Author Archives: John Holcomb

Finding “Where You Belong”: Georgia Farm Bureau’s YF&R Conference Inspires Future Ag Leaders

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Jekyll Island, GA |

Surrounded by surf and sand, Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Summer Leadership Conference once again brought energy and inspiration to the Golden Isles. More than two hundred attendees came together for the annual event, designed with one important mission: building strong agricultural leaders.

“It is a leadership development event that we have our Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee put on,” says Levi Davis, Young Farmers & Ranchers Programs Coordinator for GFB. “They pick out carefully thought-out breakout sessions and guest speakers that relate to everybody in the crowd. We’ve got competitions like discussion meet, a photo contest, and awards like Excellence in Agriculture and Achievement in Agriculture. We pack it all into just a handful of days and hope to send everybody out of here with inspiration to go back to their home counties and continue growing their Young Farmers and Ranchers program—or start one if they’re not part of one now.”

The conference’s importance can’t be overstated. Davis says the event is intentionally tailored to provide young leaders with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive in agriculture.

“It is important to us and Georgia Farm Bureau to make sure that we’re able to give them the ammunition they need to be able to effectively advocate for agriculture, share their story, and grow these programs,” he says. “We want to continue churning out professional leaders and future leaders in the agriculture industry.”

This year’s theme, “Where You Belong,” reflected that mission, focusing on the value of community and support in a profession that can often feel isolating.

“We are all each other’s biggest cheerleaders,” says Allie Andrews, State YF&R Chair for GFB. “We all want each other to succeed and have people we can count on. A lot of the things we deal with as farmers—mental health, succession planning—can be heavy. Here, I’m surrounded by like-minded people facing the same issues. I belong with people who share the same desires and struggles, and I’m comfortable opening up and networking because of that. I know I belong here. I know I belong in this organization.”

Ultimately, Andrews says the hope is that attendees leave the conference feeling empowered to continue their work as advocates and future leaders.

“I hope they have the desire to keep going,” Andrews says. “What else can I do? What other ideas do I have? How can I advocate more on a public level, on a community level? This conference shows people that Farm Bureau is more than insurance—it’s an organization with a huge impact. I hope they take the tools and principles they learn here and build on them when they return home.”

By: John Holcomb

From Cotton Field to Closet: Magnolia Loom Builds Local Cotton Supply Chain in Georgia

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Sandersville, GA |

A Georgia company is closing the loop on cotton production—and making sure the benefits stay right here at home. Magnolia Loom, based in Sandersville, is turning locally grown cotton into t-shirts made and printed entirely in the Southeast, giving farmers a direct connection to the products their crops help create.

“I started Magnolia Loom in 2021, with an idea of taking Georgia cotton and turning it into t-shirts,” says Zeke Chapman, co-owner. “We really wanted to find a way to add value to it locally and be able to connect the cotton farmers across the state to an end product they could touch and feel and see and be able to wear.”

Since its founding, Magnolia Loom has worked to shorten the supply chain dramatically—from 1,500 miles across multiple states to just 750 miles mostly within Georgia. The company now controls nearly every step of the process, from fiber to fabric to final print.

“We knew we had to start small and piece things together,” Chapman says. “But now we’ve made huge strides in being able to do what we do. Not only does it improve quality control, it helps us get product to market faster.”

That shorter supply chain also means more value stays in the state—something Chapman is especially proud of. At live events like the Georgia National Fair and Sunbelt Ag Expo, more than 90 percent of the garment’s value remains in Georgia, helping them pay farmers more per pound than the market typically allows.

“Cotton prices are probably around sixty cents a pound right now. We’re paying a dollar,” says Chapman. “It’s huge for these growers because it helps them stay sustainable and make a profit.”

That commitment to local agriculture is shared by co-owner Torey Rose, who says the mission has always been about more than t-shirts.

“Our farmers oftentimes don’t see significance in what they’re doing,” she says. “They’re not paid accordingly to the hard work they put in. We want to show them we value it—by turning that cotton into something meaningful and paying them fairly for it.”

As the business grows, the owners hope to move even more of the manufacturing in-house—right in Sandersville—while proving that keeping production in the U.S. isn’t just viable, it’s vital.

By: John Holcomb

A Garden Grows in Griffin: Flower Shack Blossoms into a Hands-On Ag Experience

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Griffin, GA |

At first glance, The Flower Shack at Green Gate Farms might look like a vibrant sea of color—but its roots run much deeper than just aesthetics. Inspired by her grandmother’s love of gardening, Tara Green set out to start a U-Pick flower farm on their family property in Griffin—a move that bloomed into both a business and a way to educate the public about agriculture.

