2024 SUNBELT AG EXPO FARMER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Faylene Whitaker of North Carolina for being named the 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Learn more about Whitaker’s farming operation in North Carolina.
2024 State Winners
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2024 Farmer of the Year – Walter Bass, Jr., Virginia
Walter Bass, Jr. Virginia Farmer of the Year 2024 Four generations of the Bass family have farmed in the small town of Gladys, Virginia for just over 100 years. Bass Sod Farm, designated a Century Farm, is comprised of 2313 rented and owned acres that grew tobacco for...
2024 Farmer of the Year – George McDonald, Tennessee
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...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Ty Woodard, South Carolina
Ty Woodard South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2024 Ty Woodard, of Woodard Farms, Inc., is a third-generation diversified farmer and agribusiness owner in Darlington County. Ty’s grandfather, Frank Woodard, Jr., always dreamed of returning to his agricultural roots...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Faylene Whitaker, North Carolina
Faylene Whitaker North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2024 Two years after they married, Faylene Whitaker and her late husband, Richard, started their own farm in 1975 on ten acres of rented land, using a 150 International tractor and a $40 tobacco setter. When the first...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Bruce Allen Redmond, Georgia
Bruce Allen Redmond Georgia Farmer of the Year 2024 Bruce Redmond is boldly carrying on the legacy of his late father, Larry Redmond, who started Shiloh Farms in the early 1980s. The operation consists of 2800 owned and rented acres in Guyton and produces bahia grass,...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Jason Watts, Florida
Jason Watts Florida Farmer of the Year 2024 Growing up in the rich agricultural area of Okeechobee, Jason Watts is the grandson of dairy farmers on both sides. His great-grandfather grew citrus crops, as did many farmers in those days. He said, “My uncles,...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Ted Huneycutt, Arkansas
Ted Huneycutt Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2024 The history of Huneycutt Farms reaches back to 1882, when the great-grandfather of brothers Ted and Steve Huneycutt began farming in Dalark, Arkansas, a border town between Clark and Dallas counties. Their grandfather,...
2024 Farmer of the Year – Joel Sirmon, Alabama
Joel Sirmon Alabama Farmer of the Year 2024 Joel Sirmon, along with his brother and three sisters, was born on a 300-acre dairy and farrow-to-finish hog operation that also grew corn and soybeans. His parents wanted him to pursue higher education, so he went off to...
Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern 2023 Farmer of the Year
Arkansas
North Carolina
Alabama
South Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Florida
Virginia
Steve Cobb, of Lake City, Arkansas, has been selected as the overall winner of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2023.
Cobb Farms is a partnership enterprise that began over fifty years ago in Craighead County. Today, on a total of 4,500 acres (2,500 rented and 2,000 owned), it grows row crops, produce, and show pigs. Three entities make up the partnership: 1) Steve Cobb and Family is a leading show-pig operation that produces 1,000+ show pigs a year as well as breeding stock for club pig production. 2) Cane Island Farms oversee the row crops of corn, cotton, and peanuts. 3) The Cane Island Produce branch grows vegetables, specializing in year-round greenhouse tomatoes.
In addition, Circle L Farms handles all of Cane Island Farm’s trucking needs as well as Steve Cobb and Family’s grain hauling. The company runs eight trucks daily and helps out local brokers as well.
Click here to view an archive of all previous winners by state.
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
- Virginia Farmer 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
- South Carolina Farmer 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
- Virginia Farmer 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
- Arkansas Farmer 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 MISSSISSIPPI 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
- North Carolina Farmer 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
- Georgia Crop Farmer 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
- South Carolina Fruit Grower James Cooley Named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2013
- SCOTT TRAVIS NAMED 2013 KENTUCKY FARMER OF THE YEAR
- LIN JONES NAMED 2013 VIRGINIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- WILBUR EARP NAMED 2013 NORTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- PHILLIP DeSALVO NAMED 2013 ARKANSAS FARMER OF THE YEAR
- WILL HARRIS NAMED 2013 GEORGIA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- ABBOTT MYERS NAMED 2013 MISSISSIPPI FARMER OF THE YEAR
- RICHARD JAMESON NAMED 2013 TENNESSEE FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JAMES COOLEY NAMED 2013 SOUTH CAROLINA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- JOHN SCOTT LONG NAMED 2013 FLORIDA FARMER OF THE YEAR
- ANNIE DEE NAMED 2013 ALABAMA FARMER OF THE YEAR