Published 1:27 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026 MOULTRIE — The 48th Sunbelt Ag Expo kicked-off Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, with its Opening Ceremony, and the day culminated with the announcement of the Southeastern Farmer of the Year at the Annual Willie B. Withers Luncheon. Now in its 36th year, the Southeastern Farmer of the Year award went to Florida dairyman Woody Larson. At the luncheon, the Georgia Farm Bureau Georgia Farm Dog of the Year was also announced: Riggs, owned by Kelly Smith of Shadow Lane Farm in Morgan County. Smith is an FFA advisor and ag teacher at Putnam High School, and Riggs helps her teach. The Farm Dog of the Year award was first presented at the 2024 Willie B. Withers Luncheon. Another event that took place on Tuesday was the ribbon cutting for this year’s Spotlight State, South Carolina. Visitors to its exhibit, “Growing SC Ag to Z,” can learn about the state’s top commodities, agriculture industry and culinary traditions. According to a statement Sunbelt Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock made in the show program, there are 800 exhibitors and more than 300 interactive educational displays and demonstrations on the 93 acres of exhibit space. Events and demonstrations to look out for are the daily Cow Milking Contest at the Dairy Pavilion, Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen and Princess introductions at the Priefert Horse Arena, Farmer Fredo’s presentation in the Flint River Fresh Backyard Garden, the Antique Tractor Parade, the Slo-Jo Tractor Pull and the EMC…
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