“I guess, just growing up, my grandmother always loved flowers, had a nice garden,” says Tara. “And just seeing her in that, and then right about five years ago, when we decided to do this, flower farms had just started gaining popularity. I told Steven one night, ‘We’re going to start a flower farm.’ And that spring, we started a flower farm.”

Today, that vision has come to life in rows and rows of blooms, each carefully prepped months in advance. From prepping the soil to pulling beds and planting hundreds of varieties, it’s a labor of love that takes shape well before a single visitor walks through the gate.

“We’re pulling beds here on the hills,” says Steven Green. “We’re backfilling by hand in some areas… and it takes all day. We’ve learned so much from the last few years that we have started staggering. So a lot of the earlier season flowers, we’ll pull those beds first, then a couple of weeks later, the beds for the later season flowers.”

For Tara, that process continues nearly every day during peak season—planting, checking on flower health, and keeping rotation consistent from April through August.

“We grow over a hundred varieties of flowers here,” she says. “I try to get out here super early in the mornings and do all of our planting. Just maintaining all of this is a lot of work every week.”

And if you’re not up for picking your own bouquet, Tara’s got you covered. Her roadside honor-system stand is stocked daily with custom-made arrangements—one of her favorite creative outlets.

“Making bouquets is one of my favorite things,” she says. “I enjoy the creative side of it—mixing the colors and textures, and just stretching my creative brain.”

But the experience doesn’t stop at flowers. The Green family’s working farm includes cattle and vegetable production, offering visitors a real look at the day-to-day of rural life.

“Before we had this, we didn’t really have a lot of interaction with people,” says Steven. “So this is just one avenue to come out here, to fellowship with people and to let them ask us questions. It’s neat—they get to ask us, and we can explain everything and talk to them.”

By: Damon Jones

From Orchard to Office: How One Georgia Peach Farmer Became a Champion for Agriculture Policy

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Musella, GA |

For Robert Dickey, a fourth-generation peach farmer, agriculture isn’t just a career—it’s a way of life. It’s also what led him, unexpectedly, into public service. What started as a return home to the family farm after college eventually led Dickey down a path to the Georgia State Capitol, where he now serves as Chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

“I really didn’t have any idea I’d venture into running for office,” says Dickey. “I wanted to come back here after UGA, came back with my wife, Cindy, and started a family right here, in our family business growing peaches. But when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it.”

Since his election, Dickey has risen through the ranks and become one of the strongest voices for the state’s agricultural industry—a role he doesn’t take lightly.

“Having good farm policy and farm support in Georgia is so important,” he says. “It’s our largest industry. It employs so many Georgians. It’s the basis of our economy here, especially in rural Georgia. Georgia’s got a very diversified economy, but agriculture is the backbone of it.”

As one of just a handful of state legislators who are also active farmers, Dickey says his background helps bridge the gap between rural and metro lawmakers—something that’s been key in keeping agriculture a bipartisan priority.

“There’s eleven of us, and we’ve got each other’s back,” Dickey says. “We try to talk to each other, form good policy planning, and gather support. Our metro legislators have been very supportive of agriculture and agribusiness in this state. That’s not by accident. We have a great group in the House and Senate that want to see Georgia’s ag thrive.”

Dickey credits much of his inspiration for entering politics to his years of involvement with Georgia Farm Bureau, where he previously served as a county president.

“I was president for several years and just saw how important Farm Bureau was to making good farm policy in Georgia,” he says. “It was probably one of the biggest reasons I ran—knowing how important it is to have good voices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., for agriculture.”

With the next legislative session still months away, Dickey is already focused on what’s next. At the top of his list: protecting Georgia’s farmland.

“Agriculture is facing some headwinds,” he says. “We had a good session this past year trying to help those hurricane victims—it was tough. But I’m really worried about our agricultural land disappearing in this state. So many other interests are taking it over or using it for other purposes. I just think we’ve got to protect farmland in this state, just like we protect our natural resources, our water, our parks, and rivers. We’ve got to protect farmland.”

