Ag News
Georgia Peanut Farm show includes updates and industry awards
Posted on Jan 29, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Peanuts took center stage Jan. 15 at the 49th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) sponsors the one-day event each year. Peanut growers had the opportunity to view the products and services of about 100 exhibitors.
The University of Georgia Peanut Team presented an educational peanut production seminar covering the 2025 peanut crop’s yield & quality and what to expect in 2026. Special emphasis was placed on how growers can remain profitable this year while also controlling diseases, pests and weeds in their crops. An industry seed seminar was held, which highlighted peanut varieties available for 2025. Awards were presented to outstanding farmers and those who have helped further the Georgia peanut industry through research, promotion and service.
Peanut farmers & industry supporters honored
The day kicked off with a breakfast during which the GPC and AgriSupply presented the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers of the Year Awards to individuals representing each of the commission’s five districts. The 2026 recipients are: GPC District 1 - Willard Mims of Seminole County; District 2 – Jones Brothers Farms of Tift County; GPC District 3 – Carl Hood of Burke County; GPC District 4 – Keith Moore of Cordele County and GPC District 5 – Rodney Locke of Terrell County.
The GPC started this award to honor farmers who have the passion, diligence, leadership and desire to see the peanut industry in the state of Georgia continue to be the highest quality. A grower from each of the GPC Districts is selected each year.
Pictured from left, Georgia Peanut Commission Committee Chairman & Dist. 5 Director Donald Chase congratulates Willard Mims, representatives of Jones Brothers Farm Derrick, Dalton & Larry Jones; Clint Hood accepting for his father, Carl Hood, Keith Moore & his son, Jacob Moore, and Rodney Locke. / Photo courtesy of the GPC
During the Peanut Farm Show lunch, the GPC presented awards to individuals and businesses for their service to the peanut industry and promotion of peanuts. Award recipients were: Research & Education Award – Dr. Steve Brown, retired executive director of The Peanut Research Foundation; Media Award - Tommy Rountree, retired editor and publisher of The Dawson News and Amanda Huber, former editor of The Peanut Grower; Innovator Award – Frank Nolin, owner and operator of Nolin Steel; Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Scott Monfort, UGA Extension peanut agronomist who leads the UGA Extension Peanut Team; Special Award - Andy Bell, 2021 chairman of the National Peanut Board and Ken Barton, retired executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.
From left, GPC Chairman Donald Chase congratulates the award recipients: front row, from left, Research & Education Award – Dr. Steve Brown, retired executive director of The Peanut Research Foundation; Media Award - Tommy Rountree, retired editor and publisher of The Dawson News; Innovator Award – Frank Nolin, owner and operator of Nolin Steel; Hall of Fame - Don Koehler, former Georgia Peanut Commission executive director and now senior executive director who will have worked for the GPC for 40 years when he retires on Aug. 1; back row, from left Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Scott Monfort, Extension peanut agronomist with the University of Georgia; Media Award - Amanda Huber, former editor of The Peanut Grower; Special Award - Andy Bell, 2021 chairman of the National Peanut Board & Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award - Will Anderson of Bulloch County. Not pictured is the Special Award – Ken Barton, retired executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Also, during the awards lunch, Don Koehler, former GPC executive director and now GPC senior executive director, was inducted into the commission’s Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame. A portrait of Koehler, unveiled at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show, will be displayed at GPC headquarters in Tifton. Koehler has served as executive director of GPC since 1986. His announced retirement date is July 31. Throughout his 40 years of service to Georgia’s peanut farmers, he has represented their interests on initiatives ranging from farm bills and disaster assistance to appropriations requests and more. He is the eighth person to be inducted into the hall of fame.
GPC Chairman Donald Chase, left, congratulates GPC Senior Executive Director Don Koehler on being inducted into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame. Koehler will retire with 40 years of service to the GPC on July 31. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
Will Anderson of Bulloch County received the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award sponsored by the GPC and BASF. The award is presented to one Georgia peanut farmer annually based on the applicant’s overall farm operation, environmental and stewardship practices, and leadership and community service activities. Anderson grows peanuts, cotton and corn, as well as has eight broiler houses. Anderson strives to incorporate new and innovative ways to increase his crop yields and be a natural steward of the land while also hosting on-farm research trials for the Bulloch County Extension Service. He is a Bulloch County Farm Bureau member.
Bulloch County Farm Bureau member Will Anderson, center, accepts the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award from GPC Chairman Donald Chase, left, and award sponsor BASF representative Jacob Smith. /Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
GPC welcomes new GPC Executive Director Arnold
Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Taylor Arnold, above, who officially started his new position Jan. 1, introduced himself to Georgia peanut growers during the Georgia Peanut Show Lunch. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
“I’m very excited about joining the staff of the Georgia Peanut Commission. It’s very humbling to work for all of you and this industry,” Arnold said. “I’m joining an incredible staff that has been doing incredible things. I look forward to bringing value to my role as I work for you and I guarantee I will work hard for the industry.”
