Jay Yeargin Tennessee Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247081 After graduating from high school, Jay Yeargin purchased a 60–acre farm with a USDA loan for beginning farmers, which allowed him to finance 100 percent of the land. He recalled, “Over the ensuing years, I bought more farm land by working with the USDA and began to...
Robert Martin Hall South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247071 York, a small town nestled in the hilly Piedmont region of South Carolina, is home to Bush-N-Vine Farm, a fruit and vegetable-growing enterprise owned and operated by Robert “Bob” Martin Hall. His career began forty-one years ago on land that’s been in his family for a...
James L. Lamb North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247037 As a boy growing up in Sampson County, North Carolina, James L. “Cookie” Lamb was curious about everything pertaining to farm life. Long before he was old enough to do so, he yearned to drive a tractor or a truck, take care of animals, and understand how farm tools and...
Joe Edmondson Mississippi Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247029 From both sides of his family Joe Edmondson inherited a passion for farming the land around Vardaman, Mississippi. Fueled by the untimely death of his father when Joe was only ten, he began in earnest to assume the responsibility of making the family farm as productive...
Stephen J. Kelley Kentucky Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247022 Stephen J. Kelley was raised on a sixty-acre farm, although his parents worked off the farm. Some of his earliest memories include raising hogs, cattle, and corn with his family. And they always cultivated a big garden at home. By middle school he was helping his older...
Samuel L. Nunn Georgia Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247016 Samuel L. (“Lee”) Nunn has always been around farming. His grandfather owned and operated a dairy and row crop operation in Morgan County until 1986 and, after retiring, continued to keep a small beef cattle herd. At 87, he is proud that his grandson followed in his...
Raymond R. “Rick” Roth Jr. Florida Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641247007 Raymond R. “Rick” Roth Jr. is the only son of a very successful second-generation Belle Glade farmer, the late Ray R. Roth. He has been farming in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in Palm Beach County, Florida for 44 years. Rick holds a BS degree in Mathematics...
Jamie Anderson Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641246999 Located just west of Lonoke, Arkansas, I.F. Anderson Farms, Inc. is the largest baitfish hatchery in the world. This premier aquaculture enterprise was started in 1949 by the late I.F. Anderson and his father, the late W.L. Anderson. Now, the third and fourth...
Thomas Ellis Alabama Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
https://vimeo.com/641246993 For thirty-nine years Thomas Ellis has practiced agricultural diversification through his cattle, poultry, and pecan processing and manufacturing enterprises at Triple E. Farm and Priester’s Pecans, Inc. A third-generation Lowndes County farmer, Ellis grew up on a dairy...
CHARLES EDWIN “CJ’ ISBELL JR. NAMED 2020 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Charles Edwin (“CJ”) Isbell Jr. is carrying on a seventy-year family tradition at Keenbell Farm in western Hanover County. His grandparents, Joe and Kathleen Isbell, purchased the original 175 acres in 1951. Today, at 340 owned and leased acres, the farm specializes in grass-fed beef,...
JAY YEARGIN NAMED 2020 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
After graduating from high school, Jay Yeargin purchased a 60–acre farm with a USDA loan for beginning farmers, which allowed him to finance 100 percent of the land. He recalled, “Over the ensuing years, I bought more farm land by working with the USDA and began to lease land as it became...
ROBERT “BOB” MARTIN HALL NAMED 2020 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
York, a small town nestled in the hilly Piedmont region of South Carolina, is home to Bush-N-Vine Farm, a fruit and vegetable-growing enterprise owned and operated by Robert “Bob” Martin Hall. His career began forty-one years ago on land that’s been in his family for a century and a half. Bob...
JAMES L. LAMB NAMED 2020 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
As a boy growing up in Sampson County, North Carolina, James L. “Cookie” Lamb was curious about everything pertaining to farm life. He yearned to drive a tractor or a truck, take care of animals, and understand how farm tools and equipment worked. It was the beginning of a lifelong devotion to the...
