The 2016 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s 10th Annual Meeting and UGA Cotton Production Workshop on January 25, 2017 in Tifton, GA. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and Bayer CropScience, and administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team.
The purpose of the awards are to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers. The producers and their gins received a plaque and the winning producers received a $500 cash award. The UGA County Extension Agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.
The awards are given in each of these three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners in these categories are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise. The sponsors of this program congratulate all of the following winners:
Region 1: Less than 500 acres – Delmer and Scott Bullington of Turner County, Sconyers Gin and Warehouse with agent Will Gay. 500 to1,000 acres – Steven Metcalf of Turner County, Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, with agent Will Gay. Greater than 1,000 acres – SOS Farms of Turner County, Arabi Gin Company, will agent Will Gay.
Region 2: Less than 500 acres – Jacob Sandeford of Burke County, Midville Warehouse, with agent Peyton Sapp. 500 to 1,000 acres – Trevor Cobb Farms of Washington County, Midville Warehouse, with agent Brent Allen. Greater than 1,000 acres – Smith Farms of Jefferson County, Farmers Gin and Warehouse, with agent Pam Sapp.
Region 3: Less than 500 acres – William and Tracey Edmonson of Brooks County, BCT Gin-Quitman, with agent Stephanie Hollifield. 500 to 1,000 acres – Ben Strickland of Lanier County, BCT Gin-Quitman, with agent Jeremy Taylor. Greater than 1,000 acres – Dewitt Farms of Brooks County, BCT Gin-Quitman, with agent Stephanie Hollifield.
Region 4: Less than 500 acres – Ken Hall Farms of Worth County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Blake Crabtree. 500 to 1,000 acres – Garrett Bridges Farms of Seminole County, Clover Leaf Gin. Greater than 1,000 acres – Sapp Brothers Farm of Mitchell County, BCT Gin-Berlin.
Peyton Sapp, UGA Extension-Burke County; Chris Chammoun, Georgia Cotton Commission; Jacob Sandeford, 2016 Best Cotton Award winner; Ralph Sandeford, Midville Warehouse.
The final award given was the overall Best Cotton Award. This was awarded to the Georgia cotton producer with highest loan value and premium. The 2016 Best Cotton Award went to Jacob Sandeford with a loan value of 57.52 cents/lb and a premium of 5.52 cents/lb.
The 2016 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards with their respective cotton ginners and UGA County Extension Agents.
For a full photo album of the winners, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeorgiaCottonCommission.