GFB News Magazine

GFB Shootout hits fundraising target

by Lily Baucom
Georgia Foundation for Agriculture

Posted on August 18, 2025 8:33 PM

Competitors in the 3rd Annual GFB Spring Shootout enjoyed a day of shooting clays. / Photo by Logan Thomas 

The 3rd Annual Georgia Farm Bureau Spring Shootout, presented by Penco Restoration, took place May 16 at Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays & Helice in Griffin. More than 125 participants formed 31 teams to compete in the 100-disc shootout for top prizes. The event drew seasoned shooters and enthusiastic newcomers for a high-energy day on the range.

Thanks to the support of participants, sponsors, and generous donors, the event raised more than $40,000. Proceeds benefit the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and its mission to prepare the next generation of Georgia agricultural leaders for success.

For the second consecutive year, GFB Insurance District 10 claimed the Top GFB Team title and took home first place Top Team overall. Each member of this team received $50 for being the Top GFB Team and an additional $50 each for placing as the Top Team overall. Five Star Credit Union earned second place, and AgSouth Farm Credit rounded out the winners with third place. Each member of the second and third place teams received $50.

Junior shooter Barrett Downing with the AgSouth Farm Credit Team captured the Top Overall Shooter honor to win $100. Jason Ludeman and Wesley Dupree, both from the Villa Rica High School team, took home the 2nd and 3rd Place Junior Shooter Awards. Contestants 14-18 years competed as junior shooters. Downing and Ludeman each received $25 as the top two junior shooters. 

Keystone Memorials in Elberton provided the granite award plaques presented to all the winners. Farm Bureau Mortgage Division, the Georgia Scholastic Clay Target Program, and Synovus sponsored the cash prizes and plaques for all shooter awards. 

Another highlight of the day was two major raffles. Newton County Farm Bureau donated an engraved Yildiz Legacy HP Shotgun won by Seth Young. Georgia Farm Bureau sponsored a Generac generator that Clay Talton took home.

Thank you event sponsors!

GFA extends special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Penco Restoration, for helping make the event possible. We’re also grateful to our Lock-n-Load Sponsor, Yancey Bros. Co., and our Down Range Sponsors: AgGeorgia Farm Credit, AgSouth Farm Credit, Five Star Credit Union, Full Blown Firearms, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, Gower Wooten Darneille law firm, Gresco Utility Supply Inc., Gulf Breeze Laundry Services, Magnolia Loom, Newton County Farm Bureau, Wright Brothers Inc., and Young Thagard Hoffman. GFA extends additional thanks to our Top Shot Award Sponsors: Georgia SCTP, Farm Bureau Bank - Mortgage Division, and Synovus, and to our meal sponsor, Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Thank you as well to our Station Sponsors: AgSouth Farm Credit, AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Appraisal Associates Group, and Sea Island Seminole Cup. We appreciate the support of our ad sponsors, Dr. Deidre Mercer Martin and Twiggs County Farm Bureau, for helping make this event a success.

Lily Baucom is executive director of the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture. She may be reached at lrbaucom@gfb.org or 478-405-3461. Visit  www.gafoundationag.org to learn more about the foundation or to make a tax-deductible donation. 

GFB President Tom McCall, right, & GFA Executive Director Lily Baucom, left, congratulate Barrett Downing on winning the Top Overall Shooter award at the 3rd Annual Georgia Farm Bureau Shootout. / Photo by Logan Thomas