Auburn University’s College of Agriculture was leaving its “paw prints” in Moultrie, Ga., at the “34th Annual Sunbelt Ag Exposition North America’s Premiere Farm Show,” Oct. 21-23 by educating people about the different ways Auburn’s COA is showcasing a more sustainable agriculture.

The sounds of tractors cranking, cotton harvesting demonstrations, farm equipment auctions and the delicious mouth-watering aromas of rib eye barbecue sandwiches, Georgia raised catfish and shrimp and freshly-squeezed lemonade were some of the highlights of the “Sunbelt Agriculture Expo.”

The exposition featured 1,185 vendors ranging from tractor suppliers to household appliance companies with an estimated 100,000 people attending. Major four-year institutions in the southeast that were represented were the University of Florida, University of Georgia, Clemson University and Auburn University.

“You might think of Sunbelt as somewhat like a trade show for anyone that loves agriculture or farming,” said Dave Williams, Auburn University’s College of Agriculture horticulture department head.

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The COA and Alabama Agriculture Experiment Stations have teamed together to maintain a healthy relationship with the “Sunbelt Exposition” committee and have a permanent barn on the expo grounds to highlight the new advances Auburn is creating through research and technology. The official AU logo and “AUBURN” name can be seen painted in orange and blue on the roof of the Auburn barn as you walk 1,680 acres that the expo covers.

“Having the COA being visible and available here is a great opportunity for school groups, FFA chapters and other prospective students to see the outstanding research being done and benefits of our college,” said Williams. “We see this as a way for them (prospective students) to compare all of our programs and for us to really sell ourselves.”

Auburn’s barn theme was sustainability. Sustainability can be in many forms, Williams explained, from practicing economic sustainability of managing money more efficiently to remain in production agriculture to becoming more environmentally sustainable of preserving the land and non-renewable resources. Each of Auburn’s COA eight departments showcased their work on issues from biofuels, bicycle fueled electricity, gardening, food safety and much more.

“With many of agriculture’s resources like land and fuel being non-renewable it is important to find more efficient and environmentally beneficial practices to keep the future of agriculture sustained,” said Richard Guthrie, dean of the College of Agriculture.

Even in Moulrie, Auburn can be found leaving impressionable “paw prints” in the lives of future students, parents and the more than 100,000 people that passed through the expo.

“It is so important that we find ways to not deplete our land,” said Williams. “If we take for granted the resourses we have available now, the future of agriculture will be no longer.”

To find out about more programs Auburn’s COA participates in go to www.ag.auburn.edu. For more information, about the largest agriculture expo visit: www.sunbeltexpo.com, or contact Sunbelt Expo by e-mail at: info@sunbeltexpo.com or by phone at 229-985-1968.