year at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, proving that tradition and horsepower never go out of style. This fan-favorite event...
Hands-on Learning Experiences Abound for Sunbelt Ag Expo Visitors
By Ashlyn Thompson, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Social Media Intern The Sunbelt Ag Expo visitors enjoyed hands-on experiences with aquaculture, dairy, sheep and goats, beef, and poultry through a wide variety of livestock exhibit area seminars. At the Beef Pavilion,...
Autonomous Tractors at the Sunbelt Ag Expo
By Samantha Shackelford, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Intern The autonomous tractor is a sight to see. Michael Brannon with Ag Technologies in Cordele, Georgia came to the Sunbelt Ag Expo to demonstrate the technology. Today in the field they demonstrated the Sabanto Steward...
Georgia EMC Shines a Light on Safety
By Lydia Hill, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Intern The rules of safety are different when your office is 40 feet in the air. Georgia EMC hosted live line demonstrations at the Expo to provide attendees with insight into the life of a lineman and to educate them about safety...
Magnolia Loom Brings Homegrown Swag To Expo
By Amy Herring, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Social Media Intern All the way from Sandersville, Georgia, Magnolia Loom once again delivered as the official apparel supplier for the Sunbelt Ag Expo. This year, the company rolled out three bold designs in four vibrant colors,...
Youth in Action: Youth Competitions at the Sunbelt Ag Expo
By Lydia Hill, 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Social Media Intern Today was Youth and FFA Day at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. This morning, high school and middle school students from across the Southeast competed in various challenges. The Georgia State FFA Tractor Driving Competition...
Curt Pate: Building Trust Through Stockmanship
By 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Social Media Intern, Shelby Wentz Curt Pate, a well-featured and honored speaker in the cattle industry, is known for his engaging clinics and real-world ranching insights. From the beautiful state of Montana, Pate travels across the country...