Expo bounces back from hurricane

Oct. 19--MOULTRIE, Ga. -- Driving to work last Thursday, Chip Blalock dreaded what he would see when he got there.

The executive director of Sunbelt Ag Expo was pleasantly surprised when he arrived and saw that damage was slight to the infrastructure, although that to the cotton in the farm show's field plots was significant.

Still, Blalock knows that for many residents and farming operations in a four-state area, Hurricane Michael had made a major and long-lasting impact.

The three-day show went on as usual, but for the region recovery is just beginning, he said.

"As we close the 41st Expo we continue to keep those in the path of Michael in our thoughts and prayers," he said.

Attendance was down somewhat, although final attendance figures were not available immediately.

Some acquaintances who had suffered damages or were helping in their communities actually came to Expo for a day as a respite, Blalock said.

On Tuesday, the first day of the show, Vice President Mike Pence accompanied U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Gov. Sonny Perdue to Moultrie, where Pence assured the audience at the annual Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year luncheon that the federal government will be assisting in recovery. Pence was on a tour of the area surveying damage the day after President Donald Trump had been in the state in the wake of the powerful storm.

"The whole time we remained tremendously respectful of what happened last week and the homes and the farmers and the lives of all those people who are rebuilding," Blalock said.

The unexpected visit from the vice president was a boost, he said.

While numbers of attendees were down and exhibitors expected that farmers dealing with losses were not as likely to be in the market for expensive equipment, the farm show still looked to the long term.

New technology on display throughout the week may end up on farms in the future. And, Blalock said, the message of that new technology got out and dealers still were able to connect with potential customers.

Prior to the storm Expo employees worked until about 11 a.m. on Oct. 10 just a few hours before the impact of the storm began to be felt in the Colquitt County area. Some signs were taken down and other items like garbage cans were taken inside or lashed down.

Blalock said there is no doubt that the agricultural community will bounce back.

"I'm very, very proud of the staff," Blalock said. "I just can't say enough about how we pulled it all together, just like everybody in Southwest Georgia, Florida, Southeast Alabama and South Carolina also are going to pull it together."

He predicted that their experience will be the same in the recovery.

"Farmers are a resilient bunch," Blalock said.

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