by Will Jordan
The 45th annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicked off this past Tuesday in Moultrie, Ga. The Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year awards saw Darrel Haynes of Alabama, Wade Purvis of Florida and Bart Davis of Georgia receive their respective state farmer of the year awards. Other states recognized with Farmer of the Year Awards included Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Steve Cobb of Arkansas was awarded the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year title.
During the luncheon, Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and Ellie Watson, Director of Sweet Grown Alabama offered remarks on the Expo’s spotlight state: Alabama. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, Tyler Harper, and Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, brought remarks on the strength and importance of agriculture in Georgia and across the Southeast. “Farming means business, and in Georgia and the southeast, business is booming,” Kemp said to an audience of approximately 800 farmers, leaders, and innovators. Listen below to hear more from Kemp in an exclusive interview with Southeast AgNet.