JOE EDMONDSON NAMED 2020 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
From both sides of his family Joe Edmondson inherited a passion for farming the land around Vardaman, Mississippi. Fueled by the untimely death of his father when Joe was only ten, he began in earnest to assume the responsibility of making the family farm as productive as possible. In the early...
STEPHEN J. KELLEY NAMED 2020 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
Stephen J. Kelley was raised on a sixty-acre farm, although his parents worked off the farm. Some of his earliest memories include raising hogs, cattle, and corn with his family. By middle school he was helping his older brother raise about an acre and a half of burley tobacco on their...
SAMUEL L. “LEE” NUNN NAMED 2020 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Samuel L. (“Lee”) Nunn has always been around farming. His grandfather owned and operated a dairy and row crop operation in Morgan County until 1986 and, after retiring, continued to keep a small beef cattle herd. At 87, he is proud that his grandson followed in his footsteps. Nunn said, “As a...
RAYMOND R. “RICK” ROTH JR. NAMED 2020 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Raymond R. “Rick” Roth Jr. is the only son of a very successful second-generation Belle Glade farmer, the late Ray R. Roth. He has been farming in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in Palm Beach County, Florida for 44 years. Rick holds a BS degree in Mathematics from Emory University,...
JAMIE ANDERSON NAMED 2020 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
Located just west of Lonoke, Arkansas, I.F. Anderson Farms, Inc. is the largest baitfish hatchery in the world. This premier aquaculture enterprise was started in 1949 by the late I.F. Anderson and his father, the late W.L. Anderson. Now, the third and fourth generations are in charge, with James...
THOMAS ELLIS NAMED 2020 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
For thirty-nine years Thomas Ellis has practiced agricultural diversification through his cattle, poultry, and pecan processing and manufacturing enterprises at Triple E. Farm and Priester’s Pecans, Inc. A third-generation Lowndes County farmer, Ellis grew up on a dairy farm and studied marketing...
SUNBELT AG EXPO PLANS FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE
News Release Contact: Becca Turner 229-985-1968 Email: becca@sunbeltexpo.com For Immediate Release SUNBELT AG EXPO PLANS FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE Having completed 42 years of putting on North America’s Premier Farm Show, the Sunbelt Ag Expo board and staff looks forward to continuing the...
ATTEND THIS YEAR’S FIELD DAY FOR THE LATEST UPDATES IN NEW TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
The 2020 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day is scheduled for July 23, and farmers are invited to join us to learn practical information from the region’s top agricultural scientists about the newest technologies farmers can use to improve their operations. While Field Day will have a different feel this...
Results of the 2019 Southeastern Hay Contest Presented by Massey Ferguson
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, Moultrie Georgia A Cooperative Extension Effort of Auburn University, Clemson University, The University of Florida, and The University of Georgia [button link="https://sunbeltexpo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019SEHC_Results-press-release.pdf" type="big"...
42nd Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo Wrap-Up
As the third and final day of the 42nd Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo comes to a close, we reflect on this record-breaking year. Attendees gathered from across the nation to experience America’s Premiere Farm Show ®. From cooking demonstrations to over 1,200 exhibitors, there was truly something for...
Georgia Grown Marketplace is Cooking it Up
Misty Friedman walked through making a famous southern dish, squash casserole. She showcased how to incorporate Georgia Grown produce in the dish to make at home. The recipe featured this morning was developed by a school system in north Georgia. Visit www.georgiagrown.com to learn more about...
Hay and Tillage on Display at Sunbelt Ag Expo
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is not just a place to check out new equipment but also see it in action. For the past three days, harvest and tillage demonstrations have been on the schedule at the expo grounds. Due to the wet weather earlier this week, a few demos were delayed, but we hope you caught them...
The Mobile Dairy is a fan favorite!
Located on the side of the Dairy Barn, you can find the Georgia Mobile Dairy Classroom. Operated by the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk, the 30 ft Mobile Dairy Classroom features a fully operational milking parlor containing a live cow used for milking and feeding demonstrations. The...
