9 Farms Recognized as 2019 Georgia Quality Cotton Award Winners

The 2019 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s 13th Annual Meeting and UGA Cotton Production Workshop last month in Tifton, GA. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and BASF, and administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team.

The purpose of the awards are to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers. The producers and their gins received a plaque and the winning producers received a $500 cash award. The UGA County Extension Agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

The awards are given in each of these three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners in these categories are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise. The sponsors of this program congratulate all of the following winners:

Region 1

• • Less than 500 acres

• • • Grower — Beth NeSmith, Turner County
    • Ginner — Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, Sycamore
    • UGA Extension Agent — Guy Hancock
  • 500-1000 acres

• • • Grower — Mark Thompson, Pulaski County
    • Ginner — Arabi Gin Company
    • UGA Extension Agent — Jay Porter
  • 1000+ acres

• • Grower — Ronnie Conner, Wilcox County
  • Ginner — Worth Gin & Warehouse, Sylvester
  • UGA Extension Agent — Holly Anderson

Region 2

• • Less than 500 acres

• • • Grower — Derek Davis, Washington County
    • Ginner — Midville Warehouse, Inc.
    • UGA Extension Agent — Tammy Cheely
  • 500-1000 acres

• • • Grower — Buckhead Creek Farms, Jenkins County
    • Ginner — Midville Warehouse, Inc.
    • UGA Extension Agent — Katie Burch
  • 1000+ acres

• • Grower — Dean Johnson, Burke County
  • Ginner — Bryant’s Gin, Bartow
  • UGA Extension Agents — Peyton Sapp

Region 3

• • Less than 500 acres

• • • Grower — Randall Webb, Tift County
    • Ginner — Omega Gin company
    • UGA Extension Agent — Justin Hand
  • 500-1000 acres

• • • Grower — Chris Exum, Brooks County
    • Ginner — BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman
    • UGA Extension Agents — Stephanie Hollifield
  • 1000+ acres

• • Grower — Brian & Ken Ponder, Tift County
  • Ginner — Omega Gin Company
  • UGA Extension Agents — Justin Hand

Region 4

• • Less than 500 acres

• • • Grower — Andrew Rayburn, Thomas County
    • Ginner — BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman
    • UGA Extension Agent — Sydni Barwick
  • 500-1000 acres

• • • Grower — Stacey & Stuart Jones, Worth County
    • Ginner — Worth Gin & Warehouse, Sylvester
    • UGA Extension Agent — Scott Carlson & Bryce Sutherland
  • 1000+ acres

• • Grower — Brian Rayburn, Thomas County
  • Ginner — BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman
  • UGA Extension Agent — Sydni Barwick

The final award given was the overall Best Cotton Award. This was awarded to the Georgia cotton producer with highest loan value and premium. The 2019 Best Cotton Award went to Washington County’s Derek Davis with a loan value of 56.82 cents/lb and a premium of 4.82 cents/lb.