The Youth Educational Challenges took place today at the RW Griffin Building. These challenges test the agricultural knowledge of FFA members from 6th-12th grade. The test gives FFA members who have never competed in a Career Development Event the opportunity to experience what the competition is like firsthand and possibly form a passion for the skills that they are being tested on. These challenges allow FFA members to combine the knowledge they obtain in the classroom along with the hands-on experience they get with their SAE project and use it to complete the competition. – Bridget Dixon
Students are putting their skills to the test through the first Georgia Farm Bureau Advocacy in Action contest. Three high school and two college teams compete today to be named champion in their divisions respectively. Each team submitted a video advocating for a specific topic before Expo. Today, the teams met with representatives from Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Peanut Commission, and Senator Tyler Harper for judging. Their main speaking points revolved around the question, “What policy changes could be implemented to ensure future generations of Americans will be willing and able to produce the necessary food and fiber to feed and clothe a growing domestic and international population?” The winners of the challenge will be announced at 2 p.m. in the R.W. Griffith building. – Ava Jane Teasley
Spectators are sitting on the edge of their seats while learning about electricity safety at this year’s EMC booth. EMC is hosting high voltage demonstrations that are important for all viewers because of the dangers that can be associated with electricity. Anyone can attend these demonstrations at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30. If you are attending with children, be sure to let them experience the “Be a Lineman” activity and meet Oscar the Robot. Before your expo experience ends make sure to become educated on electricity safety while watching this intense show. – Kerstin Hall
Many demonstrations go on throughout the expo days, from cattle to aquaponics, but a crowd favorite is always those you can taste! The cooking demos inside the Family Living Center and the Georgia Ag building this week have been top-notch. This morning Ruthie Garner shared a family recipe that has been with her family through the toughest of times and was the gift she gave the nurses who were treating her son through his battle with cancer. Now that her son is out of the hospital, she has decided to share this butter-scotch sauce, Ruthie’s Best, with her fellow Georgian’s. A portion of the proceeds will go back to the Bone Marrow Transplant Center at Northside Hospital. – Charley Lollis
Fresh Florida orange juice, grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and ice cream are fan favorites at the expo. Many of these samples are free to expo attendees! Visitors can also grab a plate of fried catfish or a sample of Georgia peanuts. Incentives like these strike up a conversation and bring people back to exhibits year after year. Each item brings a concrete visual that draws the attention of the crowd. Just like everyone else, I love a good free sample. I appreciate the taste of past trips to Florida when I take a sip of orange juice. I encourage everyone to taste the variety of food and listen to the stories of the vendors. – Lizzy Parks
The Sunbelt Ag Expo brings colleges from all over the southeast together in the name of agriculture. Football rivalries are put aside to educate youth and public. Each state and their universities specialize in certain commodities which they present at the Expo. These interactive and educational displays allow the public to engage with the Sunbelt Ag Expo experience. Many students also tour the college buildings to better understand the university’s agriculture programs. Current college students describe their experience to high school attendees hoping to persuade them to attend their school. I, myself, discovered my future college here at the Expo. – Gabrielle Ius