Sunbelt Agricultural Expo

What Sunbelt Agricultural Expo does

Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, doing business as Sunbelt Ag Expo and self-styled "North America's Premier Farm Show," is a privately operated agricultural trade show established in 1964 in Moultrie, Georgia. The organization produces a three-day annual exposition each October — with the 2026 edition scheduled for October 20-22 — that serves as the largest farm show in the Southeastern United States. Its core offering combines an on-site exhibition of agricultural equipment, seed, chemical, and irrigation vendors with live field demonstrations at the adjacent 530-acre Darrell Williams Research Farm, where crop trials (cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, hay) are conducted year-round and showcased in real working conditions. Supporting programs include the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award ($15,000 prize), the Southeastern Hay Contest (which reached a record 540 submissions from 10 states in 2025), the Innovation Award, Youth Educational Challenges, Stockmanship & Stewardship livestock handling clinics, the Antique Tractor Pull, and the Que Fest pork cookoff.

The business is event-driven and operates three documented revenue streams: exhibitor registration and booth sales (one-time license fees from equipment manufacturers and agribusinesses), sponsorship packages sold year-round (on-site, digital, and branding opportunities), and official merchandise sales through a partnership with Magnolia Loom that uses cotton grown at the Expo's own research farm. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and there is no sign of venture capital or institutional ownership; the operation is led by Executive Director Chip Blalock with Mandy Walker serving as VP of Exhibitor Relations and a small staff of 1-10 employees.

The Expo's customer base spans three groups: (1) farmers, hay producers, and livestock operators across the Southeast who attend to evaluate equipment and earn continuing education credits (BQA, CEU, pesticide credits); (2) agribusiness exhibitors and sponsors — including Massey Ferguson, KMC, Farm Credit, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia EMC, and Georgia Peanut Commission (partner since 1986) — that rely on the Expo as a concentrated regional go-to-market channel; and (3) youth and rural community audiences served through FFA and 4-H competitions, backyard gardening and beekeeping education (SOWEGA Beekeepers, Flint River Fresh), and farmer mental health programming (PCOM South Georgia). Recent technology adoptions include GPS implement guidance (AutoPath with Lasseter Tractor Company in 2026) and demonstrations of autonomous tractor systems, positioning the Expo as a precision agriculture showcase alongside its traditional equipment focus.

Name

Sunbelt Agricultural Expo

Legal name

Sunbelt Ag Expo

Website

https://sunbeltexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sunbelt Agricultural Expo is a privately operated annual three-day agricultural trade show in Moultrie, Georgia, serving farmers, agribusiness exhibitors, and FFA/4-H youth across the Southeastern United States, featuring 530-acre live demonstration grounds and year-round sponsorship and exhibitor revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Show & Exposition

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Farming & AgriTech Shows Organizers (THAHABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH), General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Agricultural trade show
• Farm exposition
• Agricultural field demonstrations
• Farmer competitions
• Agribusiness networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Moultrie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Registration and Booth Sales: Revenue generated from agricultural equipment manufacturers, seed companies, chemical companies, and other agribusinesses renting exhibition space and booths at the annual show.
2. Sponsorship Packages: The Expo offers sponsorship and marketing opportunities throughout the year including on-site show sponsorship, digital opportunities, and branding packages for companies seeking to reach Expo attendees.
3. Official Merchandise Sales: Partnership with Magnolia Loom for official apparel sales using cotton grown at the Expo's research farm, with a portion of proceeds going to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sunbelt Agricultural Expo organizes and operates the annual three-day Sunbelt Ag Expo farm show in Moultrie, Georgia — the largest farm show in the Southeastern United States. The Expo sells exhibitor booth space and sponsorships to agricultural equipment manufacturers, seed and chemical companies, and other agribusinesses, while delivering live field demonstrations, educational seminars, competitive events, and youth programming on a 530-acre research farm. Supporting offerings include the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award, Southeastern Hay Contest, Innovation Award, and various youth and livestock competitions.

Product overview

Sunbelt Agricultural Expo operates as an annual agricultural exposition and trade show in Moultrie, Georgia. The core product is the three-day Sunbelt Ag Expo event, which serves as North America's Premier Farm Show. Supporting programs include the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award recognizing outstanding farmers, the Southeastern Hay Contest evaluating forage quality, and the Innovation Award highlighting agricultural products and technologies. The expo features the Darrell Williams Research Farm for live equipment demonstrations, youth competitions (FFA Tractor Driving, Youth Educational Challenges, Dairy Showdown), Antique Tractor Pull, Stockmanship & Stewardship livestock handling clinics, and Que Fest barbecue competition. The organization also offers exhibitor and sponsorship services for agricultural businesses to participate in the event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Southeastern Hay Contest (SEHC): Annual hay quality competition recognizing top producers across the Southeast, presented by Massey Ferguson, with judging based on relative forage quality (RFQ)
• Southeastern Farmer of the Year
• Que Fest
• Innovation Award
• Antique and Garden Tractor Pull
• Young Farmer Cookoff
• Stockmanship & Stewardship
• Youth Educational Challenges
• Sunbelt Dairy Showdown

