Mid-South Farm & Gin Show to Tackle Market (and Venue) Transitions
February 17, 2020 Make no mistake about it. The show will go on!
The 68th edition of the annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show – set for February 28-29 – will look a little different than past years, thanks to the second year of major renovation and reconstruction of its long-time downtown Memphis venue, now known as the Renasant Memphis Convention Center. Necessary accommodations due to the on-going construction has tightened available space in certain areas, but the show staff and convention center management have worked closely together to help maintain the feel and spirit of the event that attendees have come to know and appreciate.
“This is going to be a great show – a transition show,” said Tim Price, executive director of Southern Cotton Ginners Association and show manager. “We’ll have about 300 companies and streets filled with equipment, plus our traditional – and some new – seminars.”
Price noted that not only is the show in a period of transition, so is U.S. agriculture following a year where the impact of trade, markets and world uncertainly all intersected. Those challenges are reflected in the show’s seminar lineup.
“We’ll still have our Ag Outlook sessions focusing on cotton on the first day of the show and on all grains the next day,” said Price. “We’re continuing with the Ag Innovations session, plus a look at new crops we think have potential in this geography and ag technology discussions that are an integral part of the show exhibits.”
The Ag Outlook sessions begin at 8:30 am each day. Friday’s Ag Update Meeting will feature incoming National Cotton Council Chairman Kent Fountain on the latest cotton issues, plus the annual outlook for U.S. and global cotton from Joe Nicosia, senior head, cotton merchandising platforms for Louis Dreyfus Commodities.
Saturday’s Ag Update Meeting features Richard Brock of Brock Associates, who will present a grain market outlook and discuss challenges facing farmers in 2020. Later, at 1:30 pm, Milo Hamilton of Firstgrain Inc. will host a special rice marketing seminar focused on global rice conditions and local pricing.
The show opens at 9:00 am each day. Registration will again be located in the Cannon Center lobby, with exhibits located on the first floor of the convention center, at the adjacent Sheraton Memphis hotel and in temporary space on two streets bordering the facility. Price urges attendees to visit FarmandGinShow.com to pre-register (no cost) and to download the updated Farm and Gin Show app for details on exhibit locations and seminar line-ups.
“We encourage everyone to join us this year,” added Price. “In addition to the great exhibits, we’ll still have our traditional prize drawings and the usual bells and whistles. And the puppy giveaway will be there, too.”
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