Moultrie, GA |

The annual Willie B. Withers Expo Luncheon is more than just a meal—it’s the traditional launch of the Sunbelt Ag Expo and a celebration of the people who keep Georgia’s top industry thriving. This year, attendees had even more reason to cheer, as the Southeastern Farmer of the Year award was presented to Georgia’s own Kent Hamilton of Southern Valley Farms.

“It feels great. It really hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s certainly a big honor,” said Hamilton. “There’s a lot of great farmers out there that were in the running this year—really good farmers. So, there was a lot of competition. It feels really good. It certainly all pays off now. I’ve been very blessed through the years, but this is kind of a climax.”

The recognition is part of a long-standing tradition at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, which uses the platform to highlight agricultural excellence across the Southeast.

“We get to honor farmers who continue to produce a safe, abundant, economical supply of food, fiber and shelter,” said Chip Blalock, Executive Director of the Expo. “It helps us tell the story through their eyes—the great story of agriculture. There is a winner, and today that was Kent Hamilton, but honestly, they’re all winners in our book.”

For Hamilton, the award holds deep emotional significance, especially as he reflected on the role his late brother Kurt played in his farming journey.

“His name was Kurt, and he was two and a half years older than me. All he ever wanted to do was farm,” Hamilton shared. “We started farming together. He was the real farmer, the one that really knew how to farm. Unfortunately, he was killed in a farming accident. So, his life was cut short. This award means a lot because of him.”

While Hamilton took home the top farming honor, another award at the luncheon highlighted the hard work of a different kind of farmhand — the four-legged variety. The Georgia Farm Dog of the Year award, now in its second year, was presented to Rooster, an eight-year-old merle Australian Shepherd known for doing just about everything on the farm.

“He brings cattle out of the pasture, he sorts in the sorting barns at the dairy, he trials some — he’s just been a really good dog,” said owner Shawn Raff. “And he’s a great family dog.”

The competition, organized by Georgia Farm Bureau, was launched in 2024 in memory of their beloved mascot Lucky.

“We just wanted to honor and recognize all of the hard-working farm dogs across the state,” said Whitney Mooney, Associate Director of Information and PR at Georgia Farm Bureau. “The farm dog of the year is chosen by a team of independent judges. And every year, it’s a very, very hard decision.”

With so much talent — human and canine — on display, this year’s luncheon proved once again why Georgia agriculture continues to lead the way.

By: Damon Jones