After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Southern Farm Show returns to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh Wednesday, Feb. 2 through Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 for a show that promises to be as big as ever.

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission and parking are free.

“Everyone we spoke with agrees they really missed not attending the show in 2021. They are ready to get back to the show in 2022. In a lot of ways, it will be like a family reunion. It will be great to be back together,” says show manager David Zimmerman.

Zimmerman says the 2022 show will be just like the shows of the past with all of the traditional meetings, workshops and special events. If necessary, social distancing and mask requirements will be in place in accordance with city of Raleigh or state of North Carolina regulations. Show goers are urged to check the Southern Farm Show website for any social distancing guidelines that may be in place at the time of the show.

As in the past, the 2022 Southern Farm Show will fill four exhibit halls, five large exhibit tents, and acres of outdoor exhibit space. There will close to 50 new companies exhibiting for the first time in 2022.

“In many ways, the 2022 Southern Farm Show may be the most important ever,” Zimmerman stresses. “Most farmers saw phenomenal crops in 2021 with generally good prices and good yields. Many farmers had their best year ever; many saw record yields. However, 2022 looks to be a challenging year with supply chain issues and concerns about escalating input costs. The Southern Farm Show really will be a must-attend event for farmers to work with their suppliers and plan for a profitable crop.”

The Southern Farm Show kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 2 with the Wake County Agribusiness Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. at the James Hunt Horse Complex. At 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, NCDA pesticide training will be held at the Holshouser Building.

On Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the Holshouser Building, a highlight of the show will be the Ag Development Forum sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services where North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will give his annual “State of North  Carolina Agriculture” address and the latest trends impacting agriculture will be discussed.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, the FFA Truck and Tractor Driving Competition will be held at the James Hunt Horse Arena.

At 8 a.m. Friday at the Holshouser Building, the annual Breakfast with the Commissioner will benefit the Tobacco Farm Life Museum. Also, on Friday at 10 a.m., the Tobacco Growers of North Carolina annual meeting will be held at the Holshouser Building.

The South Atlantic Woodsmen Lumberjack Show sponsored by Stihl returns in 2022 with performances at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. each day of the show on the Midway.

In addition, Brothers ‘n’ Bluegrass, a show favorite since the very first Southern Farm Show was held in Raleigh in 1978, returns as part of the Farm Credit Show, sponsored by Farm Credit Association of North Carolina, for performances at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. each day of the show in the Graham Building.

The Southern Farm Show concludes at 6 p.m. with the always popular Southern National Draft Horse Pull and Coon Mule Jump at the James Hunt Horse Arena. Advance tickets are available in the Jim Graham Building during the Southern Farm Show.

The Southern Farm Show is the largest agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia. It is also the second largest event held each year at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, second only to the North Carolina State Fair. More than 30,000 normally attend the three-day show.

For more information, contact Southern Farm Show at (800) 849-0248 or visit the show website at https://southernshows.com/sfs.