Products and services

• Sunbelt Ag Expo Annual Event
• Exhibitor Registration and Sponsorship Services
• Darrell Williams Research Farm
• Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award
• Southeastern Hay Contest
• Innovation Award
• Youth Educational Opportunities
• Antique Tractor Pull
• Stockmanship & Stewardship Program
• Que Fest (Young Farmer Pork Cookoff)
• Official Expo Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 Southeastern Hay Contest reached a new record with 540 submissions from 10 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lasseter Tractor CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Partnership to implement GPS implement guidance units at the research farm, demonstrating precision agriculture technology for improved planting accuracy.
• University of Georgia (UGA) ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026UGA crop specialists and extension experts conduct research trials on the Darrell Williams Research Farm, evaluate new varieties and products, and provide educational content during the Expo. Dr. Lisa Baxter serves as state forage specialist for SEHC.
• Magnolia LoomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Magnolia Loom, based in Sandersville, Georgia, is the official apparel supplier for the Sunbelt Ag Expo. The company creates merchandise using cotton grown at the Expo's Darrell Williams Research Farm. A portion of each sale supports the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, making this a strategic partnership supporting local agriculture and youth education.
• Georgia EMCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Georgia EMC is a long-time supporter of the Sunbelt Ag Expo, sponsoring the Media Breakfast and hosting live line safety demonstrations. Georgia EMC represents 41 electric membership corporations in the state and provides agricultural safety education to Expo attendees.
• Georgia Young Farmer WivesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Partnered with Georgia Grown to host cooking demonstrations in the Family Living Building, featuring recipes and culinary presentations showcasing Georgia agricultural products.
• Curt Pate / Stockmanship & StewardshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Partnership with NCBA's Stockmanship & Stewardship Program featuring livestock handling expert Curt Pate. Seminars offer BQA credits for certification and focus on animal welfare and rancher resilience.
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine of South Georgia (PCOM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025PCOM South Georgia, located in Moultrie, partnered with the Expo to bring awareness to mental health struggles faced by agricultural workers. PCOM offers simulation demonstrations and connects farmers with wellness resources and support services.
• Georgia Farm BureaucoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 July 2025Georgia Farm Bureau sponsors the Advocacy in Action Challenge for youth, engaging students in agricultural policy and advocacy education. Contact: Amelia Junod.
• Hays LTIcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 July 2025Primary sponsor of Youth Educational Challenges competition, supporting educational programming for middle and high school students across multiple content areas.
• Massey Ferguson North AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 July 2025Presenting sponsor of the Southeastern Hay Contest, providing use of hay equipment (disc mower or rotary rake) for a season plus cash prize to the overall winner.
• KMC (Kelley Manufacturing Co.)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 July 2025KMC sponsors the Young Farmer Cookoff (Que Fest), the 33rd annual pork cooking competition held in conjunction with the Georgia Young Farmers Association.
• Farm CreditcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 July 2025Co-sponsor of the Young Farmer Cookoff (Que Fest) alongside KMC, supporting the agricultural community and culinary traditions.
• SOWEGA Beekeepers (Southwest Georgia Beekeeping Club)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024Collaborates with Flint River Fresh to operate the Backyard Garden exhibit, offering visitors demonstrations and seminars on beekeeping basics, honey production, and the importance of pollinators for crop production.
• Flint River FreshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024A non-profit based in Albany, Georgia, Flint River Fresh partners with the Expo to maintain the Backyard Garden exhibit, showcasing fresh produce and providing education on home gardening and food accessibility.
• Georgia Peanut CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1986Long-standing partnership since 1986, with the Georgia Peanut Commission serving grilled peanut butter sandwiches and providing agricultural education at the Expo. Don Koehler has served as Executive Director for 39 years.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mid-South Farm and Gin Show: Annual agricultural trade show in Memphis, Tennessee, focused on Mid-South cotton, soybean, and grain producers with exhibitor booths and educational programming. Directly comparable in regional scope, row-crop audience, and exhibitor mix to the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
• Husker Harvest Days: Long-running outdoor farm show held in Grand Island, Nebraska, featuring live equipment demonstrations and an exhibitor marketplace oriented to livestock and crop producers. Directly comparable to Sunbelt's live-demo, outdoor farm-show model.
• Empire Farm Days: Annual outdoor agricultural trade show held in Seneca Falls, New York, featuring equipment demonstrations, agricultural research exhibits, and farmer-attendee programming in the Northeast US. Comparable regional farm show format with live demonstrations and exhibitor sales.
• World Ag Expo: Annual agricultural trade show held in Tulare, California, that is widely regarded as the largest farm show in the United States. It is the most direct functional peer to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, offering live equipment demonstrations, exhibitor booths, and an Innovation Award competition to a regional ag audience.
• Commodity Classic: Premier US trade show and convention for corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum growers, held annually with major agribusiness exhibitors and farmer-attendee programming. Highly comparable audience (row-crop farmers) and exhibitor base (seed, chemical, equipment manufacturers) to the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
• Southern Farm Show: Annual agricultural trade show held in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving the Southeastern US with equipment exhibitors, educational seminars, and farmer-attendee programming. Most direct geographic competitor to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, operating in an overlapping Southeast farmer audience.
• National Farm Machinery Show: Annual indoor farm machinery trade show held in Louisville, Kentucky, drawing major equipment manufacturers and farmers from across the country. Comparable as a major US farm equipment trade show with significant exhibitor booth and sponsorship economics.
• Farm Progress Show: Long-running US outdoor farm show rotating among Midwestern sites, featuring field demonstrations, seed and equipment exhibitors, and similar competition programming. Directly comparable to the Sunbelt Ag Expo's format of live demos plus exhibitor marketplace in a regional context.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets (Farm Progress parent): Large global B2B events organizer that owns Farm Progress Show, IDEAg events, and a portfolio of agricultural trade shows. Represents the broader incumbent trade-show conglomerate operating overlapping ag events at national scale, posing competitive and acquisition optionality for the Sunbelt Ag Expo.

Others

• Sunbelt Field Day / regional agritourism events: Smaller regional agricultural education events and farm tour operators in the Southeast that share the educational mission and farmer-attendee base of the Sunbelt Ag Expo but operate at materially smaller scale and without comparable exhibitor economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sunbeltagexpo1246
• Facebookfacebook.com/sunbeltagexpo
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunbeltagexpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunbelt-agricultural-expo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunbelt Agricultural Expo