GFB News Magazine
Blessing of the Crops
by Jennifer Whittaker
Posted on May 29, 2025 12:15 PM
Farming and faith go hand in hand. Most farmers will tell you they pray and rely on God to farm.
Many farmers gather in the spring to ask God to bless their farms in the coming growing season. The services go by different names - Blessing of the Crops, Blessing of the Farms, Blessing of the Planting- but they have the same purpose: to seek God’s favor.
Farm Bureaus or other ag groups host the events in some counties while local chambers of commerce host them in others.
Screven County
Pastor Kevin Rountree led the Screven County Blessing of the Crops service Feb. 27. / Photo courtesy of SCFB
For at least 20 years Screven County Farm Bureau (SCFB) has held a Blessing of the Crops service. SCFB President Joe Boddiford said the idea for the service came from county directors who are active in church.
“If you’re going to be involved in agriculture you need the Lord’s blessings,” said Boddiford “Why not ask His blessings and include Him in what you’re doing?”
This year, SCFB held a supper Feb. 27 at the Screven County Extension office that drew farmers and local leaders to pray for a successful growing season and bountiful harvest.
Pastor Kevin Rountree of McBride Church prayed and shared a message stressing the power of prayer in seeking God’s blessing on the land.
Boddiford said 25 to 30 people attend the service each year, and many participate when the floor is open to anyone who wants to pray.
Burke County
Burke County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Chair Katie Prescott welcomes everyone to the BCFB 5th Annual Blessing of the Crop. / Photo courtesy of BCFB
After hearing that another Farm Bureau held a Blessing of the Crops, Burke County Farm Bureau (BCFB) Director Brad Edenfield asked his local Farm Bureau to hold a service five years ago.
“It’s a healthy way to start the crop season. I think it’s important to do things in the right order and that means going to the Lord to ask him to not only bless our crops but to also ask Him to protect our farmers’ safety in the field and on the road driving equipment,” said Edenfield.
BCFB members and event co-chairs David & Wendy Raley and Katie & Robert Prescott organized this year’s service held March 11 at the Burke County Office Park.
“As a farmer this is a special opportunity for all of us to come together and pray over everyone's crops,” BCFB Women’s Leadership Chair Katie Prescott said. “These last few years have been tough, so it’s heartwarming to know this community stands behind our farmers.”
The Raleys and Prescotts recruited 24 local agribusinesses to sponsor the breakfast. They secured a free ad in the local paper and texted farmers a reminder before the event to draw a crowd. Pastor Tim Groff of Bethel Mennonite Church delivered the message.
“We’re putting seeds in the ground. We see miracles every day. There’s no way we can do what we do without having a belief in God,” BCFB President Lee Webster said.
Bibb County
Pastor Ben Newberry, standing, delivered the message at the Bibb County Blessing of the Crops also attended by Crawford, Houston & Peach County farmers. / Photo by Jennifer Whittaker
For several years Bibb County Farm Bureau (BCFB) Vice President Neil Skipper and his daughter, BCFB President Haley Scruggs, discussed holding a Blessing of the Crops. They did it this year.
Farmers from Bibb and surrounding counties gathered April 8 at Skipper Farms for a breakfast held by BCFB.
“No matter how hard we work as farmers, without God’s grace we’re going to have nothing. This is a time for us to thank Him for the blessings He’s already given us, ask Him what He wants us to do and that what we do be a blessing to him,” Skipper said. “There are 8,760 hours in a year. This could be one of the most important hours you spend this year. No matter what our job is, we can’t do it without his grace.”
Farm Bureau member and Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Benjamin Newberry delivered a devotion from 1st Corinthians 3:5-9. Newberry grew up on a dairy farm and now raises beef cattle.
“We can plant the seeds and run a center pivot on barren ground, but if God doesn’t bless the ground, we won’t grow a crop,” Newberry said. “We’re all about telling our story in agriculture and we have a good story to tell, but the most important thing we can do is accept Christ and then plant the seeds of salvation in others.”
Marti’s Cakes & Catering used ingredients sourced from local or Georgia farms to prepare the breakfast.
