The emcee for the Willie B. Withers luncheon at Sunbelt Ag Expo was Mr. Jimmy Hill, President/CEO, Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum Foundation. Jimmy says they develop leaders in agribusiness and forestry with a 12 month program. He says they have 18 people involved in this year’s program. The goal is to develop leaders who will get involved and help solve challenges faced by the industry.
The Study Institute Program of the Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum is an intensive exposure to a wide range of issues and policy discussion. These range from the economy to governmental process, as well as, a liberal opportunity to broaden leadership skills. The one-year program consists of six Study Institutes covering issues affecting those committed to agriculture, agribusiness, forestry and leadership in rural Georgia. Four In-State Institutes are structured in a three-day/two night format; A Government-in-Session (Atlanta/Washington DC) Institute covers eight days; and a National Travel Experience Institute in another state covers six days. Each Institute stresses leadership skills and generates sensitivity to pertinent issues, giving the participants an in-depth understanding of what it takes to get involved in bringing about solutions to political, economical, cultural, social, agricultural, agribusiness, forestry and leadership issues in rural Georgia.
You can listen to my interview with Jimmy below:
Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album
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There’s more than one way to farm fish. Usually you think ponds of tilapia or catfish right? Well there’s also sports fishing pond management of game fish like bass and bluegill. At Sunbelt Ag Expo they have a “fishing ponds” exhibit area. One of the exhibitors is 
At this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo, Alpacas are popular, especially baby ones. Promoting them is the 
KIOTI has just introduced a new utility vehicle – 
You don’t normally think of shrimp and agriculture at the same time. However, here at Sunbelt Ag Expo the 
Steve Troxler is the 
Steve says that agriculture is a $70 billion industry in North Carolina. In the picture with Steve above you can see a tobacco plant on the left. He says NC is the number one tobacco producing state in the country. They’re also number one in sweet potatoes.
The 2009 
The 2009 Sunbelt Ag Expo is underway in Moultrie, GA. Executive Director, Chip Blalock, welcomed us media types at a breakfast and provided an overview of what to see at this year’s event. He’s on the left in the photo talking with ag media.
It’s time for the 2009 
The 
A great project to help farmers with disabilities or injuries is the 
So we sat down and got caught up and I recorded our conversation for you. Ev has seen a lot of changes in communications as you can well imagine. So when I asked him for his advice on how to communicate to today’s farmer he just said, “Communications.” He says that the farmer has not only always been open minded but looking to technology to help him in his business and that includes how he gets information.
How would you like to have all the hot water you want without running out when the tank is empty? How about getting a propane powered water heater without a tank? Sounds like a plan to me.
The propane powered mowers shown at Sunbelt Ag Expo got a lot of attention from farmers and other attendees. On hand to show them off was Richard Carr, National Sales Manager, 
The Executive Director of the Sunbelt Ag Expo is Chip Blalock, seen here at the Southeastern Farmer of the Year luncheon. When I spoke to him he said, “We’ve had truly Chamber of Commerce type weather this week.” I echo that since it was sunny with a nice breeze all the time I was there.
I only got to go out in the field for the cotton picking demonstration at Sunbelt Ag Expo but it was great. The weather was beautiful and the cotton looked awesome. I’ve got a number of pictures in the photo album.
There’s no question that if you grill food you’re going to attract a crowd. That’s what Joel Garrett, Garrett Grills, is doing for his second year at the 
The President of the 
I got an overview of Sunbelt Ag Expo today. By overview I mean from the control tower for this airport which was formerly a military airfield. I climbed up and took a few photos early today.