What the SC Farmer and Agribusiness Convention Is
The South Carolina Farmer and Agribusiness Association is a state organization under Clemson Cooperative Extension's South Carolina Agricultural Education program. Its purpose is to help adults learn about agriculture and agribusiness through organized educational programs. Farmers and agribusiness representatives of any age can join. Its annual convention is the main gathering of the year, and in 2027 it is a joint conference with SCWAgN, billed as combining two groups for one conference. The 2027 convention runs Friday and Saturday, January 22-23, 2027, in Florence.
Where
SIMT Conference Center (Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing Technology at Florence-Darlington Technical College), 1951 Pisgah Road, Florence, SC.
How It Works: The Schedule
The schedule is tentative and may change.
Friday, January 22
- 8:00 a.m. Registration and welcome; check in, pick up a badge, visit vendors.
- 9:00-11:00 a.m. Business planning workshop led by Extension agribusiness experts and the SC Department of Agriculture's ACRE program.
- 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch on your own at nearby restaurants.
- 1:00-3:00 p.m. Local agriculture tours. Transportation is to be determined and you provide your own.
- 4:00-5:30 p.m. Agriculture teacher professional development, required for SC agriculture teachers.
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. Networking social with appetizers and drinks (two drink tickets included).
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner and entertainment, with time to browse auction items.
- 8:00 p.m. Scholarship auction: a ticket draw and live auctions that benefit students pursuing agriculture degrees.
Saturday, January 23
- 7:30-8:30 a.m. Registration and welcome.
- 8:30-9:15 a.m. Association business meeting, open to dues-paying members.
- Morning and afternoon workshop sessions. Topics include Breaking the Burnout Cycle, social media marketing, sprayer calibration (with pesticide applicator credits), FFA application tips, produce safety and handling, agritourism, preparing FFA teams for career development events, backyard garden pests, soil health, irrigation basics and a farmer's lessons learned.
- 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch and awards, recognizing Association award recipients.
Children ages 5 to 12 have their own programming throughout the sessions, led by SC State FFA officers and 4-H youth.
Cost and What You Get
Registration is $200. It includes two meals, entertainment, the networking social, educational workshops, agriculture-related vendors, the live and ticket draw auctions, and the children's programs. Register online through Eventbrite by January 7, 2027.
Where to Stay
A room block is held at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1735 Stokes Road, Florence, SC 29501 (North I-95), at $119 a night plus tax with breakfast included. Reserve by January 7 and mention "SC Farmers" when calling the hotel at 843-662-7000.
Questions
Who should come?
Farmers, agribusiness representatives and agriculture teachers. Agriculture teachers must attend the Friday afternoon professional development session.
Who can attend the business meeting?
The Saturday business meeting is open to dues-paying Association members.
Can I earn pesticide credits?
The sprayer calibration workshop offers pesticide applicator recertification credit.
Where does the auction money go?
The scholarship auction benefits students pursuing agriculture degrees.
Who do I contact?
South Carolina Agricultural Education, P.O. Box 1746, Clemson, SC 29633.
Official Links
- SC FAA Convention page: dates, schedule, registration and hotel
- Convention agenda (PDF): tentative schedule and workshop topics
- Convention flyer (PDF): cost, registration and lodging
- SC Farmer and Agribusiness Association: membership and purpose
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- South Carolina 4-H Team Cooking Challenge
State finals of the 4-H Team Cooking Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 14, 2026 in Florence.
- South Carolina Farmer and Agribusiness Convention
Two-day statewide convention of the SC Farmer and Agribusiness Association, the adult education program tied to agricultural education, held at SIMT in Florence on Jan. 22-23, 2027.
- South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Roundup Florence
One of three regional Pinckney Leadership Roundups for 4-H teens, held Feb. 6, 2027 in Florence; Charleston follows Feb. 20 and Columbia March 6.
Florence, SC | Organizer: Clemson Extension 4-H Official event details - Pee Dee Plant & Flower Festival
Fall plant and flower sale at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market in Florence, October 2-4, 2026. The state market holds a similar festival each spring and autumn.
2513 W. Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501 | Organizer: South Carolina Department of Agriculture Official event details - FFA Region 3 Farmer and Agribusiness Meeting
Evening meeting for Region 3 FFA farmers and agribusiness supporters at the Golden Corral in Florence. Held each year; the most recent date was November 5, 2026.
Florence, SC | Organizer: SC FFA Official event details
All South Carolina events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.