Top farmer named today

By Johnna Pinholster

October 13, 2008 11:21 pm

— VALDOSTA — Clayton “Wayne” McKinnon of Douglas is the 2008 Georgia Farmer of the Year.
Sponsored by Swisher International and the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, ten state winners were announced at Monday night’s banquet, with the overall winner being announced this morning in Moultrie at the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
When McKinnon was first informed about this honor, he thought the Swisher Sweet representative who had called to talk to him was a telemarketer.
Nominated by Coffee County’s extension agent, McKinnon said he had been under the impression that the award was through the University System of Georgia.
“I am very honored to represent the state of Georgia,” he said.
McKinnon has been a farmer for 36 years, buying his first farm in 1977.
Today McKinnon farms a diversified crop on more than 1,000 acres of rented and owned land. Cotton, peanuts, tobacco, wheat and blueberries are farmed by McKinnon who also raises pullets and roosters and maintains a 150-head cow-calf herd.
Bob McAllister of Williamson-Dickie said that all the farmers of the year, who each vary in what and how they farm, have one thing in common.
“With so many farmers of the year there is one thing that is consistent, a commitment to quality,” McAllister said. A quality that begins in the field, pasture, greenhouse and dairy and follows the product all the way to the market, he said.
A short film described all ten winners’ farms and what made them recipients of the state award.
2007 Farmer of the Year Bill Cameron from North Carolina gave an off-the-cuff speech about what the 2008 Farmer of the Year can expect.
“Have your speech ready, get your bootstraps pulled up, the fun is getting ready to start,” he said.
Cameron said he has viewed his Farmer of the Year status as an opportunity to be an ambassador for agriculture and the Ag Expo in his home state.
Kentucky Farmer of the Year Loretta Lyons is the first woman recipient of the state Farmer of the Year award.
Other winners include Lamar Dewberry, Alabama; Brian Kirksey, Arkansas; Randy Strode, Florida; Gibb Steele, III, Mississippi; V. Mac Baldwin, North Carolina; Kent Wannamaker, South Carolina; Jerry Ray, Tennessee; and Tim Sutphin, Virginia.
Afterward, each winner received a green jacket and gifts from various sponsors.
Each state winner received a $2,500 cash award, an expenses-paid trip to the Sunbelt Expo from Swisher International, a jacket, a $200 gift certificate from the Williamson-Dickie Company and a $500 gift certificate from Southern States.
Swisher International and the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition have honored the agricultural community and industry with the Farmer of the Year Award for 19 years.
Ten states participate in the program: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The 31st Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off today and runs through Thursday at Spence Field in Moultrie off Georgia Highway 133. The Expo is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is seven dollars.

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