Arnold, a native of Calhoun County, is replacing Don Koehler, who announced at last year’s show he would retire on July 31 of this year. Koehler will serve as senior executive director until his retirement on July 31. Koehler will have worked at the GPC for 40 years as executive director when he retires.
Arnold has an extensive background in agricultural leadership, farm program administration, and on-the-ground experience in production agriculture. From 2017 until December 2025, he served as county executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Worth County, where he managed county office operations, supervised staff, and oversaw the implementation of key federal programs supporting farmers. In this role, Arnold directed programs including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage, Conservation Reserve Program, Livestock Forage Program, and multiple disaster assistance initiatives. He also chaired the District Payment Eligibility and Limitation Review team, ensuring compliance and accuracy across the region.
Arnold holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mercer University, where he served as president and vice president of his fraternity, director of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council and volunteered extensively with IRS VITA and Relay for Life.
Arnold hit the ground running by joining GPC staff, directors and advisory board members in promoting Georgia peanuts, Jan. 10-12, at the American Farm Bureau Convention in California. The red packets of Georgia peanuts have become a much sought-after staple with AFBF members.
Washington, D.C., Update
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Bob Redding, above, with the Redding Firm, which represents the U.S. Peanut Federation in D.C., gave an update on Washington happenings. Redding discussed farm bill peanut program provisions that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Congress passed last July and President Trump signed into law July 4, 2025.
“Thank you for letting me represent you in Washington, I know the farm economy has been strained for several years now, and we've been working on ways to try and make it better. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the reference price [for peanuts] from $535 a ton to $635 a ton. It increases the loan rate for peanuts from $355 per ton to $390 per ton and allows farmers to add new base acres of peanuts. We were also able to maintain a separate peanut payment limit and were able to get it bumped from $125,000 to $155,000 per entity and indexed to inflation in future years,” Redding said. “In the long run we have the absolute best peanut program and safety net that we’ve had in 20 years or more.”
In the short run, however, Redding acknowledged farmers are struggling from farming the last couple of years under the old farm bill with outdated reference prices that didn’t cover rising inflation and production costs.
“I know the farm economy has been strained for several years now, and we've been working on ways to try and make it better,” Redding said.
He acknowledged the bridge payments the USDA announced in early December that will send $11 billion to row crop growers by the end of February.
“The U.S. Peanut Federation signed a letter yesterday, Jan. 14, along with other southern commodity ag groups and the American Farm Bureau Federation, asking Congress to take a look and see what they could do before we get into this problem again. We're hopeful we will see another economic assistance package roll out sometime between now and the planning of peanuts appropriations trade, we've still got a long way to go,” Redding said.
He praised members of Congress that represent ag areas, Senators and House members, for being aware of the ag economic crisis.
“They understand. They're being at home with constituents and reading about it. A lot of our banking and foreign credit groups are sharing data in Washington, as well as our land grant universities about farm economy and what's happening on the farm right now, from cost production as well as a price perspective,” Redding said. “We're doing as much as we can to try and get assistance in the short term. What's been coming has been helpful, but clearly, we need more, so we're working on that.”
Chase chairing GPC
In related Georgia Peanut Commission news, Donald Chase, above, a peanut grower from Macon County who represents the GPC District 5, was elected by his fellow GPC district directors to chair the commission for the coming year. The election took place during the GPC January board meeting. This is Chase’s first term serving as chairman. He previously served as vice chairman and succeeds GPC District 3 Director Joe Boddiford of Screven County who is serving as vice chairman.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the board chairman this year. While the commission organization is changing, rest assured that the mission remains the same,” Chase said. “We must deliver value to every one of the peanut farmers of Georgia. This board, senior management and this staff are all committed to that goal. As fellow farmers we understand the challenges all too well, and pledge to you our commitment to making your investment in the Georgia Peanut Commission pay dividends.”
Other officers elected during the board meeting include Joe Boddiford, Sylvania, Ga., as vice chairman, and Rodney Dawson, Hawkinsville, Ga., as treasurer. Additional board members include GPC District 1 Director Tim Burch, Baker County and GPC District 2 Director Ross Kendrick, Turner County.
The Georgia peanut production area is divided into five districts based on acreage distribution and geography with one board member representing each of the GPC’s districts.
The GPC represents more than 4,000 Georgia peanut farm families and conducts programs in the areas of research, promotion and education. For more information on the programs of the Georgia Peanut Commission, visit www.gapeanuts.com.
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