Here is a feature article from the Winter, 2006 Issue

GFB holds 67th Annual Convention

By Jennifer Whittaker

Georgia Farm Bureau recognized the best of the organization’s volunteers and county chapters during an awards program held Dec. 5, at the GFB 67th Annual Convention on Jekyll Island.

The state award winners were honored for the programs they conducted this past year to promote agriculture.
GFB President Wayne Dollar (back row, center) congratulates the 2005 GFB state award recipients: (front row, L-R) Joyce Moncrief, Kelly Thomason, Sue Cuzzort, Delores McCallum and Lauren Lord (back row, L-R): Leighton Cooley, Chris Paulk, Danny Brooks, Wayne Dollar, Tim Duvall, Hal McCallum and Keith Lord.
“Our county volunteers are essential to the success of Georgia Farm Bureau. All of our volunteers are to be commended for the ag days, meet-the-candidate forums, policy development breakfasts and numerous other activities they have organized during the past year to promote agriculture,” GFB President Wayne Dollar, said. “It’s a pleasure to recognize our many award winners for their efforts and a job well done.”

Greene County Farm Bureau received the prestigious McKemie Award - the highest honor awarded to a county Farm Bureau - in recognition of their member service programs. Tim Duvall is president of the Greene County Farm Bureau. The McKemie Award is a memorial to one of the organization’s former presidents, W.J. McKemie. Other finalists in the McKemie competition listed in rank of second to fifth place were: Crawford, Jones, Jasper and Cherokee counties.

Keith and Lauren Lord of Madison County were named the Young Farmer Achievement winners. The couple produces hay, rye, and straw on their farm near Danielsville, Ga. They also have two houses of heavy breeder chickens and raise pullets for Harrison Poultry. Keith is a past chairman of the Madison County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee and is a past president of the Madison County Young Farmers Association. The Lords served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee from 2001-2002. They competed for national honors at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, in January.

Other finalists in the GFB Young Farmer Achievement Contest were Brent and Beth Galloway of Newton County and Nancy Mann of Cherokee County.

Chris Paulk of Berrien County won the Young Farmer Discussion Meet and competed for national honors at the AFBF Convention in Nashville, on Jan. 8, where he advanced to the third round of competition. Other finalists included Elton Baldy of Colquitt County, Will Boyd of Screven County and Peyton Sapp of Greene County. During the final round of the Discussion Meet, the contestants discussed the risk agriterrorism poses to national security. Paulk received a $500 cash award courtesy of Dodge Truck. The three finalists each received a $250 cash award from SunTrust Bank.

Other state awards presented included: Habersham County – recipient of the Outstanding Information & Public Relations Committee Award; Crawford County – recipient of the Outstanding Women’s Committee Award; Crawford County – recipient of the Outstanding Legislative Committee Award and Jasper County – recipient of the Outstanding Young Farmer Committee Award.

Sue Cuzzort, Polk County Farm Bureau office manager, was named the Outstanding Secretary of the Year. She has been employed with the Polk County Farm Bureau for almost six years.


GFB honors McCallum with Distinguished Service Award

The Georgia Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award was given posthumously to Donald McCallum of Coffee County.

McCallum served as Georgia Farm Bureau South Georgia Vice President from 1994 until his death in February. He was elected to the GFB Board of Directors in 1990 as a 10th District director. He served as president of the Coffee County Farm Bureau since 1975. Prior to being elected to that position, he served as Coffee County Farm Bureau Vice President from 1971-74 and as secretary/treasurer from 1967-70.

He was a diversified row crop farmer who grew tobacco, cattle, corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and timber during his lifetime of farming.


GFB members elect leaders, Dollar will not seek re-election

Voting delegates at the Georgia Farm Bureau 67th Annual Convention elected their board of directors and officers for 2006 during elections held Dec. 6. GFB President Wayne Dollar begins the second year of his sixth term after announcing that he will not seek re-election next year. Dollar has served as GFB President since 1994.

“It has come time for me to realistically look at what is best for the organization, my family and for me,” Dollar told the convention attendees while delivering his annual report during the convention general session. “I am proud of what we have done. I am humbled by your confidence and support over these years, but I recognize the time has come for me to turn the reigns of the organization over to someone else.”

Donald Childs of Jackson County was re-elected unopposed as the organization’s North Georgia Vice President and designated as GFB 1st vice president. GFB Director Gary Paulk of Irwin County was elected South Georgia vice president, filling the vacancy left after the death of Donald McCallum in February. Robert Fountain, Jr., of Emanuel County will continue serving as GFB Middle Georgia vice president.

In the only contested race, Ricky Tucker of Berrien County was elected to represent the GFB’s 10th District, filling the seat vacated by Gary Paulk. Tucker operates a diversified row crop, vegetable and cattle farm. He has been a Berrien County director since 1989.

The following were re-elected unopposed to serve two-year terms on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors: J. Louis Hunt of Walker County, 1st District; Dean Jones of Hall County, 2nd District; George Chambers of Carroll County, 3rd District; Marvin Ruark of Morgan County, 4th District; Wyatt Childs of Lamar County, 5th District; Jimmy Perry of Bleckley County, 6th District; Gennis Folsom of Tattnall County, 7th District; Phil Redding of Clay County, 8th District; Gerald Long of Decatur County, 9th District.

Chad Carlton of Polk County was named chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee. Hazel Masters of Dougherty County was named chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. Both will serve a one-year term.