The USA Peanut Congress this past week, sponsored by the American Peanut Council and the American Peanut Shellers, honored leaders in the company and the peanut industry with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winners were Lewis Carter, Lewis M. Carter Jr., Chairman Emeritus of the Lewis M. Carter Manufacturing Company based in Donaldsonville, Georgia. During his 38 years as Chairman and CEO of LMC, Carter helped to transform the company into a global leader in peanut processing and peanut separations. Another winner was Rusty Smith.
Rusty was honored for more than four decades of service to the peanut industry, beginning with his career with the O’Connor Company in Suffolk, Virginia, as a peanut broker. The R.M. Smith Nut Company is located in North Carolina. Third winner was Don Kaler.
Don is the Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission, recognized for nearly four decades of leadership on behalf of peanut growers and the U.S. peanut industry. Since 1986, Kaler has served as a leading advocate for peanut farmers through his work with the Georgia Peanut Commission. Three key leaders received the Lifetime Achievement Award this past week at the USA Peanut Congress.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.