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Southern Farm Show
North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Raleigh, NC

Meetings and Workshops

Annual Meeting of the Tobacco Growers Assocation of North Carolina

Members of the Tobacco Growers Assocation of North Carolina will gather on Friday, February 6, 2026 to learn the latest news surrounding tobacco, and hear from industry experts and elected officials. For more details, visit the TGANC Website.

Ag Development Forum

The 21st Annual Ag Development Forum will feature Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler's annual State of Agriculture address, an economic outlook, and other issues facing North Carolina agriculture.

It all starts at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
For more details, visit Ag Development Forum

Free Pesticide Continuing Education

Farmers, landscapers and other holders of a NC Department of Agriculture pesticide application license will have the opportunity to gain two hours of continuing education credits at this year's show. These sessions will take place Wednesday  There is no charge or pre-registration for these sessions.  License holders should bring their pesticide license card or number to register on-site.

Click HERE for details.

NC Growers Association Annual Meeting

The North Carolina Growers Association (NC Growers) will again hold their annual meeting at the Southern Farm Show.  The meeting, which is open to their 750 farmer members, will take place at 1:00pm on Wednesday February 4, 2026 in the Jim Martin Building.
NC Growers Deputy Director Lee Wicker says the meeting will review the 2025 season and provide members a look ahead to 2026
Details at NC Growers

Breakfast with the Commissioner

The Breakfast with the Commissioner is held each year to benefit the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly.  It’s also held to recognize an outstanding leader in North Carolina agriculture through the Excellence in Ag Award given each year. The 2025 breakfast will be held on Friday, February 6 2026 at 7:30 am.   For details and tickets on the breakfast, contact the Tobacco Farm Life Museum at 919-824-3131, or visit their website at www.TobaccoFarmLifeMuseum.org

Kickoff Breakfast

Sponsored and organized by the Wake County Partners in Agriculture, the annual kickoff breakfast will take place at 7:30am on Wednesday morning in the restaurant of the James B Hunt Horse Complex. Dr. David Monks will be highlighting his vision for the future of Cooperative Extension and how everyone inside and outside of agriculture can work with the organization moving forward.
Please contact Katherine Williams at Kimberly.webb@wake.gov to register for the event.

North Carolina FFA State Career Development Events

The best high school equipment drivers and operators from around the state will gather in Raleigh on February 5, 2026.  They'll be there for the annual North Carolina FFA Association State Tractor and Truck Driving Career Development Events, now in their 44th year as a part of the Southern Farm Show.
The events, sponsored by Kubota and Chevrolet, are the culmination of practice and competition within each FFA chapter.  And while there are bragging rights for the eventual winning drivers and schools, the real mission, according to FFA State Advisor and State Agricultural Education Leader, Josh Bledsoe, is teaching safety.  Bledsoe notes that each event revolves around the safe operation of agricultural vehicles.  "Safe operation of tractors and trucks in agriculture is a valuable skill," says Bledsoe.  "There's nothing more important in agriculture, on the farm, or on the highway than safety.

NC Crop Improvement Association to Meet at Show

NC Crop Improvement Association (NCCIA) will hold their annual meeting at the Southern Farm Show on Friday February 6 in the James Martin Building.  The NCCIA is a non-profit educational and service organization recognized as the official agency for seed certification in North Carolina.
The meeting, which is open to NCCIA members and others involved in seed production, will be .  It will start with breakfast followed by the 8:30AM meeting. According to NCCIA Executive Director Dustin Auman, the program will include an update on NCCIA activities for the year, as well as talks by the NC Foundation Seed Producers and the NC Seedmen’s Association.
NCCIA is an organization of seed growers/seed conditioners that administers the Seed Certification Program throughout North Carolina for all crops. The purpose of the Association is to maintain and make available to the public, through certification, sources of high-quality seed and propagating material of varieties so grown and distributed as to ensure genetic identity, a high degree of genetic and mechanical purity, and a minimum of seed or plant-borne disease.
NCCIA is dedicated to assisting clients in the production, identification, distribution and promotion of certified classes of seed and other crop propagation materials. Seed certification aims to assure high seed quality and maintain varietal purity. NCCIA provides these certification services to seed growers to assure what they are selling is pure. Growers must meet land requirements, provide source of seed, and pass a field inspection. Once the field passes as certified, it qualifies for a blue certified seed tag.
During the meeting, the Foil McLaughlin Award, given annually by the NCCIA, will also be presented to an individual or organization that has had a significant impact on the North Carolina seed industry.  The award honors the late Foil McLaughlin, who was director of the North Carolina

Farm Credit Bank to Offer Presentations

In addition to the popular bluegrass performances presented three time a day at the front of the Jim Graham Building, the Farm Credit Associations of NC will this year be offering two other presentations.  There’s no need to register.  More details can be found by scanning the QR code.
 
Farming with Family: A Farm Theatre Experience
Hosted by the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute
12 pm, Wednesday
Join us for a light lunch and pull up a chair for a lively, laugh-and-learn dinner theatre where real farm family moments come to life on stage. Through short scenes and audience interaction, we’ll tackle shared headaches such as roles and decision-making, in-law dynamics, work–life boundaries, safety, and succession. You’ll leave with practical conversation starters, tools for cooling conflict, and simple systems any family can use to keep the farm and the relationships thriving.
 
Farm Credit Ask a Lender Interactive Panel
Hosted by the Farm Credit Associations of NC
12 pm, Thursday
You're invited to enjoy a light lunch and engage in an interactive discussion with local Farm Credit lenders. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about how Farm Credit supports agriculture and rural communities across North Carolina. Whether you're a farmer, agribusiness owner, or simply curious about agricultural financing, we welcome you to join the conversation.
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