Tag Archives: Georgia Farm Bureau

Franklin County’s Garren Hall Wins GFB Hay Contest and a Year With a New Vermeer Rake

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Carnesville, GA |

In Franklin County recently, hard work and dedication were getting their due reward. Garren Hall, winner of the Georgia Farm Bureau Hay Contest, was being shown the ropes of his new Vermeer rake — the grand prize for a competition that has long encouraged friendly rivalry and high-quality forage production across the state.

“The Georgia Farm Bureau Hay Contest really helps farmers lean on each other and develop the best management practices for forage production in Georgia. Farmers submit samples and get back the nutritional value of their hay — that way they can see what management practices are working well for them and what they can do to improve quality. Better hay leads to better animals,” said Eliza Jane Glover, Agricultural Programs Specialist with Georgia Farm Bureau.

A LONG TIME COMING

Hall has been entering the contest for years, coming close multiple times without taking the top prize. But through it all, quality has remained at the center of every decision made on his operation — and this year, that commitment finally paid off.

“We’ve had a lot of second and third place finishes. I think we’ve got three of the Farm Bureau coolers, but this is the first year we’ve actually topped out and got the grand prize,” Hall said. “High quality hay is really important to us. We’ll even cut our hay a little bit earlier before a rain rather than waiting until after — even though we get a little more quantity by waiting, we don’t have quite the quality. We prefer to cut every twenty-eight days, and it takes two inches of rain to make a cutting every twenty-eight days.”

A PRIZE BUILT TO MAKE FARMING EASIER

Along with the title, Hall took home the use of a Vermeer high-capacity rake for one year — a piece of equipment that reflects everything the Vermeer brand has stood for since its founding.

“Vermeer was started to make things easier for the farmer. In the late seventies, Gary Vermeer invented the round bale after hearing a farmer talk about how hard it was getting their hay up. His iconic saying was that ‘we’ve got to make this easier’ — and that is one of our driving pillars: making things simpler for the farmer,” said Daniel Elliott, Territory Manager for Vermeer.

That philosophy is built into the design of this rake, which stretches to a twenty-eight-foot working width — allowing operators to cover more ground with fewer passes through the field.

“That wide width means traveling through the field fewer times, which is better for fuel costs and better for your grass — less tracking means it recovers a lot faster after the cut,” Elliott said. “And the hydraulic suspension adjusts to the terrain as it goes, so it really doesn’t miss any spaces even at that width.”

For Hall, the win is validation of years of consistent management and a commitment to doing things right — even when cutting a little early costs a little yield. For Georgia’s hay producers, it’s a reminder that in forage, quality and consistency almost always win in the end.

By: John Holcomb

GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Gather on Jekyll Island for Annual Summer Leadership Conference

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Jekyll Island, GA |

Future agricultural leaders made their way to Jekyll Island for Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Leadership Conference, with more than two hundred and fifty attendees representing not only every corner of the state, but every sector of the agricultural industry.

“I’m not sure there’s an event in the state of Georgia where you can have so many different people from so many different aspects of the industry in one place at one time — whether it be a chemical salesman, an equipment dealer, or even educators. It’s people of all walks of life in Georgia ag, here at one place at one time,” said Garrett Hurley, Chairman of the GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

MORE THAN NETWORKING

Networking is just one of the many reasons attendees make the trip to Jekyll Island each July. The conference also includes sessions focused on advocacy, education, and the importance of political engagement — because according to one of the event’s featured speakers, agriculture’s voice in Washington is growing quieter by the year.

“Just looking at Congress, there are very few members now who have any type of agriculture background. You look at the way districts are drawn — you have these oddly shaped districts where a person from a suburban or urban area gets elected but is representing a rural area, and they’ve never seen a real blade of grass in their life,” said Mike Sistak, Director of Advocacy and Political Management for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “You want to be involved because you want to help those people. You have to show up and advocate for yourself, for your business, your family, and your community.”

RECOGNIZING THE BEST IN THE PROGRAM

One of the highlights of the conference each year is the announcement of competition winners — and the class of 2026 represented the state well. Allie Andrews of Lamar County took home the Achievement Award. Bryan and Addie Tucker of Wilcox County won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. And Michael Howard of Hart County was named the Discussion Meet winner. What they all have in common: they got their start at events just like this one.

