Advancements Being Made by Industries in Row Crop Technology

Advancements Being Made by Industries in Row Crop Technology

There is much to see in the fields at this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Days on the Darrell Williams Research Farm.  If you haven’t had a chance already, be sure to stop by and visit before July 24th.  We’ve enjoyed featuring the research conducted in partnership with the University of Georgia....

2024 Farmer of the Year – Jason Watts, Florida

2024 Farmer of the Year – Jason Watts, Florida

Jason Watts Florida Farmer of the Year 2024 Growing up in the rich agricultural area of Okeechobee, Jason Watts is the grandson of dairy farmers on both sides. His great-grandfather grew citrus crops, as did many farmers in those days. He said, “My uncles, grandmother, and eventually my dad owned...

2024 Farmer of the Year – Joel Sirmon, Alabama

2024 Farmer of the Year – Joel Sirmon, Alabama

Joel Sirmon Alabama Farmer of the Year 2024 Joel Sirmon, along with his brother and three sisters, was born on a 300-acre dairy and farrow-to-finish hog operation that also grew corn and soybeans. His parents wanted him to pursue higher education, so he went off to Auburn University in 1976 but...

2024 Field Day Tour – July 10-24, 2024

2024 Field Day Tour – July 10-24, 2024

2024 FIELD DAYS This year, the 2024 Field Days take on a new form over a two-week period instead of a one-day event. To access all of the additional information to accompany what you will see in the fields, check out the articles and videos below from the researchers and companies participating in...

Farming Full-Speed Ahead

Farming Full-Speed Ahead

Now that we are well into the spring season, land prep has been done and planting is underway at the Darrell Williams Research farm. The warm weather and the aroma of freshly turned dirt have us excited for what’s to come with the 2024 growing season. At the end of the season, we will have 168...

Field Day 2024 – Mark Your Calendars!

Field Day 2024 – Mark Your Calendars!

Sunbelt Ag Expo stands out from other farm shows across the country because of its 530-acre Research Farm. Each year in late March or early April, the Expo farm crew begins planting plots representing crops grown in the southeast. What better way to celebrate the days getting longer and the...

Thirty-Four Years of Recognizing Excellence

Thirty-Four Years of Recognizing Excellence

By Chip Blalock Thirty-four years of recognizing excellence in Agriculture is what the Sunbelt Ag Expo SE Farmer of the Year program is all about. Since 1990, we have had the honor of recognizing 296 salt-of-the-earth farm families and distributing $1,320,000 of prize money. The original eight...

National Ag Day

National Ag Day

It’s National Ag Day! Even though we celebrate the agricultural industry year-round here at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, we wanted to honor the people in the industry who make it possible for us to live our daily lives and raise awareness of how influential the agriculture industry is.  The country as a...

It Takes a Village

It Takes a Village

By Chip Blalock It takes a village to make a first-class awards program happen. Over the last 33 years, we owe a debt of gratitude to the state coordinators and nominators who make the program happen in their respective states. These folks do the behind-the-scenes leg work to get the state winners...

The Farm Families behind the Farmer of the Year Program

The Farm Families behind the Farmer of the Year Program

By Chip Blalock Over the years we have met some incredible farm families and experienced a wide variety of family farming operations. Including, traditional row crops, beef cattle, dairy, swine, sheep and goats, equine, poultry, tobacco, fruits and veggies, nurseries, Christmas trees, alligator...

The Start of the Farmer of the Year Legacy

The Start of the Farmer of the Year Legacy

By Chip Blalock For the 34th consecutive year, the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is honored to salute the agricultural community and industry with the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award.  How exactly did the Farmer of the Year program get started? In the late 1980s, Swisher...