The Southern Farm Show is the largest in the Carolinas and Virginia and features over 400 vendors showcasing tractors, work equipment and ag services. In conjunction with the Farm Show, the annual Ag Development Forum will be held Feb. 1 featuring the State of Agriculture address by Commissioner Steve Troxler, a panel discussion on the ag industry and an economic forecast for agriculture and the economy. Mark your calendar Jan. 31 through Feb. 2.

• I wanted to go ahead and remind listeners to Save the Date for the Southern Farm Show and specifically the 19^th Annual Agricultural Development Forum, which will be held Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m. in the Holshouser Building at the State Fairgrounds.

• The Farm Show runs Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 and is the largest one held in the Carolinas and Virginia.

• Since the fairgrounds is home to the farm show, we get a lot of calls and questions about when it will be held.

• The Farm Show uses nearly every bit of the fairgrounds because it features over 400 vendors who will be showcasing new tractors, new farm equipment and agricultural services.

• You can see every make of tractor on display at the fairgrounds, which is good if you are in the market for new equipment or a tractor.

• One of the equipment dealers will even let show guests operate pieces of their excavator equipment so they can see how it works.

• The Farm Show is also the time of year when several commodity meetings take place.

• And, of course, I want listeners to join us for the Agricultural Development Forum. This marks the 19^th year we have held this industry meeting.

• We are still in the planning phase, but I know will have an economic update on agriculture and a panel discussion.

• I will also be making my annual State of Agriculture address, and we will honor our Exporter of the Year. Lunch will follow the program.

• Mark your calendars now for Jan. 31 through Feb. 2.