SUNBELT AG EXPO SOUTHEASTERN FARMER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Kent Hamilton, Georgia, on being named the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Learn more about the 2025 winner below and the other state winners. The 2026 Farmers of the Year will be announced in mid-July and stories will be released in August 2026.
2026 FARMERS OF THE YEAR
2026 Virginia Farmer of the Year: Glenn Dye
At 13 years old, after his grandfather passed away, Glenn Dye realized someone had to pick up the slack on the family farm. As a teenager, he started helping his father more with daily tasks. Before his grandfather passed, Dye promised him he would attend college....
2026 South Carolina Farmer of the Year: Jeffrey (Jeff) Massey
After marrying into a family in the seafood business, Jeffrey Massey soon developed his passion for the industry. For the past 26 years, he’s spent his career working to advance the family business by growing clams and oysters, advocating for the seafood industry, and...
2026 North Carolina Farmer of the Year: John H. Gross
As a 5th-generation farmer on Gross Farms, John Gross has deep roots in Sanford, North Carolina, where his family has farmed the land for over a century. When he was in the 11th grade, he became an owner in the operation, managing three acres of Tobacco and working...
2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year: Pete Gelber
Pete Gelber grew up in the Bronx, a part of New York City. His parents purchased a cabin three hours north of the city to keep the five children out of trouble in the summer. After his brother obtained a job at the neighboring 30 cow dairy, Pete started trailing...
2026 Florida Farmer of the Year: Woody Larson
Growing up in a dairy farming family, Woody Larson always knew he wanted to farm. As a young child he’d sweep the feed room floor, bagging the sweepings to feed the dry cows for 15 cents a day. While his family roots run deep in agriculture, he knew he would have to...
2026 Arkansas Farmer of the Year: Murry Henderson, Jr.
A crop farmer from Northeast Arkansas, Murry Henderson Jr., has established his operation with dedication and resilience. As a first generation farmer, Murry understands facing challenges and overcoming adversities. From starting with 100 acres to now farming over...
2026 Alabama Farmer of the Year: Charles (Chuck) T. Madaris III
What started as weekends at his grandparents cattle operation has grown into an industry leading family farming operation in Hope Hull, Alabama. Chuck Madaris, alongside his wife, Katie, have built and grown CK Cattle into an industry-leading operation. Although the...
Media: Get Farmer of the Year Photos
2026 Farmer of the Year photos are now available.
If you are looking to have a photo accompany the release in your state, you can download your state’s winner’s photo now via the Dropbox folder.
BUY 2026 EXPO TICKETS ONLINE TODAY
Make sure you are ready to join us October 20-22, 2026, in Moultrie, Georgia, and buy your tickets in advance online. Plan your trip today and get your tickets now.
2025 SUNBELT AG EXPO SOUTHEASTERN FARMER OF THE YEAR
KENT HAMILTON NAMED 2025 SOUTHEASTERN FARMER OF THE YEAR
Kent Hamilton, of Norman Park, Georgia, has been selected as the overall winner of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2025.
Kent Hamilton is CEO of Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable, Inc., based in Norman Park. Kent said, “It was founded in 1987 and is a family-operated corporation that’s spent generations growing, packing, and shipping fresh produce with care, integrity, and heart.”
Now spanning over 8500 cultivated acres across Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, Southern Valley grows green beans, cabbage, trellis cucumbers, a variety of peppers and squash, sweet corn, trellis pickles, and eggplant and owns 100 head of cows. Kent said, “I started farming 37 years ago with my uncle and my late brother, Kirk, in a row crop operation centered on cotton, peanuts, and tobacco. Over time, we’ve strategically changed our focus to vegetables and expanded to ensure year-round productivity and to grow crops in regions with favorable seasonal climates.”
Send in your Farmer of the Year Nominations Today!
Do you know someone who would be an excellent candidate to represent your state in the Farmer of the Year (FOTY) program? Nominate them today by contacting your state coordinator.
Support the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
State Winners
Seeking $115,000
Click here to view an archive of all previous winners by state.