BY: John Holcomb

From Flight Deck to Farm Rows: Retired Couple Grows Second Career at Beak and Berry Farm

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Senoia, GA |

For Patti and her husband, retirement didn’t mean slowing down—it meant digging in. In 2016, the couple left Tennessee for a quiet farm in Georgia, ready for a new chapter. What they found on their newly purchased property changed their lives: 100 blueberry bushes already in the ground.

“In 2016, my husband retires as an airline pilot and we decided, well, what are we going to do now?” says Patti Laney, co-owner of Beak and Berry Farm. “We thought, well, let’s buy a farm. And we found this beautiful little farm in Georgia… and we thought, oh cool, we can sell blueberries.”

That initial inspiration quickly grew into something more. After finding success with blueberries, the couple expanded to strawberries—and later blackberries—clearing three acres of wooded land to plant more fruit. The blackberries, in particular, have become a favorite among customers.

“We’ve been amazed at the response of people to blackberries,” Patti says. “People seem to like that they can come and get clean, healthy berries here.”

When it comes to picking the best berries, Patti offers a surprising tip: “If they’re bright and shiny, they’re not quite ripe yet. If it has a dull finish to it, that’s a ripe, sweet berry.”

Though Patti now sounds like a seasoned grower, she credits much of their success to a less traditional form of training.

“We tell people that we are proud agriculture graduates of YouTube University,” she laughs. “We’ve learned from the University of Georgia Extension Service, Farm Bureau, and of course, just learning through experience. We’ve learned that it takes patience, we’ve learned to respect Mother Nature… sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t.”

Their U-Pick operation, Beak and Berry Farm, has evolved into a place that not only provides fresh fruit, but also cultivates a sense of community. At the end of the season, customers are even invited to dig up leftover strawberry plants to take home in exchange for a donation to the I-58 food mission.

And for the Laneys, what started as a second career has become something far more meaningful.

“Well, I mean, it’s great to have fruit and we love having that,” Patti says. “But just the people that come here—it’s just so fun to meet people and see that they’re getting healthy, delicious stuff to take home. It’s been a blast. We said we’ll do this until it’s not fun anymore.”

By: Damon Jones

Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Celebrates Bumper Crop Despite Market Challenges

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Cordele, GA |

It’s not hard to see why Cordele is known as the Watermelon Capital of the World—thousands of melons are now rolling out of the fields as harvest season hits its peak. While it’s one of the busiest times of the year, local growers say it’s also one of the most rewarding, marking the payoff for months of preparation and hard work.

“Yeah, it’s always the gratifying part—to take it to market after the months of growing,” says Greg Leger, President of Leger & Son. “It’s exciting. It’s a busy time of year. This is when we make it—this window is the abundance of our production throughout the summer.”

Ideal spring conditions have helped growers produce a bumper crop for 2025, with strong yields and top-quality fruit.

“The growing season was good—almost perfect,” says Leger. “The yields are great and the quality is second to none.”

Of course, that success relies on having enough workers in the fields, since watermelons remain a labor-intensive crop that must be harvested by hand.

“Labor is a huge part of watermelons,” Leger explains. “We have to pick several times. You can’t pick it with a machine—it’s all done by hand. It’s the same people each season. They start in Florida and move up the East Coast, so by the time they get to Georgia, everybody’s in good shape.”

Once the melons are picked, quality control at the packing facility helps ensure customers get the best possible fruit. But Leger says there are still a few tips for picking the perfect melon at the market.

“If we do our job as grower-shippers, we take a lot of the guesswork out of it for the consumer,” he says. “You want to find one that’s symmetrical in shape with no bruising and heavy for its size. Look for the ground spot—what we call the belly. If you turn the watermelon over, it should have a yellow spot—that means it’s mature.”

Even though recent heavy rains haven’t hurt this year’s production, the same can’t be said about demand across the country.

“Unfortunately, we’ve got oversupply this year,” says Leger. “The movement in the Northeast and Midwest just hasn’t been pulling like it normally does. But the good news is, we’ve got a ways to go, and movement increased starting last week. We’re excited about finishing up the season and getting the rest of this crop off.”

Despite the early marketing challenges, Georgia growers take pride in producing watermelons for families to enjoy during a short—but sweet—window of time.

“It’s really gratifying to take a product all the way through to the markets,” Leger says. “Our window here in Georgia usually starts the first of summer and goes to about the fifteenth of July. The month of June through mid-July is a big time for watermelon production.”

