The 68th Annual Mid-South Farm And Gin Show
Located not far from the Mighty Mississippi, the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show is a not-for-profit educational opportunity for farmers and other folks involved in agriculture. This year’s event will be held at the Memphis Convention Center, 255 N. Main St., in Memphis, Tennessee, Feb. 28-29.
The annual show provides valuable information and features products and services offered by hundreds of exhibitors. It’s also a welcoming venue for farm families to spend the day and reunite with old friends.
Everyone is invited to attend the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and Foundation Annual Meetings, which begin Thursday, Feb. 27, 1:30 p.m. at the Peabody Hotel. Kater Hake, Cotton Incorporated; Sammy Wright, Chickasha of Georgia; and Dr. Chris Delhom, U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Ginning Research Unit, will discuss ag research and new opportunities.
Tim Price, show manager and Southern Cotton Ginners Association executive vice president, says visitors who attend the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show can’t help but be encouraged despite the challenges that permeate the farm sector.
“The ag business segment of our industry continues to come forward with new machinery, new innovations and amazing new technology,” he says. “We also try to provide the best assessment possible on topics of interest to those in the business of agriculture.”
Friday’s Lineup
The show officially begins at 8:30 a.m., Friday, with the Ag Update Meeting. Kent D. Fountain, National Cotton Council chairman, will discuss cotton issues; and Joe Nicosia, senior head, cotton merchandising platforms, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, will discuss the outlook for U.S. and world cotton.
Show exhibits open at 9 a.m. both Friday and Saturday. Cash prize drawings take place each day at noon, 2 and 4 p.m., and you must be 18 years old and present to win. Stop by the One Grower booth, No. 7237, to say “hey” to the folks behind Cotton Farming as well as its sister magazines, Rice Farming, Corn South, Soybean South and Peanut Grower.
A special hemp industry outlook starts at 1:30 p.m. This session, hosted by SBX Farms, will provide an informative overview of the potential opportunities and pitfalls presented by the emerging hemp industry.
Other Educational Opportunities
The show resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with another Ag Update Meeting, featuring Richard Brock, Brock Associates, who will present a grain market outlook and discuss challenges facing farmers in 2020.
01Milo Hamilton, co-founder and senior agricultural economist, Firstgrain Inc., will host a special rice marketing educational seminar at 1:30 p.m. This meeting is broken into two distinct sessions. One will assess global rice conditions, and the other will address high and low prices in local areas.
“In this world of profitless prices, every Truman dime counts now,” he says. “Will you survive or thrive in 2019/2020?”
Show closing times are 5 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, respectively. At 9 p.m., Saturday, the popular Jamboree will kick off at the Peabody Hotel Grand Ballroom with music by The Krackerjacks.
“The Mid-South Farm and Gin Show continues to confirm that we have a viable, active ag business sector as represented by our exhibitors,” Price says. “It also provides numerous opportunities for people to get an idea of where our industry is headed.”
See you in Memphis!