By Clint Thompson
The Sunbelt Ag Expo is less than a month away. After last year’s cancellation amid the onset of COVID-19, growers, industry leaders and vendors are excited to return to the event, scheduled for Oct. 19-21.
According to Becca Turner, vice president, marketing and public relations at Sunbelt, the number of registered individual exhibitors scheduled to come to the event in Moultrie, Georgia is on par with previous years.
“In 2019, we were at roughly 700 individual exhibitors. We’re roughly at 600 (this year),” Turner said. “We’re not far off, we’re pretty much where we should be.”
The Sunbelt Ag Expo, known as North America’s Premier Farm Show, is an agricultural-based trade show that attracts exhibitors and attendees from all across the Southeast to Spence Field. Turner said they have heard from similar farm shows that have resumed amid the current coronavirus pandemic. All have been successful.
In fact, the most concerning issue right now is vendors struggling to have enough inventory for the in-person event.
“Really that’s the biggest concern that any of our vendors have is getting inventory in. They are not fearful that people won’t be here to see what they have, but they want to make sure they have enough to offer. With supply shortages, that certainly creates a problem,” Turner said. “From what we’ve heard (though) from the shows that have resumed, they’ve had excellent attendance.”
Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the 43rd annual Expo this year. More than 300 seminars and demonstrations will be offered during the three-day event. Attendees can also visit the 600-acre research farm to view field demonstrations.
Virginia will be this year’s Spotlight State.