Farmers from across Virginia and the Carolinas will converge at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh Feb. 4-6 for the 39^th annual Southern Farm Show where more than 400 companies will exhibit agricultural equipment, technology and services.

“We are looking forward to another successful show come February,” said David Zimmerman, show manager. “Farmers will not only see an unsurpassed collection of farm equipment, but will be able to receive the latest information and advice as they make plans for the new crop year.”

The Southern Farm Show is the largest agricultural show in the Carolinas and Virginia. It occupies all seven buildings on the fairgrounds and spills over into acres of outdoor exhibits and temporary structures. There is no admittance charge for the show and free parking. Show hours are 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

The show kicks off with the Wake County Agribusiness Breakfast Meeting at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 in the Hunt Horse Complex on the fairgrounds. Entertainment at the breakfast will be Daniel Whittaker, the owner of Green Planet Catering, in Chapel Hill. Started in 2007, Green Planet Catering includes a sustainable farm site and a biodiesel production facility.

Whittaker’s current projects include the role of the farmer at Green Planet’s public/private partnership education farm with NC State's Agroecology Education Farm. Green Planet also includes an extensive herb garden and a catering kitchen in downtown Cary. Green Planet also partners with local breweries to use herbs grown on the farm in new beers.

The annual Ag Development Forum will also be held Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. in the Holshouser Building where North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will provide his annual update on the state of agriculture in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association will host its 6^th annual Soybean Producers Forum during the show. The forum is set for Friday, Feb. 6 at the Gov. James G. Martin Building. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with the forum beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding with lunch.  Presentations will include Dicamba resistant soybean seed traits and precision agriculture in soybean production.

The North Carolina Pork Council and the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina will also hold meetings during the show.

Other special events include the FFA Tractor & Truck Driving competition at 11 am. Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Hunt Horse Complex and equipment displays by the National Tractor Pullers Association and United Pullers of Carolina. A show favorite, cow dog demonstrations, returns with performances at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day of the show. Bluegrass music will be performed daily by Brothers ‘n’ Bluegrass at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Jim Graham Building.

The show concludes with the 32^nd annual Southern National Draft Horse Pull and Coon Mule Jump Feb. 6 at the Hunt Horse Complex. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. The horse pull has remains one of the most family events at the Southern Farm Show.

“We promise another great horse pull to wrap up a great farm show,” said Calvin Davis, organizer of the event. “Folks can come to the farm show, spend the day on the grounds and then enjoy the pull on Friday night.”