Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Farmer of the Year

Since its inception in 1990, the Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award has evolved into the most prestigious honor in the southeast and nation with 265 outstanding agribusiness leaders being honored for their “excellence in agriculture.” Ten states participate in the program: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In the previous 31 years of the award, Swisher has awarded over $1,244,000 to the state and overall winners. Each state winner receives $2,500 in cash and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Ag Expo from Swisher. A vest from the Sunbelt Ag Expo is given to each state winner and nominator. Additionally, Syngenta donates $500 to each state winner’s charity of choice and Massey Ferguson North America provides each winner with a gift package. The overall Southeastern winner receives an additional $15,000 from Swisher. Other prizes for the overall winner include use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year or up to 250 hours (whichever comes first) from Massey Ferguson North America, a jacket from the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a Hays LTI Smoker/Grill, and a Henry Repeating Arms American Farmer Tribute Edition .22 rifle from Reinke Irrigation. All nominations must go through the state coordinator. Click this link to contact the coordinator in your state for more information.
2022 State Winners
2022 Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year: Robert E. Saunders, Virginia
News ReleaseContact: Becca Turner(229) 985-1968 x2228Email: [email protected] For Immediate Release ROBERT E. SAUNDERS NAMED 2022 SOUTHEASTERN FARMER OF THE YEAR [Moultrie, GA]—Robert E. Saunders, a multi-generational farmer from Piney River, Virginia, who...
Robert E. Saunders | Virginia Farmer of the Year 2022
In a reflective mood Robert Saunders, of Saunders Brothers, Inc. in Piney River, Virginia, quoted Mark Twain’s famous advice, “Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.” Growing up on a family farm as one of seven brothers was...
John M. Harrison | Tennessee Farmer of the Year 2022
Philadelphia, Tennessee, the home of Sweetwater Valley Farm, was settled as part of a Revolutionary War land grant in the early 1800s. At the turn of the twentieth century, it became a dairy farm, with the original barn built in 1917. Seventy years later, John and...
Keith Allen | South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2022
Betty Allen Farms in Latta, South Carolina, has been in Keith Allen’s family for nearly 200 proverbial lean and fat years. Growing from a modest holding in 1837 to 3800 acres today, the farm has experienced everything from near loss at auction in 1917 to two recent...
Kevin Matthews | North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2022
Kevin and Cindy Matthews own and operate Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina, Inc., Precision Nutrient Management, Inc., and Deep Creek Grain, Inc. in East Bend and Yadkinville, North Carolina. Matthews is the fourth generation on his family’s farm. He said, “With...
Michael L. Wagner | Mississippi Farmer of the Year 2022
Located in the rich, highly organic, blue gumbo clay soil or ‘terroir’ of the Mississippi Delta is Two Brooks Farm, owned by Michael L. Wagner. His family can count an unbroken line of ten generations of farmers back to 1742. Their prodigious, consistent labor has...
Wesley C. Parker | Kentucky Farmer of the Year 2022
Wesley Parker was raised on a 150–acre dairy farm in Christian County, Kentucky, where his family grew silage and hay for their cows and a small crop of tobacco. In the late 1970s, they transitioned out of the milk business into raising hogs. Parker recalled, “My dad,...
Scotty Raines | Georgia Farmer of the Year 2022
Scotty Raines didn’t grow up on a farm, but his father kept a large garden at home. His mother, a beautician, had abeauty shop behind their house. So Scotty began his agrarian career by selling produce from the garden—tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and corn—to her...
Jerry Dakin | Florida Farmer of the Year 2022
Jerry Dakin’s family dairy farm was started by his dad, Romanus (Pete) Dakin, in Livermore, Maine in 1948. From a modest sixteen cows, the operation grew over the post-World War II years. When Pete Dakin returned from a trip down south in October 1963, he informed his...
Chris Sweat | Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2022
Chris Sweat is a fourth generation farmer who grew up on a full-time poultry and cow/calf operation. His great grandparents started a beef and dairy farm, and his dad later established his own chicken and cattle operation. As a youngster, Chris was active in 4-H and...
Mark Byrd | Alabama Farmer of the Year 2022
Mark Byrd of Byrd Farms in Danville, Alabama, bought a used tractor and hay baler when he was only fourteen years old. Inspired by a FFA vocational ag class in high school, after graduation he planted 15 acres of rented land with soybeans while working a full-time...
2022 State Winners’ Videos
Arkansas
North Carolina
Alabama
South Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Kentucky
Florida
Mississippi
Virginia
Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern 2022 Farmer of the Year

Robert E. Saunders has been selected as the 2022 Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Robert E. Saunders, a multi-generational farmer from Piney River, Virginia, who grows woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, field ornamentals, grafted trees, peaches, nectarines, apples, and Asian pears, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2022.
Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern 2020-2021 Farmer of the Year

Robert “Bob” Martin Hall has been selected as the 2021 Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Nestled in the hilly Piedmont region of York, South Carolina is Bush-N-Vine Farm, a fruit and vegetable-growing enterprise owned and operated by Robert “Bob” Martin Hall. His career began forty-one years ago on land that’s been in his family for a century and a half.
Nominate for 2023 Farmer of the Year 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.
Click here to view an archive of all previous winners by state.
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