The 2025 Farm City Banquet was held on Tuesday, November 18th, at Rivertown Community Church. The 52nd annual celebration was organized by the Jackson County Agriculture Coalition, which is not a formal entity, but simply a cooperative effort of six organizations that support agriculture in Jackson County. The six organizations include: Jackson County Farm Bureau, Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District, Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, and UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County.
This year’s banquet was attended by over 300 people from all across the community. No banquet is complete without a great meal. Chorme Ministries prepared prime rib, and Brenda Pettis and staff catered the remainder of the meal, made complete with her wonderful pecan cobbler.
An event of this magnitude would not be possible without the financial contribution of organizations in the Ag Coalition and business sponsors. Platinum Sponsors for this years event were: Jackson County Teacher’s Credit Union, and People’s South Bank; Gold Sponsor was: Ham Peanut Company; Silver sponsors included: American Forest Management, American Peanut Growers Group, Clover Leaf Cotton Gin, Helena Agri Enterprises, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Southern Cotton Organization, Sowega Cotton Gin, SunSouth John Deere, Tidewater Case Ag & Construction Equipment, Welch Farms, and West Florida Electric Cooperative.
Chris Franklin, Principal of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, organized and presided over the youth organization presentations. Chris said, “We are fortunate to have strong youth agricultural organizations in our communities, and they are represented to share with you their accomplishments from the previous year.” Representatives from the 12 youth agricultural organizations shared their annual updates. These organizations included: Cottondale FFA (junior and senior chapters), Graceville FFA (junior and senior chapters), Grand Ridge FFA, Malone Middle FFA, Malone High FFA, Marianna Middle FFA, Marianna High FFA, Sneads FFA, Jackson County Junior Cattlemen’s Association, and Jackson County 4-H.
Doug Mayo, County Extension Director, UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County, presented the Ag Award stories of 16 farm families, the Farm City Scholarship winner, and the Jackson County AgVocator recognition. The following are the full stories for each of the award recipients:
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Wendell Williams Family – 2025 Jackson County Outstanding Farm Family
At least four generations of the Williams family have farmed in Jackson County. The Williams are a long line of hard-working people who provided for their families, respected the land under their care, and loved growing crops and livestock, so much so, that they sacrificed their own leisure time to carry on the family arming tradition.
Will Williams, Wendell’s grandfather, had a diversified farm raising crops with and a variety of livestock that included chickens. They lived in the Allison Community along Fort Road or what is now Highway 69, in the Northeastern part of the county. Will, like most farmers of his generation, had a large family and limited cash income, so bartering was a common practice. It was quite common for him and other families in the area to send their kids to the local stores with fresh eggs and farm products to trade for sugar or other goods. Legend has it, that bartering was so common in Allison that the community, it was later renamed Two Egg, as patrons would barter farm products at Lawrence Grocery or Pittman Store.
John N. Williams, Wendell’s father, followed in the tradition of his father Will, farming crops with mule powered implements, which included corn to feed hogs and of course the mules. He also drove a school bus to help make ends meet while holding a full-time position working nights at Florida State Hospital, in Chattahoochee. John and Alzadia had nine kids, three boys and six girls who all grew up doing chores and helping on the farm. After graduating high school, the daughters gradually left the farm, each setting out to continue their education and start families. The three boys: Nathaniel, Wendell, and Michael helped their father John on the farm. They got their first tractor, a Ford 8N, in the early 60s. Wendell went to Chipola and became a certified auto mechanic and eventually opened a car repair shop in Gordon, Alabama. Michael joined the Marines, but Nathaniel and Wendell continued to help their father on the farm until John was ready to retire.
In 1980, Nathaniel and Wendell each started farming on their own, with help from their father at key times of the season. Wendell worked to grow his farming operation to 700 acres, primarily on rented land, growing peanuts, corn, or a double crop of wheat and soybeans. In addition, he gradually built a swine operation that peaked at 200 sows. Hog farming was a major part of numerous farms in Jackson County until the vertically integrated corporate farms slowly eliminated local markets. Wendell sold his last 40 hogs for 4ȼ/lb. in the late 1980s.