“A lot of the application is your involvement — so get involved on your county level, your local level, and try to get involved on the state level. Come to events like this one on Jekyll Island,” said Levi Davis, GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Program Coordinator. “This is one of those things you can add to your application to boost your involvement. And there are also opportunities here through breakout sessions and keynote speakers where you can gain ideas and insight on what might make you a better applicant the next time you apply.”

A MESSAGE FROM THE SKY

Among this year’s keynote speakers was Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney — a fighter pilot and founder of Folds of Honor, an organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. His message to the group was both straightforward and personal.

“Showing up in a disciplined way every day — that’s what I’ve been able to learn as a fighter pilot. We talked about the concept of CAVU: ceiling and visibility unlimited. At its core, that is my code of living, to get the most out of every day,” Rooney said. “It’s about faith, family, farming, and freedom — and it was just such a huge blessing to be with our future leaders and great, traditional American farmers and families.”

For Georgia’s next generation of agricultural advocates, Jekyll Island offered more than a summer getaway. It offered a roadmap — and a reminder that showing up is where leadership begins.

By: Damon Jones

Mae’s on the Corner in Barnesville Is a Farm Stand Built on Sourdough, Hard Work, and Community

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Barnesville, GA |

Allie Andrews is someone who has a lot going on. She, her husband, and three kids run and operate a family farm in Lamar County that includes hay, poultry, and beef cattle. But as if that weren’t enough, Allie’s newest venture is Mae’s on the Corner — a small farm stand that has quickly become a community favorite.

“Mae’s on the Corner is about a two-acre vegetable garden where we grow all sorts of veggies — from tomatoes to black-colored sweet corn, squash, zucchini, green beans, butter beans,” said Andrews. “Along with Mae’s on the Corner, we have our shack, and in our shack, I love to personalize things for friends, family, and our community. We do sourdough bread, sourdough cookies, cinnamon rolls, an herb mix for the bread, and blueberry muffins.”

BORN FROM A PERSONAL JOURNEY

The baked goods didn’t start with a business plan — they came out of a personal health journey. But once friends and family got a taste, they encouraged Andrews to sell, and from there, things moved quickly.

“In February of last year, I had a little pop-up table in the front yard starting at six in the morning for teachers and people heading to school and work, and I sold out within about an hour,” Andrews said. “Every month after that — either the first or second Monday or Tuesday — I’d pop up my table, and it just grew from there.”

A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

What started as a table of baked goods has grown into a full farm stand experience, with fresh produce from their garden added thanks to the involvement of the whole family. For Andrews, that’s not just a convenience — it’s a conviction.

“We are raising the next generation to take over, and I can’t say that’s always the mindset on some farms. We want our kids to know we work for everything we get,” Andrews said. “If we’re not training up our kids — if we’re not allowing them to pick with us, plant with us, ride the tractor — who’s going to learn behind us? I think it’s just the coolest way to have them on the front lines, seeing it, putting in the hard work, understanding discipline. And in that discipline, you get to see the reward of the harvest.”

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

For Andrews, Mae’s on the Corner has become more than a farm stand — it’s a way to serve the community she lives and works in. And now, as a member of the Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market program, that reach has grown considerably, drawing visitors from across the state.

“I hope that people gain the understanding that there’s a lot of work that goes into it, and they can appreciate shopping local because of that work,” Andrews said. “We have people with the passport that have come from Milledgeville, Athens, North Georgia, South Georgia, east, west — they’re all popping into these little shops and markets and shopping local. And to hear someone in the grocery store or at church say, ‘Hey, we stopped by your stand — you have the cutest setup,’ that means everything.”

For Allie Andrews, Mae’s on the Corner is proof that a pop-up table in the front yard, a loaf of sourdough, and a whole lot of heart can grow into something that feeds an entire community.

By: John Holcomb

From Dairy to Sod: Georgia Farm Bureau’s Bernard Sims Reflects on a Lifetime of Farming

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Ringgold, GA |

Around here, the day still starts with a ride across the farm. There are pastures to check, land to look over, and work that never really goes away. For Bernard Sims, this has been home for decades. And while one leadership chapter is coming to a close, he says the timing was right.

“My mind’s good, but my body’s beginning to fail me. It was time to get out of the way and let somebody younger come on and take care of it,” Sims said.

STILL ON THE FARM — JUST IN A DIFFERENT ROLE

But stepping away from a board position doesn’t mean Bernard is stepping away from agriculture. The farm is still very much a part of his daily life — even if these days, he’s quick to point out, he’s more or less an onlooker.

