All of the honorees for the 2018 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards.

TIFTON —  Branch and Branch Farms of Tift County, Omega Gin Company and UGA Extension agents Scott Carlson and Justin Hand  were the Region 3 winners of the 2018 Georgia Quality Cotton Award in the 500 to 1,000 acreage category, according to a press release.

The 2018 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s 12th Annual Meeting and UGA Cotton Production Workshop on Jan. 30 in Tifton.

The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and BASF, and administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team.

The purpose of the awards are to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers.

The producers and their gins received a plaque and the winning producers received a $500 cash award.

 The UGA County Extension Agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

The awards are given in each of these three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners in these categories are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise.

The sponsors of this program congratulate all of the following winners:  

REGION 1

Less than 500 acres

• Grower – Robert Rawlins, Turner County.

• Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, Sycamore.

• UGA Extension Agent – Will Gay.

500-1000 acres

• Grower – Chad Hawkins, Wilcox County.

• Ginner – Arabi Gin Company.

• UGA Extension Agent – Andrew Sawyer.

1000+ acres

• Grower – Lancaster Farms, Pulaski County.

• Ginner – Heart of Georgia Peanut & Gin, Hawkinsville.

• UGA Extension Agent – Jay Porter.

REGION 2

Less than 500 acres

• Grower – Tucker Cobb, Washington County.

• Ginner – Midville Warehouse, Inc..

• UGA Extension Agent – Brent Allen.

500-1000 acres

• Grower – Ed Wilson Farms, Jenkins County.

Ginner – Midville

Warehouse, Inc.

• UGA Extension Agent – Jason Mallard.

1000+ acres

• Grower – Dean Johnson.

• Ginner – Bryant’s Gin, Bartow.

• UGA Extension Agents – Katie Burch and Pamela Sapp.

REGION 3

Less than 500 acres

• Grower – Mike Lindsey, Cook County.

• Ginner – BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman.

• UGA Extension Agent – Tucker Price.

500-1000 acres

• Grower – Branch and Branch Farms, Tift County.

• Ginner – Omega Gin Company.

• UGA Extension Agents – Scott Carlson and Justin Hand.

1000+ acres

• Grower – Michael York, Brooks County.

• Ginner – BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman.

• UGA Extension Agents – Stephanie Hollifiend and Michasia Dowdy.

REGION 4

 Less than 500 acres

• Grower – Clifford Dollar, III, Decatur County.

• Ginner – Sowega Cotton Gin & Warehouse, LLC, Climax.

• UGA Extension Agent – Nan Bostick.

500-1000 acres

• Grower – Andy Sparrow, Seminole County.

• Ginner – Clover Leaf Gin, Donalsonville.

• UGA Extension Agent – Cody Powell.

1000+ acres

• Grower – RBF & M+S Roberts Farms, LLC, Worth County.

• Ginner – Worth Gin, Sylvester.

• UGA Extension Agent – Bryce Sutherland.