Wendell loved farming just like his father. He loved it so much, like his father, he found a full-time job that would allow him to keep farming even in tough times. For 35 years, Wendell worked on the 11 PM-7 AM nightshift at Florida State Hospital, in Chattahoochee. He worked all night and farmed until 5 PM, took a shower, ate dinner with his family, slept three hours, and drove back to Chattahoochee to work either 7 days on and 2 days off, or 9 days on and 4 days off. Wendell was not the only one who worked hard in the family though. Wendell and his wife Betty were married for 27 years before her passing. She raised three daughters – Twanna, Katrinia, and Nakia, managed the household and all of the pageants, cheer practices, and extracurricular activities, plus Betty owned and managed the Koffee Pot Restaurant, in Greenwood. This hard-working couple made sure that all three girls graduated first from high school, and then college at Florida State University.
In 1989, Wendell bought a gleaner combine to harvest corn, soybeans, and wheat. To help cover the cost of the machine, he started offering a custom harvest service to other farms in the area, but he never quit his night job, because farming in the late 80s was so hard, much like the last few years have been. In the late 80s, Wendell also started a commercial beef cow herd to replace the diversity of income he had lost from his hog herd.
At age 75, Wendell has no plans for retirement. He has slowed down some, farming about half the acres he once did. He still grows peanuts and manages his cow herd, which includes growing enough corn and hay to feed his cattle through the winter. He offers some sage advice from someone who has farmed his entire life. “You can’t buy everything you want. Only buy what you absolutely need. Instead, take care of what you have, and you won’t need something new.” Wendell’s newest tractor is a 1990 model, and he has no plans to replace it, because he knows how to fix it when a repair is needed. Most recently, Wendell is now helping his daughters with their new farming endeavor.
Twanna Nelson is The Deputy Director of Programs and Strategies for the Georgia Health Policy Center, at Georgia State University. Katrinia Williams Patrick is the Program Coordinator for the Florida Center for Public Management, at FSU. Nakia Williams is the kindergarten through second grade Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher, at Malone School. So, they are not only college graduates, but Wendell and Betty’s girls have made their own marks on the world and have done well!
In 2021, this 4th generation started an agritourism event center called, “The Farms at Two Egg.” Katrinia visited an agritourism operation in Valdosta Georgia to get ideas for what she wanted to create. What started with the idea of, “We need a better place for our family gatherings,” became a much larger vision that included the needs of their local community. Most farms erect barns to store hay and equipment, but these ladies created a special place with the warm farm feel for families and the community to gather for special celebrations such as weddings, family reunions, horse trail rides, and special parties. They created a venue where 200 people can gather at an affordable price. They held their first wedding in September of 2021. Not only are they using the venue for private functions but have been using the barn and property for community events like easter egg hunts, family movie nights, trunk-or-treat at Halloween, and Christmas tree lightings. Plus, the whole Williams family can all gather every Thanksgiving and other specials days at this wonderful venue.
The Outstanding Farm Family Award is sponsored by the Jackson County Farm Bureau.
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2025 Peanut Farmers of the Year – Scott, Andy and Dustin Calloway, of Calloway Farms.
Brothers Scott and Andy Calloway are 4th generation farmers in Jackson County. Scott’s son Dustin represents the 5th generation. Growing up on the family farm, Scott and Andy worked alongside their father, Johnny Nathaniel Calloway, who raised 50 head of brood sows and grew corn. Those early experiences helped shape the farmers they are today.
They would also like to recognize Grangerburg Peanut Company and its Farm Service Center for the important role it has played in their operation. Grangerburg opened in 1987, the Farm Service Center followed in 1989. Scott was hired in 1990 – starting from the bottom and working his way up.
Although the brothers began farming separately in 1993, they formed a partnership in 2003. Ten years ago, Scott’s son Dustin joined them in 2015. Dustin is a certified mechanic, a skill that certainly comes in handy when running a farm.