“Every single thing on our menu this morning is donated by the farmers who grew it. I’d like to thank all our food donors and hope you enjoy your breakfast,” Scruggs said.
Cards on each table recognized the following: Elliott Farms in Bibb County for fresh strawberries; Back to the Basics 101 in Bleckley County for pancake and biscuit mix; Southern Swiss Dairy in Burke County for chocolate milk, half & half and butter; Hazel Creek Orchards in Habersham Co. for cider; The C.A.S.E. Farm in Berrien County (Berrien Co. Ag Program) for grits; Lord’s Sausage & Country Ham in Laurens Co. for country ham; Jacob & Alexis Skipper for sausage patties made from a pig raised by Peach Co. FFA; Arena Acres in Houston Co. for fresh flowers that decorated the tables; Skipper Farms for their branded coffee, syrups and preserves; anonymous farmers for the farm fresh eggs.
Coffee County
Danny Hadsock prays during the Coffee County Blessing of the Crops. / Photo courtesy of Douglas-Coffee Chamber of Commerce
The 2nd Annual Blessing of the Crops Breakfast the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce held Feb. 27 had special meaning this year as farmers and agribusinesses are still recovering from the havoc Hurricane Helene wreaked on them last September.
Around 150 people attended to pray for a bountiful harvest this year. Pastors Paul Elliott of Douglas First Methodist Church and Bob Powell of The Sanctuary delivered messages of encouragement.
At least 28 local agribusinesses and organizations, including Coffee County Farm Bureau, helped sponsor the event.
Evans County
Evans Co. Farm Bureau President Gregg Hendrix, right, presents Ga. Dept. of Ag Field Services Director Dominic LaRiccia with a gift basket for giving the keynote speech at the Evans Co. Blessing of the Planting. / Photo courtesy of Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce.
Evans County Farm Bureau partnered with the Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce to host its first Blessing of the Planting March 27 at Spring Hollow Farm, owned by ECFB members L.E. & Donna Hewett.
“We wanted to come together in prayer and ask God to bless our farms and agribusinesses. In years past when we haven’t had the best crops, it’s been difficult to admit that we hadn’t come together in prayer,” ECFB Women’s Leadership Chairman Melanie Hendrix said. “Partnering with the chamber to hold this event was a great way to have a presence in the community.”
Pastor Johnathan Brown from Liberty Fellowship Church of God delivered a devotion. Dominic LaRiccia with the Georgia Department of Agriculture discussed how Farm Bureau and the GDA work together to help farmers.
Fannin County
Pastor Chan Mitchell led the Fannin County Blessing of Ag Endeavors. / Photo courtesy of Rhonda Mathews
Members of Fannin County’s ag community gathered at Mason Farms near Blue Ridge for the 2nd Annual Blessing of the Seeds & Farms, Gardens, Fields & Herds organized by the Fannin County Young Farmers Association (FCYFA). The breakfast event was held the first day of spring, March 20, during Georgia Agriculture Week.
Pastor Chan Mitchell from The Ridge Community Church delivered the message.
FCYFA Advisor & FCHS Ag Teacher Rhonda Mathews organized the event with help from local farmer and Farm Bureau member Kenny Queen, who arranged for the event to be held at Mason Farms. Fannin County Farm Bureau provided funds for refreshments.
Madison County
Madison County’s Blessing of the Farms service was held at the home of Madison County Farm Bureau members Thomas & Alicia Harrell . / Photo by Anna Strickland
Madison County’s agricultural community gathered for its Blessing of the Farms service on April 9. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce organized the event emceed by the Chamber’s Ag Promotions Committee Co-Chair David Echols. Madison County Farm Bureau members Thomas & Alicia Harrell hosted the event at their farm.
Pastor Ed Waldon of Restoration Apostolic Church delivered an uplifting message. Madison County 4-Her Bailey Bennett led the Pledge of Allegiance while Madison County FFA member Riley Moon recited the FFA Creed.
AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Custom Livestock Solutions LLC and Graham Law Firm sponsored the gathering catered by Ila Restaurant.