George McDonald
Tennessee Farmer of the Year 2024
Just three years from now in 2027, George McDonald and his family will be celebrating an entire century of caring for Catesa Farms, fifty miles northeast of Nashville in Riddleton. He said, “Growing up with both my grandparents and parents on the farm, I always knew I wanted to continue their legacy. But I also wanted to try new things. Along with their inspiring examples, I owe a great debt to FFA. This organization opened my eyes to the broader picture outside of Smith County, helped me to focus my energy and passion, and laid a foundation for any future success we, as a farm family, have been able to achieve.”
Catesa Farms is a diversified enterprise that, at the beginning of George’s career in 1978, consisted of about 400 acres. They raised hogs, beef cattle, and dairy cows and grew corn and tobacco. By the late 1990s, the farm transitioned out of tobacco and livestock into row crops. It now operates on 9271 acres of owned and rented land over multiple counties that produce corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, strawberries, and watermelons. George said, “It’s a family operation that includes my daughter, Sarah Owen (a fifth generation McDonald farmer), my mother, Linda, and my wife, Susan. The farm also enlists an extended family of ten full-time team members and around two dozen seasonal workers who produce our crops. ”
George’s wife, Susan, is from Hartsville and, since her grandfather’s farm joins his family’s land, they’ve known each other all their lives. George’s daughter, Sarah, earned her BS degree in Agricultural Economics and an MA degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee. She taught first grade students for five years before leaving to become an integral part of Catesa Farms. Married to Casey Owen, she oversees relationships with vendors, manages the H2A employees, and ensures GAP compliance. Her children now represent the sixth generation of McDonalds at the farm, and they get to spend time with their great-grandmother, Linda, who handles bookkeeping and payroll at the farm office.
Employee Kyle Cato is also a key component of daily farm business. Having hired him in 2015, George quickly saw the young man’s talent, drive, and dedication. Kyle now manages inventory of grain and inputs, maintains relationships with landowners, oversees the logistics for all grain entering and leaving the farm, handles all the Beck’s Seed sales, and social media for Catesa Farms.
George loves growing corn, emphasizing that the variety the farms grow—dent corn—is not the sweet kind found in grocery stores or on roadside produce stands. It’s a high-starch variety used predominantly as livestock feed and for distillation, including making ethanol and whiskey. He said, “The wonderful part about Tennessee corn is that it’s safe when converted into ethanol for gasoline in our vehicles, and it’s a renewable, eco-friendly energy resource that costs less than straight-grade gasoline.”
Under Cumberland Valley Ag (formerly Cumberland Valley Sod, Inc.), George sells diesel fuel, fertilizer, and seed, in addition to drying and storing corn, wheat, and soybeans for local producers. The company has been a dealer for Beck’s Hybrids since 2018. George said, “We’re also an agent for Soil Test Pro, which allows us to use precision ag sampling to enhance our seed selection and create our own recommendations and variable rate fertilizer and seed prescriptions for ourselves and other local farmers.”
Crop yields for Catesa Farms are as follows: 2494 acres of corn yielding 204.47 bushels/acre; 943 acres of single crop soybeans yielding 62.4 bushels/acre; 2530 acres of double crop soybeans yielding 45.4 bushels/acre; 2530 acres of wheat yielding 84.4 bushels/acre; 495 acres of double crop milo yielding 75.71 bushels/acre; 85 acres of irrigated watermelons yielding 72,300 lbs/acre; 16 acres of irrigated strawberries yielding 2450 gallons/acre; and 26 acres of irrigated corn yielding 242.6 bushels/acre. Other products sold under Cumberland Valley Ag are as follows: Beck’s Hybrids: 19,798 units of seed sold in 2023; 7161 tons of fertilizer sold in 2023; and 44,428 gallons of fuel (diesel) sold in 2023.
Catesa Farms direct markets its products and captures value-added premiums whenever possible. A portion of the corn crop is sold to a Tennessee distillery (Chattanooga Whiskey) on a will-call basis. Soybeans and wheat are taken directly to a river port or mill. Soybeans are also grown for seed for production for Beck’s Hybrids, which in return, is another value added enterprise. Because of its 600,000 bushel storage capacity, wheat, soybeans, corn, and milo can be harvested at higher moisture contents, resulting in better test weights and timely market delivery during the harvest season.
Strawberries are sold directly off the farm and to local and nearby Nashville retail outlets and restaurants. Individuals that sell Catesa strawberries on a commission basis and local FFA chapters use their strawberries as a yearly fundraiser. They are also sold to a local winery (Beans Creek Winery) to be made into strawberry wine. Watermelons are direct marketed to Kroger and other local grocery stores. Catesa produce is listed as an official ‘Pick Tennessee Product.’
One of the first challenges George faced when he started farming in 1978 was finding labor. He said, “For Catesa to grow and develop, we hired our first employee in 1997 and now have ten full-time employees, four part-time employees, two contract workers, and from 25 to 30 seasonal workers.” He added, “We’ve been blessed to keep some employees for decades. My motto for the farm has always been: we do not have anyone works for us; we all work together.”
Finding adequate acreage for expansion was another challenge. Catesa Farms responded to it by leasing land from 75 unique landowners across a number of counties. George said, “We work hard to not only keep the farms in pristine condition, but keep owners informed by putting out a yearly newsletter highlighting employees, sharing successes from the past year, and laying out plans for the coming year.” He continued, “We’ve proudly farmed President Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage since 2007, and in 2024, we gained 600 additional acres of farmland by request of the landowners.”
