Meetings and Workshops
Annual Meeting of the Tobacco Growers Assocation of North Carolina
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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.Check back closer to the show for details.
NC Growers Association Annual Meeting
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
USDA to Present on Farm Service Agency Programs
Specialists from the US Department of Agriculture will be at the show to help farmers understand how to apply for, and benefit from the various programs offered by the Farm Service Agency. These sessions will take place in the James Martin Building on the opening day of the show, Wednesday, February 4, 2026. There is no cost to attend, and reservations are not required. Check bacck closer to the show for details.
Sponsored by
Kickoff Breakfast
North Carolina FFA State Career Development Events
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.
Sponsored by
NC Crop Improvement Association to Meet at Show
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