“I have a son that actually runs the operation now. I just work with them wherever they need me. If they need me to drive something, that’s what I do,” Sims said. “Physically, I’m not able to do as much as I used to — by far.”

BUILT ON THE FARM, NOT IN A BOARDROOM

That work ethic was forged early. After a couple years of college and a stint working in a foundry, Sims decided there was a better way to live — and came back to start dairying. That decision shaped nearly four decades of his life, defined by early mornings, long hours, and work that doesn’t take days off.

“When I started, we were raising about sixty-five calves. And as time went on, you either had to get bigger or get out — and now the dairies are huge. The mechanization’s come along to help them too,” Sims said.

While many know Bernard Sims for his years of service with Georgia Farm Bureau, his foundation was never built in a meeting room or around a board table. It was built here — through early mornings, long days, and a life spent doing the work himself.

A PIVOT TO SOD

Eventually, Bernard and his family made the move out of dairy and into sod farming. Part of that decision was business, part of it was timing, and part of it was watching the world around his farm slowly start to change.

“We began to get so many neighbors. We had never had any problems, but it seemed like it was coming,” Sims said. “And I felt like it was time for us to get into something else while we still could manage it ourselves — without being forced or told what to do with it. I had two sons with me, and to support three families, I didn’t think we had enough land at the time to do it with traditional farming. The only thing I could see was sod farming — and it has worked out well for us.”

STILL PRODUCTIVE, STILL PASSIONATE

Still, Bernard worries about what farming is becoming — not because agriculture isn’t moving forward, but because the farming life he knew is getting harder to find. Even so, the work itself remains a source of deep satisfaction.

“I just love being out here on the farm. I see so many young men coming in here to talk, and they look at me and say, ‘You still working?’ And I say, ‘Yeah — the good Lord said be productive. And that’s what I’m trying to do,'” Sims said with a laugh.

For Bernard Sims, the chapter titles may be changing, but the story — the one written in early mornings, long days, and a lifetime of love for the land — is far from over.

By: Ray D’Alessio

Georgia Sen. Lee Anderson Brings Four Decades of Farming Experience to the State Capitol

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Grovetown, GA |

Senator Lee Anderson has spent his entire life farming the same ground where he was raised — and that connection to the land is a defining part of who he is. But for Anderson, that was never where his sense of purpose ended. His background in agriculture laid the foundation for a life of public service, and for four decades, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.

“It goes back to my mother and my father and how they raised me. I love helping people. I love helping a true need, and I love helping a community move forward in the right direction,” said Anderson, who represents Georgia Senate District 24.

FIGHTING FOR FARMERS IN ATLANTA

While farming has brought Anderson no shortage of personal reward, he also knows firsthand the difficulties that come with it — and those realities stay front and center in his work under the Gold Dome.

“Everything is at an all-time low in terms of what we receive, and everything is at an all-time high in terms of expenses. Usually, one commodity would bring more to help offset the others that aren’t bringing a good price. But right now, everything is at an all-time low — and that’s what we’re trying to help address in Atlanta any way we can,” Anderson said.

EDUCATION IS PART OF THE JOB

For Anderson, fighting for agriculture in the legislature means more than casting votes. A significant part of the work involves educating colleagues who may have little familiarity with the industry — and he sees that as one of the most important things a farmer-lawmaker can do.

“We have to educate people in our profession, just the same way lawyers have to explain legal details to us, or doctors help us understand the medical field,” Anderson said. “We — the farmers — have to explain to our coworkers what’s really important. And what’s really important is that we provide the food and fiber for people. We put the food on the table, the shirt on your back, and the shoes you wear.”

FARM BUREAU: A VALUED PARTNER

That work of education and advocacy isn’t something Anderson does alone. He says organizations like Georgia Farm Bureau are among the most valuable tools at his disposal when navigating the legislative process.

“They help us educate the rest of the delegation. They give us a lot of information and details that we can present in agriculture committee meetings — and it helps with the budget process as well,” Anderson said. “Farm Bureau is just an awesome organization. I’ve been in it since I was probably seventeen years old, and over the years it’s been great.”

For Senator Anderson, the farm and the statehouse have always been connected — two expressions of the same commitment to community, hard work, and looking out for the people who feed the rest of the world.

By: John Holcomb

GFB Young Farmers Chair Garrett Hurley Has Never Strayed Far From Home — or the Farm

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Lyerly, GA |

For most people, life takes them far from where they started — a different town, a different career, a different path. For Garrett Hurley, home has never been very far away at all.

