The Coffee County Young Farmers recently recognized local producers, agriculture business professionals and students for their involvement in the local Young Farmer Program and commitment to advancing the Agriculture industry in Coffee County, Georgia and around the United States. All nominees and recipients were nominated and then voted on by members of the Coffee County Young Farmer Chapter.
Recipients are as follows:
Farm Family of the Year: Chan and Jessi Grantham
Chan and Jessi Grantham and son Brooker Henry Grantham alongside their family own Grantham Family Farms. They farm alongside Chan’s brother Chase and tend roughly 2000 acres of row crops including cotton, corn, and peanuts. They also have a commercial beef cattle operation and raise broiler chickens for Pilgrims. Chan serves on the Board of Directors as Vice-Chairman of South Georgia Gin in Hazlehurst. GA. Chan’s wife Jessi is a dentist at South Georgia Dentistry in Douglas, GA.
Farmer of the Year: Clay McKinnon
Clay McKinnon is a third generation farmer with a diverse operation consisting of cotton, peanuts, corn, blueberries and raises broilers for Pilgrims.
Cattlemen of the Year: Jared Scott
Jared co-owns Wiregrass Cattle Company with his family. Jared manages a purebred and commercial cow/calf operation consisting of Angus and SimAngus stock alongside a 125 head feedlot they utilize to finish out their steers. Jared also grows corn, cotton and peanuts.
Young Producer of the Year: Daniel Raulerson
Daniel owns DLR Farms LLC where he grows cotton, corn and peanuts. He is also heavily involved in the Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Rancher Program.
Farm Worker of the Year: Garrett Smith
Garrett works alongside Daniel Raulerson at DLR Farms LLC. Garrett is a product of the Coffee County FFA program and will be receiving his American FFA Degree in the fall at the National FFA Convention.
Ag Business Professional: Missy Givens – AgSouth Farm Credit, Crop Insurance Agent
Missy is the AgSouth Crop Insurance Agent in the Douglas Branch that covers Coffee, Atkinson, and Jeff Davis counties. Missy has been with AgSouth for almost 20 years (17 of those in the crop insurance department). She is actively involved in numerous Ag Commodity Organizations and local civic organizations in Coffee County. Missy is committed to the connection she makes and the relationship she builds with her customers. One of her favorite quotes is “It isn’t the farm that makes the farmer – It’s the Love, Hard Work and Character.”
Ag Business of the Year: Lila’s Plants – Lila Boyd and James Griffin
Lila’s Plants owned by Lila Boyd and managed by James Griffin has been in business for over 20 years serving customers from all over South Georgia with high quality bedding and landscape plants, vegetables, and fruit trees. They are prominent supporters of the Coffee County Young Farmer and FFA programs through various donations and at-cost sales to help educate community members and students about the agricultural industry. Ms. Lila is known for saying, “ If I can help just one student find their passion for agriculture, or change their perception in a positive way, through my contributions, I’ll have lived a successful life.”
Member of the Year: Ricky Dorsey
A Young Farmer Chapter could not achieve success without dedicated and devoted Young Farmer members. Ricky Dorsey sets the gold standard to being involved in the local chapter. Ricky assists with the GYFA Que Fest annually and has helped bring home a top 5 placing numerous times, assists with prepping and cooking meals for local YF activities and meetings and attends GYFA Convention annually.
Young Farmer Scholarship Recipient: Jack Lingenfelter
Jack is the recipient of the Coffee County Young Farmer Scholarship developed to recognize FFA members for their involvement within the Ag Ed program. Jack has spent the past year representing Coffee County and Georgia FFA through his service as a Georgia FFA State Vice-President. Jack placed first in Georgia with his Proficiency in Ag Communication focusing on his podcast “The Straws that Stir the Drink.” Jack will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall majoring in Ag Communications.