Each year the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show seems to effortlessly appear on the late February calendar in the Memphis area. Attendees visit exhibitors, collect giveaways, listen to ag industry leaders and even walk away with a puppy or two.
What they don’t see is the wizardry behind the scenes by longtime show manager Tim Price. What appears to be a flawless execution of the largest farm show in the Midsouth is put together with a flurry of activity throughout the year as Price and his team brainstorm, schedule, map and fine tune the show.
His knack for planning and support of the agricultural industry as the Executive Vice President of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association has been rewarded with the 2023 Ag Association Leader of the Year Award from the National Agriculture Marketing Association.
Achievement and excellence
The award recognizes outstanding achievement and excellence among senior executives who have made significant contributions to the ag community in their roles with a trade association or a commodity organization, according to NAMA.
“The award is well deserved,” said Greg Frey, senior vice president, Data and Media Services, at Informa Markets, a show sponsor. “Price is key to his organization and having worked with him in conjunction with the farm and gin show, I have seen his ability to multitask and manage the high-pressure environment of the show.”
Price has also managed SCGA during a time of incredible change in the ag industry.
“I've seen that change with a 300-foot view from the top of the second floor looking out to the convention center,” Price said. “We've always done what we could to embrace the cutting edge of technology and make it relevant for the farm decision maker.”
He’s embraced that technology, as well, in the regular operation of the ginners association as gins have consolidated, added onboard module building, brought software improvements into the gin and even managed through the pandemic.