Clay Goolsby accepts the Farm Family of the Year award from Greg Hicks and the county commissioners. (L-R) Greg Hicks, Clay Goolsby, Commissioners Harry “Buster Oxendine, Ronny Morgan, Lewis Vaughn and Josh Smith.

During a meeting of the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners on Tues., Oct. 2., Greg Hicks, director of the Hamilton County Extension Office announced that Clay and Gretchen Goolsby were chosen as 2012 Farm Family of the Year. Hicks explained that the extension office is part of the University of Florida and works in conjunction with county governments.

“Since 1977, the Hamilton County Extension Office Agricultural Advisory Committee has selected an outstanding farm family of the year,” said Hicks. “This year’s farm family is the Clay Goolsby family.”

The Goolsby family, Hicks said, has deep roots in Hamilton County and they are proud of their rural lifestyle.

“Clay has two main agricultural operations,” said Hicks. “One is the hay business that he works with his father, David Sr. He has approximately 500 acres of planted grass and sells hay to buyers in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and other midwestern states.”

His other operation is Tiger Creek Hunting Preserve, a 450 acre quail hunting business in Jasper that he started in 1998, Hicks continued. He not only hosts the quail hunts, but he raises the quail as well.

His wife Gretchen is the owner of Stitchin’ Sisters in Live Oak. Their daughter Leslie Ann is a junior at Suwannee High School and is an active FFA member. She also works part time for a local veterinarian. The Goolsby family are members of the First Baptist Church in White Springs.

“The Clay Goolsby family is a highly respected, close-knit family who is well deserving of this honor,” said Hicks.