By: Damon Jones

Rooted in Community: Smith Farm Supply Grows While Staying True to Local Farmers

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Warrenton, GA |

What started nearly 70 years ago as a single feed store in Warrenton has become much more than anyone could have imagined. Since 1955, Smith Farm Supply has grown to thirteen locations, all while staying true to its original mission: serving the farmers and rural communities who depend on them.

“I grew up around farming. My family was in the dairy business and then went into beef cows,” says Tyler Johnson, owner of Smith Farm Supply. “I loved working with animals, being around equipment, being outdoors—but I knew that wouldn’t be my entire career. When this came along, I really never thought it would go from one location to two or even to where it’s at now.”

Johnson purchased the store in 2008, and since then, he’s seen firsthand how quickly agriculture—and the supply business that supports it—can change.

“This is my seventeenth year in it. You could argue that ag business has changed more in the last seventeen years than ever before,” he says. “And I can almost guarantee it’ll change even more in the next seventeen. Georgia’s a really neat market—there are a lot of independents, and we love to maintain our independence. When we go into new markets, we can bring in goods and products essential to that area. Each store has its own identity.”

That local identity means each location is tailored to its community’s unique needs—something that matters even more in rural areas where options can be limited.

“We’re in a lot of underserved markets,” Johnson says. “It’s not that we choose those markets because there’s less competition. We run into logistical challenges with smaller fields, busier roads, lower populations. But if you want a 250-gallon tote of Roundup or an eighteen-wheeler load of fertilizer in South Georgia, you’ve got plenty of options. Up here, it’s more specialized. It’s rewarding to serve that type of market so people do have that option.”

While Smith Farm Supply has grown in size, Johnson says growth for growth’s sake has never been the goal. Instead, it’s about doing right by the people who work there—and the customers they serve.

“I love what I do,” says Johnson. “I look for opportunities to improve what we do for every person that works here. Getting the location, doing more bulk feed—that location was bought to make the other twelve locations better. I don’t know what’s next. It’s not about throwing out a number for more stores. I’m content with how things are, but we’re constantly trying to grow and advance what we do in a good way.”

By: John Holcomb

Georgia’s Green Industry Faces Big Challenges but Stays Resilient After Hurricane Helene

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Duluth, GA |

Here in Georgia, the green industry is more than just landscaping and nurseries—it’s big business that plays a vital role in the state’s economy. Encompassing everything from greenhouses and sod farms to landscape companies and garden centers, the sector generates over a billion dollars in economic impact every year while supporting Georgia’s number one industry: agriculture.

“The green industry in the state of Georgia is around over a billion-dollar industry and impact,” says Dr. Ben Campbell, Extension Economist with the University of Georgia. “We’re the tenth biggest state for nursery and greenhouse production in the country, and second in the Southeast behind Florida. The industry employs roughly over 100,000 people, both directly and indirectly. Its impact goes beyond plant sales for yards—it extends to restaurants, local businesses, and any place that values beautiful green spaces.”

With such an important role, industry events like the annual Southeast Green Conference and Trade Show have become crucial gatherings. They allow growers, landscapers, and suppliers to learn from one another, see the latest equipment and technology, and connect with partners from across the region.

“This is a good place for people to come together and meet,” says Stan Deal, Chairman of the Southeast Green Conference. “We offer three days of educational sessions for people wanting to learn about new technologies and get credits for pesticide application licenses. The trade show brings in industry folks from around the Southeast, so attendees can learn about new plants, pesticides, fertility products, equipment like mowers, application tools—everything they need to stay up to date.”

This year’s conference feels especially important. Just months ago, Hurricane Helene dealt a major blow to the industry, causing widespread damage to greenhouses, plants, and infrastructure.

“Overall, the impact of Hurricane Helene on the nursery and greenhouse industry in Georgia is around $440 million,” says Campbell. “That breaks down into around $300 million in short-term losses—plants, trees, and shrubs destroyed at the time of the hurricane or shortly after. There are also future losses—trees and plants that won’t be available to sell in years two, three, four, or five—about $84 million. On top of that, infrastructure losses like destroyed greenhouses and plastic are about $50 million.”

Hurricane Helene is just one of many challenges the green industry has faced in recent years. Labor remains a top concern, alongside rising input costs.

“Labor is one of the biggest issues—not just the cost, but the supply,” says Campbell. “Other impacts are on the input side. Costs for fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides—they’ve all gone up, but prices for products really haven’t kept pace. It’s created a squeeze for producers: how do you stay profitable when costs go up, but your prices don’t?”