“My house is actually on my childhood farm. The farm I live on has been in our family for five or six generations. I’ve actually moved once, and it was across a cow pasture,” said Hurley, Chair of Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. “I’ve been within about 200 yards of the same place my entire life.”

A DREAM THAT STARTED IN THE LIVING ROOM

Northwest Georgia may not look like the sprawling row crop country of South Georgia, but to Hurley, the patchwork of fields and tree lines that make up his corner of the state has always been exactly where he wanted to be.

“Riding down some back roads up here in Northwest Georgia, it might look a little different. We may not be wall-to-wall fields — we’ve got plenty of trees packed in and we’ve got little patches, as we like to call them,” Hurley said. “But I can never really remember a time where I wasn’t a farm kid. If I wasn’t out on the farm with my dad, I was in the yard playing with farm toys and tractors. Having my own farm was always the goal — to come back and farm for my career.”

That goal never wavered, even when other opportunities came knocking.

“There was one point in my life that I was going to go to trade school. I ended up talking myself out of that and came straight back to the farm,” Hurley said. “Now that I’m doing it, it’s the greatest blessing ever.”

CHALLENGES FACING THE NEXT GENERATION

As Chair of GFB’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, Hurley has a front-row seat to the obstacles facing young producers across the state — and two themes come up over and over again: capital and land access.

“One thing that just keeps coming up is the availability of capital. Things just cost so much — trying to buy equipment to get started, or trying to buy cattle now that prices are at all-time highs,” Hurley said. “But also the availability of land. A lot of times a piece of land comes up for rent and the younger person gets overlooked. The younger generation may not do things the way the older generation did back in the eighties, but a lot of times new ideas aren’t a terrible thing. I would encourage the older generation to give some of the younger guys a chance.”

BUILDING SOMETHING TO PASS ON

When Hurley talks about the future, he isn’t just talking about his own farm. He’s thinking about what comes next — and whether the life he’s built can be passed down the same way it was passed to him.

“I hope that in twenty years I can be farming full-time with one or both of my kids. The end goal is to have a sustainable business that my children can come back into,” Hurley said. “I want them to know that if they don’t want to come back, we’ll still have the land and they’ll always have somewhere to call home. But if they do want to come back, I hope I’m in a position to help them — with financial resources as well as years of knowledge — and just present them with the opportunity.”

In the end, Hurley’s story isn’t really about cotton or cattle or even farming. It’s about home — and a dream that never took him far from it.

By: Ray D’Alessio

Early Drought Puts Georgia Farmers in Uncharted Territory

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Madison, GA |

All across the state, dry conditions are raising concerns for farmers and producers. A lack of rainfall and expanding drought are already impacting planting decisions and crop outlooks heading into the season.

For producers like Lee Nunn, the biggest concern isn’t the drought itself — it’s how early it arrived this season.

“In droughts in previous years, none of those years that I can remember off the top of my head could we not get a crop in. We had a drought during the crop year. This year is extremely different to me — being this dry, this early. I’ve never seen it in my years of farming to be stressed about getting the crop in the ground,” said Nunn.

While drought is nothing new for Georgia growers, Nunn says even typically reliable crops are showing signs of stress. His wheat crop — one that has rarely struggled for moisture in a quarter century — is now a cause for concern.

“We’ve never really had a problem in the last twenty-five years of growing wheat of ever having a lack of moisture on a wheat crop. I look back at some rainfall data, and we’re at about fifty percent moisture since the first of last September. We’re down about fifteen inches short in that time frame,” Nunn said.

EQUIPMENT AND COSTS

The lack of moisture isn’t just impacting crop development. Nunn says the soil has become so dry and hardened that his equipment is taking a serious toll, making planting more difficult and costly than usual.

“With the lack of moisture, that subsoil machine almost just can’t go in the ground. It is so hard. The red clay we have in this part of the state comes up like bricks and chunks — super hard and very abrasive,” Nunn said. “I would say we get at least half the life of our tips and our wear points on equipment compared to what we’d get with moisture. And honestly, that’s just an expense we can’t afford to take right now.”

Those added expenses come at a time when farmers are already struggling with high input and operating costs, putting even more pressure on producers heading into planting season.

“With the input costs we have right now at all-time highs — diesel fuel, fertilizer, equipment, equipment parts — just everything is at all-time highs,” Nunn said. “Commodity prices have crept up a little bit lately, and I’m thankful for that. But we’ve got to have a crop to sell this fall. Without adequate soil moisture, we can’t till the crop in, and we can’t plant the crop. If there’s no moisture there, there’s no need planting it.”