Today, Calloway Farms encompasses 1,500 acres, with about 70% of that land being leased. This year, they planted 1,350 acres of peanuts, growing four varieties: three from Georgia – Georgia-06G, Georgia 21GR, TifNV-HG – and one from Alabama, AU NPL17. Over the years, the farm’s average yield has been roughly 4,000 lbs./ac, although if 2025 was excluded, that number would be closer to 4,800 lbs./ac. As of late October, their average peanut grade for the year was 75, although one field did have a high of 80.
Scott and his wife Sharon have been married for 42 years and have two sons, Dustin and Jeremy, along with four grandchildren: Caspian, Olivia, Caroline, and Beau. Dustin has one son, Caspian who will turn four next month.
Andy and his wife Robin have been married for 29 years and have three children, Aaron, Abby, and John Andy Callowy Jr. – and 10 grandchildren: Anna Claire, Laura Kate, Bentley, Aubrey, Chipper Shea, A.J., Mitchell, Jayden, Ben, and J.C.
Joining them here tonight are many members of the family – spouses, children, and grandchildren – celebrating this well-deserved honor.
The Peanut Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by Florida Peanut Producers Association, Ham Peanut, American Peanut Growers Group, and Welch Farms. Honorees are selected annually by the Jackson County Extension Service with assistance from the Florida Peanut Producers Association.
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2025 Cotton Farmers of the Year – Dustin Land and Mark Hasty, of D&M Farms
Dustin and Mark represent the third and fourth generations of their families in agriculture. Both grew up farming in Jackson County and shared a passion for agriculture long before officially joining forces. Mark returned to full-time farming in 2009, after working in corrections and Dustin grew his first crop in 2010. The two helped each other for years before formally merging operations in 2017 to create D&M Farms.
Dustin and Mark believe in mentoring young farmers, that someone must help new generations get started, just as others once helped them. They extend their sincere thanks to Mike Williams, Lynnie Ray Hasty, and Shedrick McGriff for all that they have done for them. Industry supporters include Patrick Kelly, of Kelly Ag, and Cole Miller, of Loveit Crop Consulting.
Today, D&M Farms encompasses 5,100 acres with about 60% of the farm being irrigated. This year they planted 1,580 cotton acres, but the crop was largely dryland, with only 534 irrigated acres. Although individual fields can sometimes yield up to 1,600 pounds of lint, their overall farm average is a bale and a half per acre, reaching a bale and three-quarters under better field conditions. They planted two varieties this year, NexGen 5430 and as well as PHY 415 for the first time. Following defoliation in late October, harvest began in early November. The NexGen line remains their brand of choice. In 2019, they produced their best cotton ever, 2,160 pounds of lint per acre, with NexGen 5711. D&M Farms is also one of thel local farms who has hosted cotton trials with the University of Florida over the past several years. Specifically, they have provided three field locations over the past two years for a deer herbivory study evaluating feeding injury to the crop.
Mark and his wife Amanda have been married since 1997 and have four children — Jacob, Krista, Savannah, and Sarah — and two grandchildren, Maddie and Easton. Amanda departed a supervisor position at the Marianna Post Office in 2019 to focus more on managing the farm.
Dustin and his wife Dolly have been married since 2014 and have four children — Gade, Hunter, Jillian, and Lillian. Dolly owns Southern Roots Bar & Grill in Malone, and Gade works at Jackson Correctional Institution while the younger kids are all still in school.
They are joined here tonight by their families to celebrate this recognition.
The Cotton Farmers of the Year is sponsored by the Southern Cotton Organization, Clover Leaf Gin, and the Sowega Cotton Gin. The honoree is selected each year by the Jackson County Extension Staff with the assistance of local Farm Service Companies.
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2025 Corn Farmer of the Year – John Mark Peacock, of Peacock Farms
Of all our awards, the Corn Farmer is the only yield-based competition that we have in the county. Annually, the Jackson County Extension Service performs standardized corn yield checks for all those who call in to request them. These yield checks are a minimum of an acre and a quarter and follow the National Corn Yield Contest rules, so that the growers are eligible to submit for that contest if they wish. This year, it was an extremely tight race for the title, coming down to less than a bushel.