A third challenge came from deer overpopulation in urban areas, which made it nearly impossible to grow soybeans. To adapt to this, George sought alternative crops on farms in urban areas, leading to an untraditional crop—grain sorghum/milo. He said, “We are able to plant this behind wheat in areas where the soybeans will not produce. It’s all part of knowing how and when to be flexible and following this truism: just as the seasons change, our challenges will change.”
On the county level, George is a member of the UT Extension Smith County Row Crop Advisory Board, chairman of Hwy 25 Water Utility District, past president and board member of Smith County Chamber of Commerce, past president and board member of Smith Farmers Co-op, past president and board member of Smith County Farm Bureau, and past chairman of Smith County Soil Conservation District. On the state level, he is a charter member and chair of TN Corn Promotion Board, a trustee of the Tennessee Nature Conservancy, a member of the Farm Credit Advisory Board, past president of the TN Fruit and Vegetable Association, member of the North Carolina Strawberry Growers Association, and board member and past chair of UT College of Ag & Natural Resources. George was also named TN Sunbelt Ag Expo Outstanding Farmer of the Year in 1996. On the national level, he is a member of the North American Strawberry Growers Association, and eleven-time winner of the National corn Growers Yield Contest. As part of his advocacy for farming, he also hosted the US House Ag Committee at Catesa Farms in 2023.
At the county level, Susan McDonald is a board member of Goose Gayla, a sponsor of Catesa Farms’ annual charity fundraiser, River City Ball, and a past secretary of the Lions Club.
On the environmental front, George has consistently explored and adopted technological advances and eco-friendly farming practices. He said, “For over a decade we’ve worked closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Smith County Soil & Water District to implement conservation practices.” These include variable rate applications for seed, nitrogen, potash, lime, and DAP as well as field irrigation techniques specifically designed to promote water conservation. Catesa Farms has regularly used cover crops to improve soil health, suppress weeds, and reduce erosion. All of the farms’ corn and soybean acres are no-till.
George added, “We work to control invasive species and enhance the habitat for wildlife on over 100 acres in Smith County, investing in beneficial insects and pollinators through crop rotation and creating habitat and food for pollinators. We’ve also improved overall timber stand health on forested acreage within and surrounding our operation.”
Lastly, George has been a pioneer in technical innovations, using GPS and GIS since 1997, and also uses AI to improve efficiency. Catesa Farms employs drones and helicopters to finish spraying on ground too wet for equipment, thereby preventing yield losses. As George noted, “We’ve been on the ‘bleeding’ edge of technology adoption instead of the leading edge and will continue to explore and invest in emerging technology to fulfill our environmental stewardship goals.”
In any spare time George allows himself, he enjoys traveling to the mountains of East Tennessee with kids and grandkids and kayaking in the Caney Fork River. He and Susan have been able to take a few vacations to Caribbean resorts, favoring the Cayman Islands. He added with a laugh, “It’s not typical of a farmer, but I also love to cook!”
Spending his life farming has taught George persistence and patience. He said, “I tell our employees, “If you’re doing something you don’t like, bear with it; it won’t last long. If you’re doing something you enjoy, savor it. It won’t last long either. The point is to take pride in what you do and how you do it each and every day.” He added, “I’ve become more purpose-driven with the years. This community has given me so much that I feel inspired and privileged to give back in any way I can—whether it’s through direct philanthropy, fundraising, mentoring younger farmers, or hosting tours of groups, organizations, and schools on the farm.”
George McDonald was nominated Tennessee Farmer of the Year by Katie Martin, County Director UT Extension for Smith County. She said, “I am proud to be able to nominate George McDonald and Catesa Farms, a title he previously held in 1996. George is a smart businessman, a passionate agriculturist, and an integral part of our community. I do not know anyone who is a better spokesman for agriculture, whether he is speaking with high schoolers or members of Congress; he is an outstanding advocate for our industry.”
She continued, “I admire his commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and diversification. But most of all, I admire his commitment to his employees, whom he treats like family. Catesa Farms has seen impressive growth and success under his leadership. Because of his focus on the future, the farm will continue to thrive for generations to come.”
Harper Family Holdings, the Alabama Farmers Federation, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Florida Farm Bureau, Georgia Farm Bureau, North Carolina Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farm Bureau, and Virginia Farm Bureau have joined together to generously sponsor the 2024 program.
State winners of the Sunbelt Expo award will receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Expo from the sponsors. A vest from the sponsors will be given to each state winner and nominator. The Moultrie Colquitt Co. Chamber of Commerce will give each state winner a local keepsake.
The state winners are now eligible for the $15,000 cash prize awarded to the overall winner by the sponsors. Massey Ferguson North America will provide each state winner with a gift package and the overall winner with the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year or 250 hours (whichever comes first). A jacket from the sponsors will be given to the overall winner. Hays LTI will award the overall winner with a HAYS Smoker/Grill. In addition, the overall winner will receive a Henry Repeating Arms American Farmer Tribute Edition rifle from Reinke Irrigation.
The Sunbelt Expo is coordinating the Southeastern Farmer of the Year awards for the 34rd consecutive year. $1,324,000 in cash awards and other honors have been awarded to two hundred ninety six southeastern farmers since the award was initiated in 1990.