The Georgia Cotton Commission’s Inaugural Trustees Awards were presented at the annual meeting held Jan. 25 in Tifton.
The recipients of this year’s Trustees Awards were Louie Perry Jr. of Moultrie, and Mike Lucas of Cochran.
The Trustees Awards are awarded to individuals who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of the cotton industry in Georgia. Producers, research and Extension specialists and other cotton industry associates of high character and integrity who have provided exceptional service to the cotton industry are eligible to receive this award.
This Year’s Winners
Perry began his farming career in partnership with his father on Pineywoods Farms in Moultrie, Georgia in 1962. His great-great grandfather established Pineywoods with a 490-acre land grant from the state of Georgia in 1830. The acreage has since expanded to 1,300.
Perry is the fifth generation farmer to own, operate and live on this farm, which has always produced cotton. Pineywoods Farms is the oldest farm to grow cotton in the southern part of the state.
Through his 48-year farming career, Perry received a number of ag awards and remains extremely active with numerous agriculture groups. Some of his service has included chairman of Georgia Cotton Commission Board from 2000 to 2012; former president of Southern Cotton Growers, Inc.; producer delegate and board advisor to the National Cotton Council (NCC); director of Cotton Incorporated and served as chairman in 2006 and president of the Georgia Cattleman’s Association.
Lucas’ original 105-acre farm, passed to him by his grandfather, has expanded to more than 500 acres. It is a diversified row crop operation featuring major crops of cotton, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. His farm also includes pasture for beef cattle and a small cow/calf operation. Lucas’ family represents the third generation on this farm.
Throughout Lucas’ years of service to agriculture, he served as director of the Georgia Cotton Commission and chairman from 2012 to 2017; director of the Cotton Board and Southern Cotton Growers and producer delegate of the National Cotton Council. He also served as an active volunteer with the Bleckley County Farm Bureau, Georgia Farm Bureau, Bleckley County FSA committee, Bleckley County Extension/4-H County Board member and member of the Bleckley County Industrial Development Authority board. He currently serves as the secretary/treasurer of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of Georgia, Inc.
Georgia Cotton Commission
The Georgia Cotton Commission is a producer-funded organization located in Perry, Georgia. For more information about the Georgia Cotton Commission please call 478-988-4235 or on the web at www.georgiacottoncommission.org.