For John Mark Peacock, farming isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life that runs six generations deep. He grew up farming alongside his dad, learning the ropes the old-fashioned way on the family farm. In 2008, John Mark decided it was time to branch out on his own. He rented his first piece of land and planted his very first crop, marking the start of his own farming journey.
In 2011, he stopped working for his dad and became fully independent with his own farming operation, although the two still team up for harvest season. His dad now focuses just on peanuts, while John Mark runs a more diversified operation — growing corn, peanuts, cotton, and soybeans. His farm encompasses 10,000 acres across Calhoun, Gulf, and Jackson counties. Running a farm that size takes a good team, he has seven full-time employees, with four part-timers who help during harvest.
This year, John Mark planted 900 acres of corn — 500 irrigated and 400 dryland. The irrigated fields really paid off, averaging around 270 bushels per acre. He prefers Dekalb varieties on his farm. This year he planted DK 6835, 7045, and 6895, but also tried AgriGold variety 6659, which performed very well.
His wife Janna is the lynchpin of the farm; she keeps everything running smoothly. The two have been married since 2016 and have three kids — Ava (13), Brycen (7), and Bowen (4). Janna handles all the paperwork, payroll, and the mill operations. John Mark shared, “I couldn’t do it without her.”
When you ask John Mark about the challenges of farming, he doesn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due. “Everything is in the good Lord’s hands,” he says. “Couldn’t do it without Him. Still not sure how we made a crop this year, but He took care of us.” I also had an excellent teacher in my dad. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
John Mark stays active in the community as a member of Farm Bureau, Altha First Baptist Church, and the Coffee County Gin. At the end of the day, he’s proud to be carrying on the family tradition, raising his kids based on the same values he was taught — hard work, faith, and gratitude.
The Corn Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by Tidewater Case Ag & Construction Equipment. This award is based on standardized yield checks provided by the Jackson County Extension Service. If you would like your corn yield tested in 2026, please contact Ethan Carter, Regional Crop IPM Agent, to schedule an appointment.
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Cattleman of the Year – Dustyn Sweeney
Unique to many of our farmer’s stories we share, Dustyn is a first-generation rancher. Even so, he is no stranger to the cattle industry. Growing up next to one of Jackson County’s largest cattle ranches, this Dustyn spent his formative years watching friends and family work cattle, bale hay and tag calves. He knew exactly what he wanted to be and started working at the young age of 15 at the Bar L Ranch. Dustyn is now the foreman of the ranch, overseeing the day-to-day operations. He is a hard worker, the AI technician when it is time to breed, and is in charge of the tagging of newborn calves and dealing with health issues in the herd.
Dustyn has always had a passion for the cattle industry, with a dream of owning his own herd one day. He got his start when his FFA advisor, signed a group up for the calf scramble at the National Peanut Festival during his junior year in high school. Dustyn caught a heifer that year, which became the start of his herd. In the subsequent years, he purchased heifers from friends that also caught heifers and soon had a small herd of three young heifers. Dustyn began his herd by keeping heifers from the original three, purchasing new cows and calves, and skillful negotiations for a hard day’s work with other ranchers. Dustyn is always ready to make a deal, if the opportunity presents itself.
This cowboy has created a reputation for being a trustworthy individual and a worker you can rely on. His reputation has allowed him to further expand by being entrusted to upkeep parcels of land for elderly members of the Dry Creek Community; creating more acreage for more cattle. Dustyn has partnered with local agencies to help reduce soil erosion by planting cover crops for winter grazing so he could rotate his feeding areas allowing him to manage and provide for his herd in the most efficient way possible.
This young cow hand’s hard-working reputation has also made him the on-call cowboy for our local community – many of whom are here tonight. Dustyn is first and foremost a cowboy. He enjoys a good day’s work on horseback while learning from other local operations when he is asked to help. He has even been on the scene several times to help catch cattle that took a field trip out to the interstate. Gerri, Dustyn’s wife, says that he is the most dependable person she knows, because he is always willing to help others, often at his own expense and time. But they would not want it any other way. Dustyn can’t wait to share this work ethic and ingenuity with his own son, which they are expecting this December. He is a true representative of the Spirit of the Florida Cowboy and a steward of the land. We are honored tonight to recognize Dustyn Sweeney for his dedication to the local cattle industry that means so much to him.