Despite these challenges, events like the Southeast Green Conference highlight the resilience and innovation within Georgia’s green industry—one that continues to support communities, local economies, and the landscape we all enjoy.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia’s Wine Industry Grows with New Faces, Local Support, and Major Economic Impact

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Griffin, GA |

If you’re looking to experience some of the best wines not just in the U.S. but across the globe, you might not think to look in Georgia—but you should. With more than 120 wineries and vineyards now operating across the state, Georgia’s wine industry has become one of the region’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.

And with that growth expected to continue, events like the New Wine Grower Symposium have become an invaluable resource for those looking to break into the business.

“You have to be licensed federally, state, and locally,” says Jane Miller, a veteran Georgia wine producer. “You have to have a license to sell your wine and to distribute your wine. So there’s the legal part. You have to file taxes every month—that’s the bookkeeping part. And then there’s the physical fact that growing grapes is not easy.”

While winemaking may not be simple, Georgia’s climate offers many advantages similar to those found in some of the world’s top wine-producing regions.

“The northern latitude is the mainland United States and Europe—Sicily, North Africa,” Miller explains. “The southern latitude is Chile and Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. We have the temperature, the climate, the soils—everything you need.”

Unlike two decades ago, today’s new growers have access to a strong support system built by industry veterans eager to share their experience.

“When my husband and I started in 2006, people wanted to keep it to themselves,” says Miller. “But over the years that has totally changed. Everybody’s opened up. All the new people are friendly and would give you the shirt off their back. They really want to help—because what one winery does helps the whole industry. A rising tide raises all boats.”

Demographics in Georgia’s wine industry are changing too. Miller says more young families are choosing to come back to the land and start vineyards of their own.

“When we started twenty years ago, this industry was full of retirees starting a second career,” she says. “But today, I’m seeing young people with babies coming back, buying five or ten acres, and starting small vineyards. And believe me, the consumers in Georgia are really interested to come and see what you have to offer.”

Beyond its reputation for quality wines and agritourism experiences, Georgia’s wine industry is leaving a much bigger footprint on the state’s economy than many people realize.

“It’s over fifty million dollars a year,” Miller says. “We employ not just the people at the wineries but the surrounding restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and more. It’s an expanding economic impact for the state. And our legislature is starting to understand that and beginning to give us some help.”

By: Damon Jones

Feeding the Future: Researchers Explore Peanuts as Sustainable Poultry Feed in Georgia

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Atlanta, GA |

Peanuts have long been a staple crop in the Southeast, most famously as a favorite snack. But now, researchers are exploring a new use for this historic commodity—poultry feed. By tapping into peanuts’ nutritional value, scientists hope to create more sustainable and enriched poultry products using resources grown right here in Georgia.

“This research looks at the value-added utilization of using alternative poultry feed ingredients,” says Dr. Ondulla Toomer, Research Chemist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. “We’re aiming to produce more nutritionally enriched, premium quality poultry meat and products for human consumption—and to do so sustainably using agricultural resources that are prevalent in the Southeast.”

For decades, soybean meal has served as the go-to protein source in poultry diets. But according to Dr. Toomer, peanuts may be a better fit, especially for producers already growing them on their own land.

“Peanuts and soybeans are sister legumes and nutritionally they’re very similar,” she explains. “But peanuts have very low anti-nutritional factors. Most of our poultry producers are also peanut producers. So why import soybean meal from the Midwest or South America when you can grow and use what’s already in your fields?”

The benefits of peanuts in poultry feed extend far beyond sustainability. Research suggests the switch could also improve the quality of the final product.

“Not only do you produce the same number of eggs—or in some cases, more—but the poultry meat is nutritionally enriched and naturally produced, without synthetic pigments,” Toomer says. “When you feed unblanched, high-oleic peanuts to broilers, the chicken breast becomes enriched with unsaturated fats and contains less saturated fat than conventional chicken. Plus, the skin has a beautiful golden color that consumers prefer.”

For Georgia’s peanut industry, which has faced tough times in recent years due to falling commodity prices and export challenges, this new potential market comes at a crucial time.

“Particularly in the last couple of years, we’ve seen real challenges—especially in the export market,” says Donald Chase, Vice Chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “We’re working to diversify research into new uses. This opportunity makes sense for Georgia—we’re number one in peanuts and number one in poultry. If poultry companies can utilize some of these high-oleic peanuts, then we’ve got a new market for Georgia-grown peanuts.”

By: John Holcomb