TIFTON — Farmers and peanut growers from all across Georgia flocked to Tifton on Jan. 18 for the 2024 Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference.

The 47th run of the event provided attendees with the opportunity to see the latest advancements and services from businesses and organizations across the industry in preparation for the upcoming peanut season. From equipment manufacturers and technological services to agricultural research organizations, nearly 100 exhibitors packed into the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, eager to meet with farmers from across the state.

Seminars were held throughout the morning in the center’s small auditorium, with the larger John Hunt Auditorium being used as an exhibition hall for large agricultural equipment.

Attendees partook in discussions about peanut production in 2023 and expected yields in the new year, weed management recommendations, and seed varieties in production and in development from experts in the fields such as Drs. Scott Monfort, Erik Prostko, and Barry Tillman.

Following this, national legislators and representatives of peanut organizations provided updates on production and consumption of the crop and status of agriculture-supporting bills while patrons of the event enjoyed a luncheon.

Ryan Lepicier of the National Peanut Board reported that peanut butter consumption had reached an all time high in 2023 at about 4.4 pounds per capita. He announced the board was taking a shift away from themed marketing and focusing more on the marketing itself, aiming to connect more with customers about peanuts and work with healthcare professionals on tackling peanut allergies.

Indeed, Lepicier stated that the board was fervently working on a treatment to eliminate peanut allergies, and asked the attendees to encourage early introduction of peanuts in their local spheres so as to prevent the peanut allergy before it had a chance to onset.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper was confident that he’d be bringing the state a couple of new peanut technician positions soon, and proudly announced he was campaigning to get a bill passed to ensure state farmland remained in the hands of state farmers.

In another national report, however, Bob Redding of the Redding Firm reported that the Farm Bill legislators had been working toward for some months had been stopped over funding debates, and he was unsure that it would be passed by the end of the year.

Afterward, the exceptional state farmers or supporters of Georgia’s agricultural industry who had demonstrated their hard work in bolstering state peanut production across the previous year received awards honoring that very dedication and service.

Award winners included:

Dal Cannady, former bureau chief of WTOC-TV, Media Award

Dr. Glen Harris, UGA Professor and Extension Peanut Team Member, Research and Education Award

John T. Powell, Executive Director of American Peanut Shellers Association, Distinguished Service Award

Mallory Harvey, Outstanding Young Peanut Farmer Award

Harvey’s dedication to his work comes from his grandfather, whom he assisted in his youth and who he strives to follow in the footsteps of. He currently operates a 1500 acre farm of row crops, which includes peanuts and cotton, and hopes to expand his operation and secure an additional 300 acres of land for his farm in 2024.

He was proud to accept the award, and asserted that Georgia had a crew of outstanding farmers, encouraging them to “keep on plowing.”

For the tenth year, the Georgia Peanut Commission recognized five farmers as Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmer of the Year, honoring the farmers of the state that had shown devotion to their peanut farming work and presenting one from each district with an award for that effort and diligence.

These farmers were Donald Shirah of District 1, Gerald Fowler of District 2, Lee Cromley of District 3, Sam Crenshaw of District 4, and Richard Morrison of District 5, presented posthumously.

The five received their awards prior to the show at an honorary breakfast held that morning, but were asked to stand as their names were called during the awards ceremony.