The right answer is rice
Mar 04, 2019
MEMPHIS, TN -- Over the weekend, this city was “Ag Central,” hosting the 67th Annual Farm & Gin Show with more than 400 exhibitors and 15,000 attendees, of which most are farmers. And just about everyone one of them stopped by the USA Rice booth to spin the THINK RICE wheel and test their rice knowledge.
“It’s amazing how many young attendees make their way back to the booth each year, wanting to spin the wheel and answer their question,” said Josh Hankins, USA Rice director of grower relations and the Rice Stewardship Partnership. “I lost track of the number of people who said they looked for the booth each year, even waiting in line at times, to share in the rice trivia experience with us.”
While many of the “contestants” got their answer correct, no one left the booth without learning a little more about the rice industry, or a take away to remind them about USA Rice. Crayons and informative coloring booklets were a hit with the children, but their parents also received new recipe brochures and other handouts on the versatility and nutritious value of U.S.-grown rice.
For most events, inclement weather can have a negative impact on attendance, but in farming, it can be the opposite. Rice farmer Eric Unkel, from Kinder, Louisiana, attended this year’s show, and said, “With field work stalled due to the rainy weather over the weekend, it was an opportunity to come up and learn more about the latest technologies, new products, and services, as well as visit with old friends.”