Ag News

GFB congratulates all of its district award winners

This fall during Georgia Farm Bureau’s ten District Annual Meetings, the organization celebrated the achievements of its volunteers. State winners will be recognized during the 2026 GFB Annual Convention, set for Dec. 6-8 on Jekyll Island.

Here is a recap of all of GFB’s district award winners and counties that gained membership to reach quota:

District 1

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Liam Tewksbury, Cherokee County   

YF&R Discussion Meet: Dalton Green, Walker County (state finalist)

Volunteer of the Year: Michael Bushey, Gilmer County

Outstanding Teachers: Tracy Lang, Cherokee County; Holly Harkins, Dawson County; Yvonne Akers, Forsyth County

Agency of the Year: Forsyth County

Quota counties: Bartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Murray and Pickens

District 2

YF&R Discussion Meet: Michael Howard, Hart County (state winner)

Collegiate Discussion Meet: Arwen Bratten, Stephens County (state winner)

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Brittney Turner, Hall County (finalist for state award)

YF&R Achievement Award: Clay Black, Stephens County (finalist for state award)

Volunteer of the Year: Dianne Westmoreland, Banks County

Agency of the Year: Madison County

Quota counties: Banks, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Madison, Rabun, Towns and Union

District 3

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Chase Berry, Newton County

YF&R Discussion Meet: Allison Bridges, Haralson County (state finalist)

Volunteer of the Year: Jerry Watson, South Fulton County

Outstanding Teachers: Nancy Ranasinghe, Cobb County; Elizabeth Shadix, Douglas County.

Agency of the Year: Gwinnett County

Quota counties: Carroll, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, North Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, Rockdale/Dekalb and South Fulton

District 4

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Cliff Collins, Columbia County

YF&R Discussion Meet: Katelin Benkoski, Morgan County (state finalist)

Volunteer of the Year: Rick Hubert, Taliaferro County

Outstanding Teachers: Kaya Rollo, Barrow County; Satilla Mathews, Oglethorpe County, Laura McMahan, Walton County

Farm Family of the Year: Ken Boss/Boss Cattle Company. (District 4 is the only district that presents this award)

Agency of the Year: Oglethorpe County

Quota counties: Columbia, Glascock, Greene, McDuffie, Morgan, Oconee, Richmond, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren and Wilkes

District 5

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Stuart Gregg, Pike County

YF&R Achievement Award: Allie Andrews, Lamar County (state winner)

Volunteer of the Year: Kera Davis, Monroe County

Agency of the Year: Upson County

Quota counties: Butts, Coweta, Crawford, Harris, Lamar, Muscogee, Peach, Pike, Talbot, Taylor, Troup and Upson

District 6

Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Sanders, Laurens County

Agency of the Year: Washington County

Quota counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Dodge, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson

District 7

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Whitney Sheppard, Screven County

Volunteer of the Year: Karen Durkin, Effingham County.

Agency of the Year: Chatham County

Quota counties: Appling, Bulloch, Burke, Chatham, Emanuel, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall, Toombs and Wayne

District 8

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Bryan & Addie Tucker, Wilcox County (state winners)

YF&R Achievement Award: Rick & Leanne Hopper, Wilcox County (finalists for state award)

Volunteer of the Year: Sara Beth Studstill, Wilcox County

Agency of the Year: Macon County

Quota counties: Crisp, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marion, Pulaski, Quitman, Schley, Sumter, Terrell and Webster

District 9

YF&R Achievement Award: Colt & Camille Calhoun, Miller County.

Volunteer of the Year: Lisa Pollock, Grady County

Agency of the Year: Calhoun County

Quota counties: Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas and Tift

District 10

YF&R Excellence in Agriculture: Ashley Wright, Coffee County (finalist for state award)

Volunteer of the Year: Ray Bloser, Cook County

Outstanding Teachers: Melissa Williams, Berrien County; Alisha Sirmans, Lanier County.

Agency of the Year: Ware County

Quota counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Camden, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Glynn, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes and Ware

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