2025 Overall and State Winners
-
2025 Farmer of the Year – Dr. Issac “Nealy” Barrett, Jr. – Alabama
-
2025 Farmer of the Year – David “Harrell” Overman – North Carolina
2024 Overall and State Winners
- FAYLENE WHITAKER NAMED 2024 FARMER OF THE YEAR
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Joel Sirmon, Alabama
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Ted Huneycutt, Arkansas
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Jason Watts, Florida
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Bruce Allen Redmond, Georgia
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Faylene Whitaker, North Carolina
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Ty Woodard, South Carolina
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – George McDonald, Tennessee
- 2024 Farmer of the Year – Walter Bass, Jr., Virginia
2023 Overall and State Winners
2022 Overall and State Winners
- 2022 Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year: Robert E. Saunders, Virginia
- Mark Byrd | Alabama Farmer of the Year 2022
- Chris Sweat | Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2022
- Jerry Dakin | Florida Farmer of the Year 2022
- Scotty Raines | Georgia Farmer of the Year 2022
- Wesley C. Parker | Kentucky Farmer of the Year 2022
- Michael L. Wagner | Mississippi Farmer of the Year 2022
- Kevin Matthews | North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2022
- Keith Allen | South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2022
- John M. Harrison | Tennessee Farmer of the Year 2022
- Robert E. Saunders | Virginia Farmer of the Year 2022
2020-2021 Overall and State Winners
- Robert “Bob” Martin Hall | Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year 2021
- Thomas Ellis Alabama Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Jamie Anderson Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Raymond R. “Rick” Roth Jr. Florida Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Samuel L. Nunn Georgia Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Stephen J. Kelley Kentucky Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Joe Edmondson Mississippi Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- James L. Lamb North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Robert Martin Hall South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Jay Yeargin Tennessee Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
- Charles Edwin Isbell Jr. Virginia Farmer of the Year 2020-2021
2019 Overall and State Winners
- Michael H. McDowell Named 2019 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
- MICHAEL H. McDOWELL NAMED 2019 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JERRY RAY NAMED 2019 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- SIDI LIMEHOUSE NAMED 2019 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHNNY WISHON NAMED 2019 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- TED PARKER NAMED 2019 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DANNY CUNNINGHAM NAMED 2019 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- ROBERT L. DICKEY, III NAMED 2019 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES W. OBERN NAMED 2019 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- CHRIS ISBELL NAMED 2019 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- HANK RICHARDSON NAMED 2019 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2018 Overall and State Winners
- Kevin Yon Named 2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
- HOWARD BROWN NAMED 2018 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- LONNIE FORTNER NAMED 2018 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DARREN LUTTRELL NAMED 2018 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JAMES VAUGHN NAMED 2018 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- LYNETTA USHER GRINER NAMED 2018 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- LUKE ALSTON NAMED 2018 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHN DELOACH NAMED 2018 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PAUL ROGERS, JR. NAMED 2018 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHN VERELL NAMED 2018 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- KEVIN YON NAMED 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2017 Overall and State Winners
- Robert Mills, Jr. Named 2017 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
- ROBERT MILLS, JR. NAMED 2017 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- MIKE ROBINSON NAMED 2017 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- KEMP McLEOD NAMED 2017 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- VAN HEMRIC NAMED 2017 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- MIKE STURDIVANT NAMED 2017 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- MIKE BACH NAMED 2017 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- EVERETT WILLIAMS NAMED 2017 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- MARK WILSON NAMED 2017 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- MARK MORGAN NAMED 2017 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- CHRIS LANGLEY NAMED 2017 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2016 Overall and State Winners
- David Wildy Named as 2016 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
- TYLER WEGMEYER NAMED 2016 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JAMES HASKEW NAMED 2016 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- KERRY OWEN NAMED 2016 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JERRY WYANT NAMED 2016 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PAUL GOOD NAMED 2016 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- KEITH LOWRY NAMED 2016 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHN MCCORMICK NAMED 2016 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PAUL DIMARE NAMED 2016 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DAVID WILDY NAMED 2016 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- WENDELL GIBBS NAMED 2016 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2015 Overall and State Winners
- Danny Kornegay Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2015
- RICKEY CORNUTT NAMED 2015 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- NATHAN REED NAMED 2015 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- VIC STORY, JR., NAMED 2015 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JAMES LYLES NAMED 2015 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JACK TRUMBO NAMED 2015 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- ALLEN EUBANKS NAMED 2015 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DANNY KORNEGAY NAMED 2015 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- TOM TRANTHAM NAMED 2015 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- GEORGE CLAY NAMED 2015 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DONALD TURNER NAMED 2015 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2014 Overall and State Winners
- Philip Grimes Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2014
- ANDY GILL NAMED 2014 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- DANNY MURPHY NAMED 2014 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- C. DENNIS CARLTON NAMED 2014 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- FRANK HOWEY JR. NAMED 2014 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHN KELLER NAMED 2014 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PHILIP GRIMES NAMED 2014 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PHILLIP HUNTER NAMED 2014 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- RAY ALLAN MACKEY NAMED 2014 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- ROBERT T. “TOM” NIXON II NAMED 2014 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- WALTER DANTZLER NAMED 2014 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
2013 Overall and State Winners
-
James Cooley Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2013
- ANNIE DEE NAMED 2013 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR







