TYLER WEGMEYER NAMED 2016 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
After growing up on a Michigan dairy farm and working as a staff member for the U.S. Congress, Tyler Wegmeyer of Hamilton, Va., found his calling as a full time farmer. Not far from Washington, D.C., he farms in historic and affluent Loudoun County, Va. He developed a unique business model to...
JAMES HASKEW NAMED 2016 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
On Fiery Gizzard Road near South Pittsburg, Tenn., James Haskew has built a successful farm where he grows corn, wheat, soybeans, hay and haylage. Haskew is an efficient producer, who adds value to his crops by operating a feed mill. He also adds income to his farm by raising beef cattle. As a...
KERRY OWEN NAMED 2016 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Kerry Owen of Pickens, S.C., has had a sweet ride as an innovative producer of farm-raised honey. He’s a busy beekeeper who markets his own Bee Well brand of honey. A different type of farmer, Owen markets honey, bees and beekeeping supplies. He keeps bees on 26 farms in three states—South...
JERRY WYANT NAMED 2016 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Wyant of Vale, North Carolina is a diversified farmer with a knack for saving money and building what he needs to make his farm more efficient. He lives on the farm where he was raised, across from two old red barns, on Wyant Road, a country highway named for his grandmother who championed...
PAUL GOOD NAMED 2016 MISSSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
At age 90, Paul Good of Columbus, Miss., has had a long, distinguished and very good career in farming, first in his home state of Indiana and for the past 42 years in eastern Mississippi’s Noxubee County. A farmer for 70 years, he’s old enough to remember rural electrification coming to the farm,...
KEITH LOWRY NAMED 2016 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
Kentucky farmer Keith Lowry is known for his high yielding corn and soybeans and for the many ways he supports his community. He lives and farms in the western part of the state, in the Pilot Oak community near Water Valley, Ky. His modern shop building has become a popular gathering spot for...
JOHN MCCORMICK NAMED 2016 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
On his crop farm near the Ogeechee River in East Georgia, John McCormick has been a leader in using innovative farming practices. Some of these include using global positioning systems, planting soil-building cover crops and using variable rate nutrient application and variable rate irrigation. At...
PAUL DIMARE NAMED 2016 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
A native of Massachusetts, Paul DiMare grew up in the family produce business and expanded its operations to production and distribution locations in Florida and throughout the U.S. Over time, he became the largest tomato farmer in the U.S., and was known by his nickname, “Mr. Tomato.” As a...
DAVID WILDY NAMED 2016 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
Farming on a large scale on the Delta soils on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River, David Wildy of Manila, Ark., and his family are growing a wide assortment of row crops on more than 12,000 acres of farmland this year. Wildy started farming full time in 1975 after graduating from the...
WENDELL GIBBS NAMED 2016 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
As a bank executive, Wendell Gibbs of Ranburne, Ala., raised beef cattle on a part time basis. After retiring from banking in 1988, he became a full time cattle producer and developed a premier beef seedstock operation featuring the Simmental and Angus breeds. His bulls have sired calves in every...
2015 Southeastern Hay Contest Winners
Congratulations to the 2015 Southeastern Hay Contest Winners!
North Carolina Farmer Danny Kornegay Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2015
Danny Kornegay, a diversified farmer from Princeton, North Carolina, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2015.
COME TEST DRIVE A CHEVY TRUCK
Chevrolet is excited to invite all Sunbelt Ag Expo attendees to experience our award-winning trucks, vans and SUVs at the Chevrolet on-site exhibit area and receive a free Chevy Trucks T-shirt and Chevy stickers just for registering to learn more about us. The off-road experience will feature the...
RICKEY CORNUTT NAMED 2015 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Rickey Cornutt of Boaz, Ala., raises crops and cattle on small fields. He’s a successful farmer on Sand Mountain in North Alabama. A farmer for 33 years, Cornutt’s farm consists of 2,000 acres, including 1,600 acres of rented land and 400 acres of owned land. As a result of his success as a row...
NATHAN REED NAMED 2015 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
At age 35, young fourth generation farmer Nathan Reed has accomplished much during his 12-year farming career. He’s an attorney who gave up the practice of law to concentrate on farming. He raises cotton, corn, soybeans and grain sorghum on close to 6,000 acres. Reed, from Marianna, Ark., has...
VIC STORY, JR., NAMED 2015 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Vic Story, Jr., of Lake Wales, Fla., is a citrus leader during a time the industry faces a threatening bacterial disease called citrus greening. Story is fighting back by spraying psyllid insects that spread the disease, by replanting infected groves and by planting alternative crops such as...
JAMES LYLES NAMED 2015 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
On his Northwest Georgia farm, James Lyles is building new chicken houses, moving beef cattle daily and harvesting and selling top quality hay. A farmer for 19 years, Lyles is from Ringgold, Ga. His Dry Creek Farm includes 627 acres with 90 rented acres and 537 acres of owned land. He says, “If I...
JACK TRUMBO NAMED 2015 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
This has been a difficult year for Jack Trumbo of Simpsonville, Ky. In February, his home burned down. About a month later, he suffered a life-threatening accident when a tractor ran over him. He endured multiple injuries. Prompt medical attention helped save his life, followed by surgeries and a...
ALLEN EUBANKS NAMED 2015 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
Fourth generation farmer Allen Eubanks of Lucedale, Miss., specializes in farm-fresh, hand-picked vegetable crops. He has been buying land throughout his career and his farm is now one of the largest vegetable farms in Mississippi. Eubanks Produce encompasses about 2,800 acres. He farms in six...
DANNY KORNEGAY NAMED 2015 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
NOTE: Danny Kornegy was the Overall Winner- read more here. As a tobacco farmer, sweet potato grower, row crop producer and contract hog grower, Danny Kornegay of Princeton, N.C., has been a great success in his 45 years of farming. He farms 5,500 acres, including 2,900 acres of rented land and...
TOM TRANTHAM NAMED 2015 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
A pioneer who developed a grazing dairy and an on-farm bottling plant and creamery, Tom Trantham of Pelzer, S.C., plants forage crops throughout the year. This replicates the lush and nutritious grazing available during April on most farms. He calls his farm the 12 Aprils Dairy. His bottling plant...
GEORGE CLAY NAMED 2015 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
George Clay has maximized his production and has become an efficient row crop and beef producer who farms with two sons and only one employee. A farmer for 57 years, Clay is from Pelham, Tenn. He grows high yielding crops and farms productive land. As a result of his farming success, Clay has been...
DONALD TURNER NAMED 2015 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
A diversified row crop farmer, Donald Turner of North Dinwiddie, Va., has farmed for 41 years. He started farming with his father. This past year, he farmed 1,166 acres of cropland plus another 165 acres in timber for a total of 1,331 acres. He owns about a fourth of the land he farms and rents...
Georgia Crop Farmer Philip Grimes Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2014
(Moultrie, Ga.)— Philip Grimes, a farmer from Tifton, Georgia who is known for his conservation practices and high crop yields, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2014. Download Press Release (doc) ...
ANDY GILL NAMED 2014 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
Corn and soybeans make high yields for Andy Gill of McGehee, Ark. He farms productive flat bottomlands in the Arkansas Delta, close to where the Arkansas River flows into the Mississippi River. Using furrow irrigation, Gill’s yields are impressive. Last year, he produced 220 bushels of corn per...
DANNY MURPHY NAMED 2014 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
A national soybean leader, Danny Murphy of Canton, Miss., is a successful row crop farmer who gives back to the industry that has treated him so well. He has never been too busy to get involved in commodity and community organizations. A farmer for 41 years, Murphy farms 1,600 acres, including 980...
