There is something special about the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Just walking the grounds and visiting such iconic buildings as Dorton Arena and the Governor Holshouser Building always lifts my spirits. It’s a happy place.

This is certainly the case with the North Carolina State Fair in October each year. I never miss (with the exception of 2020 when the fair was cancelled due to the pandemic). The North Carolina State Fair is indeed a happy place with the rides, the midway, the food, the champion livestock and all the rest.

Another event at the State Fairgrounds is equally special. And like the State Fair, it is something I never miss (again, with the exception of the pandemic in 2021). The Southern Farm Show is the second largest event held each year on the fairgrounds, second only to the State Fair. It utilizes all the grounds and all the buildings of the fairgrounds and draws a crowd of 30,000 every year. And it too has a festive spirit, just like the State Fair. It too is a happy place.

The 2023 Southern Farm Show is set for Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 3 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. And as in years past, admission and parking are free.

The 2023 show seems all the more important with farmers expecting another tough year of supply chain challenges, higher input costs and narrow profit margins. Farmers will have to keep an eye on the bottom line more than ever, and the Southern Farm Show will help them keep their focus.

They can attend such events as Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s Ag Development Forum, the annual meeting of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina and other educational events to gain insights for the new crop year. They can visit the exhibits, kick the tires and take a look at the tractors and excavators and the rest.

Most importantly, they can see their friends and associates and exchange ideas. In yet another challenging year, the Southern Farm Show will once again be there to help guide the way for farmers. I am looking forward to once again walking the grounds and buildings of this truly special place and special event: The North Carolina State Fairgrounds and the Southern Farm Show.