Each year the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce honors one Decatur County man and woman for their dedicated work in agriculture. This year's recipients, nominated by area residents and selected by the Chamber Agriculture Committee, were Jerry and Janice Long.
Once the several hundred who attended had gone through a fantastic seafood buffet line, the program began. Guest speaker for the event was Jeffrey H. Dorfman. A professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at UGA, Dorfman spoke abut the economy and it's relationship to the agricultural industry.
Presenting the Ag Man of the Year Award was Mitchell May. "Without question, agriculture is the engine that drives Decatur County. I think we should all be thankful that this ancient and honorable profession contributes so much to the local, state and national economy." May stated prior to introducing Jerry Long. He listed the many activities, organizations and agencies that Long is involved with. Long and his family operate a 400 head beef cattle farm, work 1,800 acres of peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and hay as well as a 100 acre U-Pick 'em.
The presentation to Janice Long for the Ag Woman of the Year was made by Lindsey Bell. "We are here today to honor the Ag Woman of the Year, Janice Long, not only for her accomplishments but also for the little things she does." Bell said. Janice Long is a 2nd grade teacher in Miller County and Bell stated that she does everything from running the farm U-Pick 'em stand where she is known as the 'sweet 'tater lady', keeping the family on schedule and putting a fine meal on the table.
This year's scholarship was presented by Emily Yent. Yent stated that the Agriculture Committee present a scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior. The selection is based on an essay. This year's essay theme was 'How Agriculture Impacts My Life'. Chad White was the recipient of the scholarship. (See Essay at bottom.)
White, who is a senior at Bainbridge High School, is the son of Mark and Tammy White. Besides being active in FFA, White also is on the tennis and swim teams. A member of Boy Scout Troop 503 and is an Eagle Scout. White plans on beginning his college education at Bainbridge College and to become a pathologist.
Closing out the program, Bo Jones, co-chair of the Chamber Ag Committee with Ashley Gardner, stated that in 2008, Decatur County farms produced over half of the sweet corn and nearly half the tomatoes produced in the state. He stated that the total 2008 Farmgate was $194 million. "Now we don't want you to think that we love you just for the money."
Jones said that while things have changed over time, "By the grace of God and by the hard work of your farmers, we are still able to produce our own food and fiber, not only enough to feed our nation but also many around the world. We thank you for protecting a way of life which many of us remember fondly. So on behalf of a grateful community, I thank you for all you do.
Among the many door prizes was a smoker/grill that only the farmers were eligible to win. Leland Johnson was the lucky winner. Johnson, who farms near Jack Wingate's, said Jack could catch the fish and Johnson would do the cooking.
How Agriculture Impacts My Life
By Chad Franklin White, Bainbridge High School
Wind blowing through the trees, dust devils twirling across the fields, and the hum of farm equipment, these are everyday events in South Georgia. Though I do not come from a farming family, my entire life has revolved around agriculture. As a young child I dreamed of becoming a farmer. I loved to watch the tractors as the fields were plowed for planting. I could not imagine anything better than playing in the freshly turned up earth. I loved feeling the dirt between my toes or digging through the loose soil with my fingers. Life was certainly good!
Later I would watch the planes as they flew overhead dusting the crop. I was fascinated that the planes could drop out of the sky almost to ground level, spray the field, and then return to their original height before beginning the process all over again. But the most amazing thing to me was the presence of little green plants that seemed to appear from nowhere through the soil. I loved to watch the plants grow. It seemed so amazing to me that each day the plants seemed bigger and bigger. Trying to guess what was planted in a certain field became a game for me. I remember the first time that I was taken to a field to pick strawberries. I had eaten strawberries all my life, but never like these. There was something about just lying back in the field and consuming the berry right from the plant that reached into my soul. I knew there could be no greater pleasure. Agriculture became an appreciated part of my life. Being in tune with agriculture is the way of life in South Georgia.
I have learned to gage the seasons by what’s happening in the agriculture community. In the Spring as my mind wonders and I go about my day, I can quickly be brought back to the present when I see a tractor preparing the field for planting or actual planting taking place. I watch the lone tractor as he goes back and forth across the field and envy him his solitude as I rush off to my next commitment. I have learned to monitor the progress of the planted fields as I pass them. Conversations in South Georgia quickly turn to the identity of the crops that have been planted, speculation as to whether they need a rain, or whether the sun or bugs are damaging them. Even though the actual crops belong to the farmer, each of us feels like we have something at stake as we watch his crops mature.
I have learned that Summer is near when the crops begin to be harvested. First there is the corn. I look forward to that first fresh taste each year. It signals to me that school is almost out for the year. As more and more crops begin to be harvested, I see fruit stands appear along the roadways. I enjoy stopping to see the produce. For some reason, produce in a stand calls to me while I can walk by the produce in the store and never actually see it. I always come away with food that seems to taste better than any grocery store product. I love to select the tomatoes, potatoes, greens, watermelons, whatever might be in season. Normally it’s hard to wait until you reach home to have a small taste.
Summer brings the appearance of many things. My days are not as busy as I enjoy a vacation away from school. I love summer drives down roads were there are miles and miles of endless crops. I can lose track of time as I forget the hustle and bustle of my life. I feel like I have gone back in time. I can vision a covered wagon coming up the road to greet me. My favorite field is a field of cotton. For as far as the eye can see the field is white. Though the heat is very visible, cotton reminds me of snow. If I stop, I can hear the busy sounds of the famer as it echoes across the fields. My summer days may not be busy but the farmers are at the peak of their season. I can hear tractors, machines spraying, an irrigation system watering a field and sometimes you can faintly hear the farmers’ voices as the crops are gathered.
I know that Summer is coming to an end as the farmers begin to plow the peanuts for harvest. School has started back and Fall is just around the corner. Even though it means the return of a busy day, I love the smell of freshly turned peanuts. I begin to think of cooler weather, fall festivals, football games and boiled peanuts. Hunting comes into season as the farmers fields are cleared of the current years’ harvest. I enjoy watching the deer as they appear in a field for feeding, I enjoy watching the birds as they fly in to eat what’s left of the harvest, but most of all I just enjoy being out in the field surrounded by God’s natural beauty.
Agriculture has become a major part of my life. As I prepare to choose a career I have very mixed feelings. I have enjoyed the beauty of a rural South Georgia town for years. I cannot imagine going to a city where there are no fields or many trees. These natural things have been instilled into the person that I have become and will always remind me of the place I call home.
