The 2017 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the Georgia Cotton Commission 11th 
Annual Meeting and UGA Cotton Production Workshop on January 31, 2018 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 – Robert Rawlins of Turner County, Sconyers Gin and Warehouse with agent Will Gay. 500 to 1,000 acres – Lee Mays of Wilcox County, Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, with agent Andrew Sawyer. Greater than 1,000 acres – Donnie Keene of Wilcox County, Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, will agent Andrew Sawyer.
Region 2: Less than 500 acres – Van Hiebert of Jefferson County, Midville Warehouse, with agent Pam Sapp. 500 to 1,000 acres – Buckhead Creek Farms of Jenkins County, Midville Warehouse, with agent Jason Mallard. Greater than 1,000 acres – Sandeford Farms of Burke County, Midville Warehouse, with agent Peyton Sapp.
Region 3: Less than 500 acres – Charles Sumner of Tift County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Scott Carlson. 500 to 1,000 acres – G.A. Farms of Tifton County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Scott Carlson. Greater than 1,000 acres – Ken and Brian Ponder of Tift County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Scott Carlson.
Region 4: Less than 500 acres – Walter Powell of Colquitt County, The Cotton Gin, with agent Jeremy Kichler.
Ken Hall Farms of Worth County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Blake Crabtree. 500 to 1,000 acres – Creek Bank Farms of Miller County, Clover Leaf Gin, with agent Brian Creswell. Greater than 1,000 acres – Ken Hall Farms of Worth County, Omega Gin Company, with agent Blake Crabtree.
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 2017 Best Cotton Award went to Robert Rawlins with a loan value of 54.14 cents/lb and a premium of 4.65 cents/lb.
For a full photo album of the winners, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeorgiaCottonCommission.
by Taylor R. Sills, Georgia Cotton Commission