SPECIAL REPORT

Mid-South Gin Show

It Has Something For Everybody This Year

When it comes to offering a diverse program for all ages, the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is in a class by itself. You name it, and you’ll find it on Feb. 25-26 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tenn.

Whether it’s visiting more than 400 exhibitors, meeting farmers, ginners and agri-business leaders from around the world or gaining valuable information at a seminar, the choices are numerous.

In keeping with a longstanding tradition, this year’s show will also tackle a timely topic by hosting a couple of seminars on weed resistance.

This is show manager Tim Price’s eighth year to manage the event, and he says that attendees will reflect a wide range of emotions for this year’s festivities.

“There is definitely an air of optimism in agriculture, but it’s also tempered with a lot of questions about high prices and where do we go from here?” he says.

Busy Schedule For Show

Prior to the show, the Southern Cotton Ginners Association will conduct its annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Peabody Hotel. That day will be capped off later by the association’s honors banquet at the Peabody, beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Feb. 25, the show will kick off with its traditional Ag Update at 8:30 a.m. Several speakers are on the program, including new NCC chairman Charles Parker, Riceland Foods senior vice president Carl Brothers and Memphis merchant Joe Nicosia of Allenberg Cotton Co.

The exhibits open at 9 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. During the afternoon, attendees will be treated to two special seminars. The first begins at 1:30 p.m. and is titled “Top Concerns For Farmers.”

The second seminar will begin at 3:30 p.m. and features a panel discussion that addresses “Managing Herbicide Resistant Weeds.” Scheduled to participate are Arkansas Extension weed specialist Ken Smith, Louisiana weed specialist Daniel Stephenson, Mississippi rice weed scientist Jason Bond and Tennessee Extension weed specialist Larry Steckel.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, the Ag Update will be highlighted by Richard Brock’s market outlook report, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The trade show exhibits will be open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. As an added bonus, the weed seminar will be repeated at 1:30 p.m.

Something For Everyone

Price is anticipating a record number of exhibitors from all regions of the country as well as overseas.

He is particularly excited about the new technology that will be on display in the exhibit halls of the Convention Center.

“I like to think our event is similar to going to the doctor for your annual checkup,” Price says. “If you want to know what’s going on in production agriculture, you need to be here to find out what’s happening.”

Contact Tommy Horton at (901) 767-4020 or thorton@onegrower.com.