Youth Educational Opportunities at the Sunbelt Ag Expo
On Wednesday of the Sunbelt Ag Expo, youth have the opportunity to compete in a variety of competitions from tractor driving to advocacy to agricultural content knowledge.
Teachers & Advisors: Everything you need to know for your trip with students
2026 Contest Info Information Available
ADVOCACY IN ACTION | NEXTGA YOUTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE | YOUTH EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES | SUNBELT DAIRY SHOWDOWN
Teachers and advisors can find information for each contest available at the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo starting Aug. 1, 2026. The contests offered this year are the Advocacy in Action, Youth Educational Challenges, and the NextGA Innovation Challenge, a brand-new contest. The State FFA Tractor Driving Contest is traditionally held at the Sunbelt Ag Expo as well, and more information on that can be found at https://www.georgiaffa.org/.
Camp John Hope Staying Accommodations for 2026
Here is some exciting news about an excellent opportunity for a very nice place to stay for Sunbelt Ag Expo. The FFA camp in Fort Valley is a short commute to Moultrie and offers hotel rooms for $70.00 per night and bunk cabins for $17.00 per night.
Contact Kevin Jump at Camp John Hope for more information. 478-967-2302
2026 Contests
Advocacy in Action
Are you a student who believes in the future of agriculture? Do you want to advocate for the future of farming, food security, and rural communities? We have an exciting opportunity just for you! The Advocacy in Action competition consists of High School and College divisions with students from around the Southeast. This event will unleash your passion for agriculture and empower you to make a difference. Advocacy in Action is your platform to showcase your knowledge, advocacy skills, and innovative ideas that can revolutionize the agricultural industry. Please direct questions to Amelia Junod, aljunod@gfb.org or 478.474.0679 ext. 5405 or Rebecca Lovett, rebecca@owcreatives.co.
Youth Educational Challenges – REGISTRATION OPENS AUG. 1
These individual contests test middle and high school students’ knowledge in 5 content areas. In addition, students will be able to challenge their ag teachers…who has the most ag knowledge? The 2026 Youth Educational Challenges is sponsored by Hays LTI. Participants receive a meal sponsored by Agri-Supply and Coca-Cola. Please direct questions to Rebecca Lovett, rebecca@owcreatives.co.
2026 Sunbelt Dairy Showdown sponsored by Georgia Milk Producers, The Dairy Alliance, Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation, United Dairy Farmers of Florida, UGA Dairy Team
The Sunbelt Dairy Showdown is a fun and educational showcase of dairy industry in the Southeast focusing on high school-aged students. This two-part competition challenges 4-H and FFA students to create an original promotional design showcasing dairy education and the Sunbelt Dairy Showdown before competing in a live milking contest at the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia.
Finalists will receive single-day passes to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a dairy-themed swag bag compliments of The Dairy Alliance and UGA Dairy Team, and a donation to their 4-H or FFA chapter. First-place team will receive $500, runners-up will receive $200 chapter donation.
How Does It Work? Phase 1 : Creative Challenge August 1 – September 15, 2026 4-H and FFA chapters will submit one original square design promoting dairy education at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Designs may be created digitally or by hand. For inspiration, students can view educational content on The Dairy Alliance website (www.thedairyalliance.com) and social media channels (@thedairyalliance).
Team information and design should be submitted through the Google Form as an image or .pdf file. Please include the county/chapter name in the file name.
Judges will select up to three chapters as finalists to compete in the live milking contest at the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
Phase 2: Milking Contest Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Each finalist team will select 2-4 high schoolers to participate in the milking competition. Participants will take turns hand-milking cows in front of a live audience at the Dairy Pavilion. The team/chapter that collects the most milk wins the grand prize and is named the 2026 Sunbelt Dairy Showdown Champion.
NextGA Youth Innovation Challenge
Overview
Agricultural processing can benefit from automation to improve product quality, increase productivity, reduce waste, and enhance worker safety. Automated systems can transport products, inspect quality, make decisions, and package value-added products with little or no human intervention.
In this challenge, each team will become a group of automation innovators. Using only the materials provided at the start of the competition, teams will design and build an automated system capable of transporting an agricultural product through select stages of processing (think sorting, packing, transporting, etc.).
The objective is not to build a machine – it is to think creatively “on the fly” and design an “automated” process that is reliable, repeatable, and efficient. Remember that teamwork is important – the best outcomes are achieved when the talents of the entire team have been tapped.
Team Structure
Teams may consist of 3–4 students in 9-12 grade.
Student teams from any youth organization or combination of organizations are welcome to apply; STEM teams or team members are highly encouraged.
Each school is limited to one team application.
Teams will be accepted in the order the applications are received.
BUY 2026 EXPO TICKETS ONLINE TODAY
Make sure you are ready to join us October 20-22, 2026, in Moultrie, Georgia, and buy your tickets in advance online. Plan your trip today and get your tickets now.