WINDOW IS CLOSING

According to Nunn, time and conditions will play a critical role in determining the rest of the season. If things don’t change, there’s a real chance this year’s crop won’t go in the ground at all.

“We have a pretty long window with cotton — at least another month to plant, up until about the first of June in this part of the state,” Nunn said. “We don’t like to plant much past the first week of June, so we do have some time. But the longer you wait, the less yield you have, and the more problems you have with the cotton crop.”

“That’s not to say you can’t make a crop,” he added. “But the chances are a lot less that you’ll make a perfect crop — and we almost need a perfect crop for these type of situations with inputs and pricing.”

As the season progresses, Georgia producers like Nunn will be watching the forecast closely, hoping for the rain that could mean the difference between a challenging year and no crop at all.

By: John Holcomb

Stephanie Westhafer Named Georgia Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year

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Hoschton, GA |

In a vibrant first-grade classroom at West Jackson Elementary, the seeds of curiosity are planted not just in minds—but in soil. Rows of tomatoes, basil, and peppers line the school’s outdoor garden, where students learn lessons that stretch far beyond textbooks.

At the heart of it all is Dr. Stephanie Westhafer, who believes agriculture isn’t just an elective—it’s essential.

“It isn’t just about us planting and tending for the garden,” said Dr. Stephanie Westhafer. “It’s actually something that connects with where their food comes from and the things that they see as they drive to school. Like, we’re fortunate out here that even though we do have the sprawl coming, we still see cows on the way to school and crops growing in fields. And so this was something that I knew would be relatable to them.”

That hands-on, real-world connection is why Westhafer was named the 2025 Georgia Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.

Her students call it their “pizza garden,” a year-long inquiry-based project that begins with a simple question: How can we maintain a seasonal garden to provide food for our school and community? Through that lens, students explore science, math, literacy—and yes, agriculture—all through one of their favorite foods.

“When I introduced that last year, I said, ‘Guys, I really want to plant a pizza garden.’ And I kind of got looks like… pizza garden?” Westhafer recalled with a laugh. “They were imagining little slices of pizza growing on a vine. But I asked, ‘Do you even know where your pizza comes from?’ And from there, we started exploring—what’s on a pizza, what can we grow, and how does dairy tie in? We even made mozzarella cheese and connected it to our adopted calf and dairy farming.”

Principal Lori King says Westhafer’s energy and commitment are unmatched.

“She loves to learn. She’s a lifelong learner,” said Lori King, principal at West Jackson Elementary. “She implements everything she picks up and engages every single student—and their families, too. Parents are constantly in her classroom, involved and excited about what their kids are learning. She’s just beyond amazing.”

That community buy-in is part of what makes her work so impactful. Whether it’s vermicomposting, healthy cooking, or literacy instruction, Westhafer embeds agriculture into nearly every subject area.

“Reading isn’t its own thing,” Westhafer emphasized. “Reading is something we do to absorb information about science and social studies. It’s immersed in everything we do. And Georgia Ag in the Classroom really focuses on that kind of integrated learning, which is so powerful.”

And it’s that integrated, hands-on style that helps even reluctant learners find their place.

“She brings excitement,” said King. “For kids who maybe don’t love writing or don’t come from a gardening background, she pulls them in through energy and purpose. Once they become hands-on problem solvers, they’re invested.”

For Westhafer, the garden is more than a teaching tool—it’s a place where students find pride in their accomplishments.

“They’ll say, ‘Wow, that was hard, but I did it. And I’m proud of it,’” she said. “And seeing a kid say that they’re proud of something they did—not a test score, but something they grew or made or solved—that’s life-changing.”

By: Ray D’Alessio

From Hospital Halls to Farm Fields: Haley Scruggs Honored for Excellence in Agriculture

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Macon, GA |

For Haley Scruggs, life is anything but ordinary. By day, she’s a nurse practitioner specializing in vascular surgery—working long shifts, saving lives, and navigating the nonstop pace of hospital life. But when the scrubs come off, she steps into a very different role: fourth-generation farmer.

“Our farm is over a hundred years old,” said Scruggs. “We grow Christmas trees—choose and cut Christmas trees—pecans, and coastal Bermuda hay. But when I’m not here, I’m a nurse practitioner. So that is my full-time job. And this is my second full-time job. So, it keeps us very, very busy.”