C. DENNIS CARLTON NAMED 2014 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Cattle rancher, citrus grower and real estate investor C. Dennis Carlton has made a big impact in the city of Tampa and nearby parts of Florida. A rancher for 40 years, his farming interests include more than 35,000 acres, of which 30,082 acres are rented and some 5,368 acres are owned. As a...
FRANK HOWEY JR. NAMED 2014 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
As urban growth near Charlotte has expanded, the farm of Frank Howey Jr., has grown at an equal rate. In 32 years of farming, Howey from Monroe, N.C., has become one of the largest farmers in the area and state. He specializes in row crops, wheat, soybeans and corn, and has a small cattle herd. He...
JOHN KELLER NAMED 2014 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
A farmer for 50 years, John Keller of Maryville, Tenn., has long been close to the land he farms in the shade of the scenic Great Smoky Mountains. He farms about 788 acres, including 226 acres of rented land and 562 acres of family-owned land. His crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, hay and...
PHILIP GRIMES NAMED 2014 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
A meticulous, high-yield crop farmer, Philip Grimes of Tifton, Ga., is admired as one of the best farmers in South Georgia. He has been recognized on the state level for producing high peanut yields for more than 20 consecutive years. A conservation farmer, he uses cover crops and has installed...
PHILLIP HUNTER NAMED 2014 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Drive through Nashville or Birmingham and see the upscale offices and residential complexes. Chances are, the trees landscaping these properties came from the farm of Phillip Hunter. He grew up as a city boy and now lives in Birmingham. He raises shade, evergreen and ornamental trees at the Hunter...
RAY ALLAN MACKEY NAMED 2014 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
Diversified livestock and crop farming at Meadow View Farms have been profitable over many years for Ray Allan Mackey, a 28-year farming veteran from Elizabethtown, Ky. Mackey farms 4,535 acres, of which 1,350 acres are rented and 3,185 acres are owned. He is known for growing corn, soybeans,...
ROBERT T. “TOM” NIXON II NAMED 2014 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Beef cattle, turkeys and row crops are major enterprises at scenic Glenmary Farm overlooking the Rapidan River near Rapidan, Va. Robert T. “Tom” Nixon II, who owns this farm, is focused on flexibility in growing and marketing cattle and crops. For instance, he harvests corn as a cash crop or...
WALTER DANTZLER NAMED 2014 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
Walter Dantzler of Santee, S.C., is a Vietnam War veteran who sincerely appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the heritage of his multigenerational farm. A farmer for 45 years, Dantzler farms 4,487 acres. This includes 2,626 acres of rented land and 1,861 acres of owned land. He farms 3,975...
Promo Video
South Carolina Fruit Grower James Cooley Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2013
(Moultrie, Ga.)—South Carolina peach and strawberry grower James Cooley, who built a beautiful farm that has become an agricultural tourism destination, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2013. Cooley was named as...
Local Vendors Coalition Helps Farmers Break Even
Local Vendors Coalition (LVC) has helped countless farmers take their farm from "break-even" to a profitable operation by helping farmers with all the logistical headaches (transportation, paperwork, etc.). LVC will work with farmers of any size, from big to small, and is expected to generate...
Going for a Spin at the 2013 Sunbelt Expo
Rather than just slam doors and kick tires, visitors to the 36th Sunbelt Expo will be able to slip into the front seat and get an up close and personal driving experience during test rides on specially designed tracks both inside the exhibit grounds and in the field demo area. Visitors can put...
Longtime University of Georgia Extension agronomist John Woodruff has been selected as the newest judge for the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
Longtime University of Georgia Extension agronomist John Woodruff has been selected as the newest judge for the prestigious Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year awards. Woodruff, from Tifton, Ga., will join John McKissick, University of Georgia agricultural economist from...
SCOTT TRAVIS NAMED 2013 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
Being flexible has paid off for Scott Travis of Cox’s Creek, Ky. His farming operation has evolved over the years, from an early emphasis on livestock to a current focus on crops—burley tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, straw and pumpkins. As a result of his success as a diversified crop...