It’s hard to believe but in a matter of weeks it will be time for one of the highlights of the 2012 cotton meeting schedule – the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, Tenn. Actually, it will be more than a two-day trade show on March 2-3 at the Cook Convention Center. You might want to call it a family reunion of sorts for anyone associated with agriculture in the Mid-South.
This event attracts attendees from nearly every region of the country as well as many from overseas. Its reputation has grown through the years as a place for companies to do business – not to mention being a gathering place for farmers, ginners, researchers, politicians, consultants and Extension specialists.
What makes this show so attractive is its diversity. If you did nothing else but walk the Exhibit Hall for two straight days, you’d gain a firsthand view of what’s going on in agriculture – especially as it pertains to cotton. As show manager Tim Price has said numerous times, if you want to see what agriculture’s future looks like, visit this show and just walk around. You’ll be amazed at the kind of technology available to farmers and ginners.
We’ve often heard ag leaders say that the United States has one advantage over its global competitors, and that’s technology. Granted, we are in a global economy, and much of this technology is shared with other countries. But it’s no coincidence that this show in Memphis showcases the very latest in technology and gives visitors a chance to see how farmers and ginners can do their jobs even more efficiently.
I’ve been attending this show since the mid-1980s when I worked for the National Cotton Council and later when I joined Cotton Farming magazine. Just as the cotton industry has evolved in the last three decades, so has the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show. If you want to visit with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, make your plans to be in Memphis on March 2-3.
You’ll enjoy yourself, and don’t forget that you can buy Corky’s barbecue inside the Convention Center. It might be some of the best barbecue you’ll find in Memphis. That fact alone should motivate you to be there!