The Cattleman of the Year is sponsored by the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association. Nominees are selected by a committee of past recipients of this prestigious award.
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Hay Farmer of the Year – Bill Conrad
Bill Conrad is a 4th generation Jackson County farmer who farms north of Highway 2 in the Bascom Community. Over the years, he has raised several traditional crops including peanuts, soybeans, corn, wheat, triticale, and pine trees. For the past decade, however, he has shifted his focus to being a quality hay producer for livestock farms in the Tri-State area.
Bill, with the help of his son Joe, produce perennial peanut and alfalfa for square bale hay to sell to horse, cattle, and goat farms. Their square-baled, high-quality hay is in high demand, because their customers know the quality is consistently high. One thing that sets Bill apart from his competitors is that he sends in hay samples for quality testing from almost every cutting. He can market his hay on more than just reputation, but can show the unbiased lab test results to prove the excellent quality of the hay he produces. This data has also been very useful for Bill as a guide as to the best practices to protect forage quality in the hay he produces.
New in 2025, Bill and Joe built a 7,400 square foot, fully enclosed hay barn. With this barn, their hay will be fully protected from rainfall and daylight. They also acquired two acres of planting material of a new Bermudagrass variety. Newell Bermudagrass was released by the University of Florida at the end of 2024. Bill hopes to establish an 8-acre nursery of this new grass enabling him to harvest enough planting material for 80 acres in 2027. They also purchased a used sprig planter, so Bill and Joe will be able to offer their service as custom planters of perennial peanut and Bermudagrass in the coming years.
Bill submitted multiple perennial peanut hay samples into the Southeast Hay Contest this year. His highest quality hay was of the Tito variety with a relative feed quality or RFQ index of 246, with 21% crude protein, 71% total digestible nutrients or TDN, and crude fiber of only 18%. Think of RFQ as a single index number that represents overall hay quality by combining fiber digestibility, protein, and energy content. Anything over 100 is considered quality hay. This hay sample was preserved with 15% moisture or 85% dry matter. The lab test results estimated that, if fed free choice, animals would consume more than 4% of their body weight in dry matter intake (DMI), which is double what is traditionally estimated for average quality hay. In essence these numbers prove that this was PRIME QUALITY hay.
Bill’s perennial peanut hay also won 1st place in the Southeast Hay Contest out of 20 entries in the Other Legume Hay division. Bill Conrad has been recognized as the Hay Farmer of the Year for 12 straight years because he annually produces the best hay in Jackson County. This year, Bill has decided 12 in a row is enough, he has decided to take himself out of the county competition in 2026, but he will still be submitting samples the the Southeast Hay Contest, that is associated with the Sunbelt Ag Expo.
The Hay Farmer of the Year award is sponsored by SunSouth John Deere. This award is based on the county grown hay with the highest Relative Forage Quality or RFQ score. Entries into this annual contest are now accepted year-round, so contact the Jackson County Extension Office to have your best hay cuttings sampled and submitted into next year’s competition.
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Specialty Crop Farmers of the Year – Mark and Kay Powell, Powell Tree Farm
Nestled in Sneads, Florida, off Old Spanish Trail, lies Powell Tree Farm owned and operated by Mark and Kay Powell. Powell Tree Farm specializes in “choose and cut” evergreen Christmas trees. Customers take their families to pick out their annual Christmas tree while also enjoying a fun day on the farm.
Powell Tree Farm opened to the public in 1981, originally owned and operated by Mark’s parents, Reid and Tina Powell. The family, originally from Gainesville, Florida, moved to Jackson County around 1971, and purchased the farm where the operation is currently located in 1976. Mark began fully helping his father on their farm around age 15, along with his sister. Mark and Reid ran the operation together for many years, truly instilling their family values into what Powell Tree Farm is today. After Reid’s passing in 2001, Mark took over the operation full time. In 2012, Kay and Mark were married. Soon after, Kay started helping Mark manage the farm, while also working part-time for Watford Engineering.