Changing the lives of 43,000 Georgia FFA students one tire at a time
Every year people eagerly anticipate the infamous Titan/Goodyear Tire Auction for Georgia FFA Foundation, and this year was nothing short of exciting. All the tires are donated by Goodyear Tire and all proceeds go to the Georgia FFA Foundation. The money earned at the auction serves as sponsors to...
Record Breaking Stock Dog Trials
For a record breaking year, over 120 stock dogs were registered for the 42nd annual Sunbelt Ag Expo. The Stock Dog Trials have been running since Monday, October 14. The first division of the trials is pro-novice and the second portion is the open division. Border Collies dominate the Stock Dog...
Youth Educational Opportunities at Expo
This year’s Youth Educational Challenges allow 6th - 12th grade students the opportunity to put their skills to the test. With six competitive categories, students can participate in junior and senior level floral design, and identification contests for agricultural mechanics, horticulture,...
“Yield Behind The Wheel” at Sunbelt Ag Expo
“Yield Behind the Wheel” is a campaign that promotes awareness of farm vehicle accidents on the road. The goal of the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Farm Bureau supported campaign is a fatality and injury free road. Dignitaries discussed the importance of the endless efforts to keep...
Virginia Farmer Michael H. McDowell Named 2019 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
Media Resources: PDF Word Photo [Moultrie, GA]—Michael H. McDowell of Vernon Hill, Virginia has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2019. He is a fourth generation Halifax County farmer and cattleman who grows mixed...
Cooking things up with the First Lady in the Family Living Building
This morning Georgia’s First Lady, Marty Kemp and GA Grown Chef, Holly Chute cooked up a delicious and nutritious breakfast burrito. All the ingredients used for the cooking demos are Georgia grown products. The First Lady also added that while living in the Governor’s Mansion, everything that is...
Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo 2019 Farmer of the Year
Being named the Swisher Sweets Farmer of the Year is a prestigious honor that yet another set of 10 dedicated agriculturalists were nominated for this year. These 10 farmers were nominated to represent their states, and what an amazing job they have done. After all was said and done, Michael...
Yon Family Farms wins big at the Southeastern Hay Competition in the R.W Griffin Building
Everyone loves a little friendly competition, but the Southeastern Hay Competition is much more than winning a big check. Marcel Wallau from IFAS Extension says, “It’s not all about winning, it’s a great learning technique that promotes and urges farmers to continue participating each year with...
Familiar Faces at the 42nd Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo
The 42nd Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicked off in full swing this morning with an opening ceremony in the R.W. Griffin building. Attendees gathered to hear remarks from leaders in the agricultural industry. Chip Blalock, Executive Director, welcomed the crowd and recognized past and present Swisher...
See You Tomorrow at the Expo!
The 2019 Sunbelt Ag Expo officially kicks off tomorrow morning at Spence Field. Exhibitors from all over the country are excited to showcase their products and services. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to attend educational seminars ranging from beef cattle production to pond...
Booger Brown to host Horsemanship Clinics at Sunbelt Ag Expo
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is thrilled to have a fan favorite from the TV show series, “The Cowboy Way,” which airs on INSP network. Booger Brown is a family guy who loves to share his passion for the equine and cattle industries. Priefert Rodeo & Ranch Equipment Company is hosting him to help...
Kubota launches new M8 Series at Sunbelt Ag Expo
Kubota is back and better than ever for the 42nd annual Sunbelt Ag Expo. With several new additions to their line, Kubota offers something for all. From small ATVs to large tractors, Kubota is the place to visit for variety and dependability. Featuring a Cummins engine, the all-new M8 Series is...
Flint River Fresh Represents Sustainable Agriculture
Flint River Fresh is the new face representing sustainable agriculture at the Sunbelt Ag Expo this year. Farmer Fredo is excited to teach people how to grow their own food using abandoned lots and open spaces. His goal is to increase food accessibility and minimize hunger. Come out to the...
MICHAEL H. McDOWELL NAMED 2019 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Nestled in the rolling hills and timberland of the southern Piedmont area of Virginia, Locust Level Farm is in a part of the state where, historically, fields of two to fifteen acres produced tobacco, supplemented by row crops. Michael McDowell is the fourth generation to practice stewardship on...