That contrast—between the sterile hospital halls and the quiet beauty of the farm—is exactly what Scruggs says keeps her grounded.

“This is such a great way to just become grounded because that hospital can get very crazy and become very stressful,” she explained. “When you’re trying to save lives all day and handle patients’ situations, it is so nice to be able to come out and literally enjoy what God has given us and spend time on the farm with my family.”

Her unique story recently earned her top honors as the Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award winner—recognition she says left her nearly speechless.

“Honestly, I was completely speechless,” said Scruggs. “Tears filled my eyes. I could not have been more excited. This is such a tough competition. And any competition with Farm Bureau—when you make it to the top level—you’re not competing with someone they just drug off the street. These are very top competitors, who are all extremely active in agriculture and are passionate about what they do.”

That passion—both for healing and for growing—is what sets Scruggs apart and helps connect two very different communities that she says often don’t understand each other.

“People at the hospital see a nurse practitioner. They don’t see someone in agriculture,” she said. “They don’t understand everything else I’m doing behind the scenes and how we’re involved in the community with our farm. Same thing with people on the farm—they don’t understand that we actually all work full-time jobs. So I think with that award, it is very important to show people both in and out of agriculture how you can become involved in the community.”

That sense of community is what first drew her to Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program—and what keeps her coming back.

“What an incredible experience the Young Farmer and Rancher program has been,” Scruggs said. “A lot of times you think farmers are old and there’s no one out there you can really reach out to. But that’s completely wrong. There are so many young farmers and ranchers from across the state. It’s absolutely incredible to know that you have that support out there with people who are your age—some a little older, some a little younger.”

Whether in a hospital gown or work boots, Scruggs proves that passion and purpose can thrive in more than one field—and that the line between healing people and feeding them is not as far apart as it seems.

By: Damon Jones

Rooted in Family, Rising in Leadership: Kylie Sizemore Wins GFB Discussion Meet

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Carnesville, GA |

Before the spotlight. Before the pressure of judges’ questions. There was simply home.

For Kylie Sizemore, that home was a family farm where agriculture wasn’t just a topic of conversation—it was a way of life. From an early age, she was surrounded by the rhythms and values of rural living: hard work, patience, and responsibility. And guiding her through it all was a strong support system of family members who saw her potential long before she stepped into any arena.

“I would say that my dad probably encouraged me the most when it came to agriculture and encouraging me to get involved in FFA,” Kylie said. “My older sister showed pigs, so of course I wanted to be like her and I wanted to show pigs, and that was really my start—showing pigs in 4-H. Then once I went to middle school, I showed pigs in FFA and became more involved doing leadership development events, LDEs, and career development events, CDEs. And that really is where I got my start in agriculture.”

That start paved the way for Kylie to compete in—and win—the 2025 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet, a competition that rewards not confrontation, but collaboration. But her journey to the state title was years in the making, and her family played a central role in every step.

“My family’s always encouraged me to be actively involved and just shoot for a hundred percent no matter what I’m doing,” she said. “I can remember in sixth grade I wanted to do meat judging in FFA and I started it and I didn’t like it, but my mom and dad were like, you can’t quit. Even with Discussion Meet and being involved in Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, and the women’s committee here in my local Franklin County Farm Bureau chapter—it’s my family that has encouraged me to do more and be the best that I can be.”

That encouragement followed her all the way to this year’s state convention in Jekyll Island, where she decided to give the Discussion Meet another shot after taking a break for a few years.

“I love being a part of active conversation and I love getting to meet and mingle with new people,” she said. “I hadn’t been [to convention] the past couple years, and Discussion Meet is a great thing to do while I’m there. So I was just ready to get into it again.”

And while the competition may be solo on paper, Kylie is quick to point out it was very much a team effort—especially with her husband Willie by her side. A former Discussion Meet winner himself, Willie offered encouragement, coaching, and the occasional push when Kylie needed it most.

“Willie said, ‘It’s time for you to do Discussion Meet again and we’re gonna try to win.’ And I said, ‘We? We are gonna try to win?’” she laughed. “But it really was a team effort. As a question was drawn, we would go back to the room or go to a restaurant and talk about the topic. He would 100% help me prepare.”

Now, with the state title under her belt, Kylie’s eyes are set on the next challenge: competing on the national stage and continuing to serve as a voice for Georgia agriculture.

By: Ray D’Alessio