Christmas is a holiday that falls at the end of the year, but the farm work for the Powell family is a year-round labor of love. In January, trees that were cut during the holiday season are replaced and planted. The new trees are fertilized in the spring, with routine trimming and mowing two to three times a year. Once planted, it can take five to six years for each tree to reach the right cutting height for most households. Powell Tree Farm grows a variety of evergreen trees, such as Leland Cypresses, Carolina Saphires, Virginie Pines, and Blue Ice. They also offer pre-cut Frasier Fir’s from North Carolina during the selling season. Each tree is hand trimmed and shaped, either by Mark, or their farm hand, Brandon Jarmon. Brandon has been working for the Powell’s since he was thirteen years old and is a large part of their farm labor today. The farm’s peak season starts the day after Thanksgiving, when they open to the public for the holiday season. Day-to-day work is typically handled by Mark, Kay, and Brandon, but during the busy season, the farm employs two other part-time employees to meet the demands of numerous customers each weekend.
Hurricane Michael took a heavy toll on Powell Tree Farm, as it did for other farming operations in Jackson County. They lost their gift shop and a large amount of their ready-to-sell tree inventory. Kay remembers in vivid detail having to re-stake each tree by hand to salvage remaining trees. Because the hurricane happened in October, their seasonal opening was less than a month away. Kay and Mark were unsure if they would be able to open or not. They made the decision to open anyway, hoping it would raise people’s spirits in time for the holidays. Mark was astounded at the turnout of the community and was incredibly touched by the number of customers that came out to support them, from near and far.
The Powells are truly the embodiment of family values and a business that cares for their customers. They value having regular customers bring their friends and family out to the farm for the first time and share with their guests, “This is where we buy our Family Christmas Tree every year.” Mark and Kay can describe in detail the names of their customers and the memories they have made with them over their years, including supplying a tree for previous Florida Governors Rick Scott and Jeb Bush. They remember numerous repeat customers, where they are from, and details of their lives. Some customers have been visiting them for over 40 years! The Powells make it very clear that they truly love what they do and the people they serve. It’s very touching to know how much their customers mean to them. Mark commented, “It’s never been about the money for me.”
Mark and Kay are looking towards a brighter future, with hopes of reopening their gift shop and once again hosting Farm-to-Table events for the public in their off season. In 2025, they are looking forward to another great season serving families in Jackson and surrounding counties. Their year-long efforts bring holiday cheer to hundreds of families every year.
The Specialty Crop Farmers of the Year is Sponsored by Helena Agri Enterprises. Nominees are selected annually by the Jackson County Extension Service Staff with assistance from the local farming industry.
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Tree Farmers of the Year – Chipola Plantation LLC
In 2005, Joe Harbison and partners of Chipola Plantation LLC purchased 1,800 acres along the Chipola River from Prudential Timber Investments. At the time of purchase, approximately 530 acres of the mature pine plantations on the property had been recently harvested. The owners purchased the property, and a long-term management plan was developed, which included reforesting the recently harvested areas, management of riparian and bottomland hardwood stands, protecting and improving wildlife habitat, and combating invasive plant intrusion. Our forestry consultant, American Forest Management, helped develop and implement the long-term plan.
Initially, 350 acres of Loblolly pine were planted, in addition to 180 acres of Longleaf pine. Areas that were reforested with Longleaf pine were also planted with wiregrass in an effort to restore the native grass cover. Multiple winter food plots were also established.
Over the next few years, thinning was accomplished, regular control burning was initiated, and invasive plant control was initiated. All went well until October of 2018, when Hurricane Michael impacted most of our trees about five years before harvest. However, Chipola Plantation was able to clean up the debris, replant, and get back on track.
The long-term plan for the owners of Chipola Plantation is to continue managing this property as an investment and to improve the wildlife habitat.
We would like to thank the Florida Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for their years of help.
The Tree Farmer of the Year is sponsored by American Forest Management. Nominees are selected each year by the Florida Forest Service’s County Forester, Barry Stafford.
