Fairgrounds hosts Southern Farm Show and Ag Forum

The State Fairgrounds in Raleigh will play host to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Annual Ag Development Forum and the Southern Farm Show Feb. 3-5. The Ag Development Forum will be held Feb. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Holshouser Building.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will deliver his annual State of Agriculture address, and the program will focus on the economic outlook for animal agriculture and federal ag policy.

The event is free, but participants are asked to register by contacting Christina Waggett at (919) 733-7125, or by e-mailing at christina.waggett@ncagr.gov.

The Southern Farm Show will be held Feb. 3-5, with activities and farm equipment displays throughout the grounds. Admission is free and hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

A number of special events will be held, including: the Wake County Agribusiness Meeting Feb. 3 at 7:30 a.m. ($10); FFA Tractor and Truck Driving Competition, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m.; Breakfast with the Commissioner: Benefit for the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Feb. 5, 8 a.m. -9 a.m. ($25); Tobacco Growers Association of N.C. Annual Meeting, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m.; and the 27th Annual Southern National Draft Horse Pull, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.

For more about the Farm show, contact David Zimmerman at (800) 849-0248, ext. 114.