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Conservationist of the Year – Jim McArthur
Jim McArthur was introduced to the agricultural industry through his father, Larry McArthur. Throughout Jim’s childhood, he helped his father with tasks around McArthur Farms. Jim had gone to college and was trained in Video Production. It wasn’t until 2009 that Jim became a full-time farmer. He saw an opportunity to become a farmer, having been raised in the agricultural industry by his parents, Larry and Pam McArthur.
During Jim’s college days, he met his wife, Damara, on a cruise ship in 2006. The first interaction between them was straight out of a romantic comedy. Jim walked right up and asked Damara how much a polar bear weighed. And of course she said, “What?” He got her attention, and it was enough to break the ice. Two years later, Jim and Damara married in 2008. Since then, they welcomed their three daughters, Atlynn (14 years old), Cassidy (10 years old), and Ellie Rose (6 years old). Damara is a stay-at-home wife/mother as she home-schools their daughters.
Over Jim’s agricultural career, he has implemented Best Management Practices to keep this farm operating efficiently. He uses a KMC Rip-Roller for strip tillage, which means they only disturb a narrow strip of soil for planting while leaving undisturbed rows between the strips. Additionally, every 3 to 5 years, Jim tests the soil pH levels by collecting soil samples. He has used soil moisture probes to gather data to determine the appropriate amount of water needed and when to apply it. Jim relies on cover crops to protect the soil, which prevents nutrient runoff and provides a slow release of the nutrients for the subsequent cash crop. Another conservation practice Jim uses is a spreader buggy, which agricultural equipment designed to apply dry granular materials over a field. It can be used for a variety of applications such as fertilizing, liming, and seeding.
The two primary crops that Jim plants are peanuts and cotton. This year he planted over 600 acres of peanuts and 340 acres of cotton. Additionally, he plants oats and other small grains, which he sells to customers. The peanuts are sold to the American Peanut Group (APG), and the cotton is sold to Clover Leaf Cotton Gin.
His employees, Keefe, hired in 2018, Kyle, hired in 2019, and Poncho, hired in 2024, help him with the production operations. The McArthur family chips in with production as well. His eldest daughter, Atlyn, helps pack cotton into modular builders, and his younger daughters, Cassidy and Ellie Rose, ride along in the tractors. However, his twin brother, Randy, does whatever he wants, and is very difficult to work with.
In February of 2020, Jim created his YouTube channel, Field Rows. He was interested in filming as a young child. So, he combined his love for farming with his love for video production. To date, there are videos from 6 growing seasons on the YouTube channel. Additionally, Jim has a series called Let’s Get Nuts, on Acres TV.
“Harvesting is the best time of the year for me. You get to see the reward for all the hard work that you have done over the past year. It is also quite fun to be able to pick the cotton, but once colder weather comes, it isn’t as enjoyable due to used equipment.”
The Conservationist of the Year is sponsored by the Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District. The Nominee was selected by the staff of the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Best Management Practice (BMP) Team and the Soil & Water Conservation District Board. Please join with me in congratulating Jim McArthur, the 2025 Conservationist of the Year.
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County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) Recognitions – Hill Cattle and Mill Creek Farms
Farm Bureau is honored to recognize two outstanding farm families who have gone the extra mile in preserving, improving and caring for our state’s natural resources.
We are proud to recognize these environmental stewards with a “This Farm CARES” award. The County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship, or CARES, was created in 2001 by the Florida Farm Bureau to publicly recognize farmers and ranchers who have voluntarily implemented Best Management Practices, or BMPs, and promote these sustainable farm practices on farms statewide.
BMPs are state-of-the art, science-based, field-tested, conservation methods validated by state agencies. These practices have saved more than 4.8 million gallons of water per day while improving water quality. Public benefits include open spaces, fresh air, wildlife habitat, and water recharge for our aquifers.
I am proud to share that the 2025 Jackson County CARES recipients are Hill Cattle and Mill Creek Farms. They now join more than 900 land stewards across the state who proudly display a “This Farm CARES” sign at farm gate.
Our first recipient is Hill Cattle. Owned by John Hill, Hill Cattle is committed to conservation and environmental stewardship. A peanut and cattle producer, John implements sustainable practices that conserve natural resources and protect soil and water quality.
John utilizes no-till production, which minimizes soil disturbance and reduces erosion, leading to improved soil structure and long-term fertility. He uses cover crops to further improve soil health and promote biodiversity within his cropping system.
John exemplifies the values of the This Farm CARES program-showing that responsible agricultural production and natural resource conservation go hand in hand. He works tirelessly to strengthen community awareness about protecting our natural resources and has shown how innovation and stewardship work together to create a sustainable and viable future for Florida agriculture. It is my honor to award the Hill Cattle a 2025 This Farm CARES award.
Our second recipient is Mill Creek Farms. Owned and operated by Landon Tharpe, Mill Creek Farms is a diversified family farm that produces cotton, peanuts, corn and soybeans. Landon implements BMPs like strip tilling to reduce soil erosion and conserve soil moisture, which promotes healthier soil and supports crop growth. He also utilizes GPS guided technology to aid in precise planting and fertilizer applications. This technology boosts efficiency on the farm by providing significant savings on fuel, fertilizer and chemical costs. Mill Creek Farms takes advantage of conservation program cost-share opportunities to help offset expenses.
Landon represents the next generation of innovative and conservation-minded farmers. He is continuously looking for ways to improve his operation and is a role model for other farm families in the community. It is my honor to award Mill Creek Farms a 2025 This Farm CARES award.
On behalf of Jackson County Farm Bureau, please join me in congratulating these individuals
who inspire others with their dedication to protecting Florida’s beauty and natural resources for
future generations.
Florida Farm Bureau annually recognizes farms with the “This Farm CARES” recognition. Recipients are selected with the help of the Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Office of Ag Water Policy. Please join with me in congratulating John Hill, and Landon Tharpe, because these farmers really do care about the natural resources they manage.
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Ed Jowers Future of Agriculture Farm City Scholarship – Emma Reese Poole
The Ed Jowers Future of Agriculture Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior or recent graduate that pursuing an education in agriculture. Mr. Jowers’ understood the importance of raising up the next generation of Agriculturalist in an industry with a shrinking population, and we are thankful to have people like Ed in our community.
On Behalf of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce I would like to recognize our 2025 scholarship recipient Emma Poole. Emma is the daughter of Mark and Ashley Poole of Marianna, FL. She is a Senior at Marianna High School where she is an Honor Student, the Treasurer of the Beta Club, and a member of the National Honor Society. Once she graduates next spring she will continue her education at Chipola College to finish her AA degree, then continue on to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) to pursue a degree in Agricultural Business and Marketing.
Emma has been heavily involved with Marianna FFA, Golf, MHS Cheer, and volunteering her time at the MERE. Her long-term goal is to return to her hometown to work in an agricultural business, and to expand her breeding show pig operation. Along with this, she plans to become the first female feed representative for Linder Show Feeds here in the southeast.
The Farm-City Scholarship is sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Nominees are selected by a committee that evaluates each application based on exemplary scholastic, extracurricular, and agriculturally centered achievements.
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Jackson County AgVocator of the Year – Dr. Dan Gorbet
The AgVocator Award was designed to recognize exemplary leadership, dedication, and service to agriculture in our region. Tonight’s recipient is a man whose work has truly made an impact — Dr. Dan Gorbet.
Dr. Gorbet’s career is distinguished by decades of dedication to agricultural research, education, and youth development. After joining the peanut-breeding program at the University of Florida in 1970, he devoted his professional life to developing disease-resistant and high-oleic peanut varieties that have become foundational in the southeastern peanut industry. His work at the North Florida Research and Education Center for nearly four decades laid the groundwork for peanut cultivars that dominate acreage across the Southeast today.
Beyond the lab and field, Dr. Gorbet’s contributions reach into the very heart of our agricultural community. He has long been an advocate for agricultural education among high school students — helping ensure that tomorrow’s producers, researchers and ag-leaders have access and opportunity. While official profiles focus most on his peanut-breeding accomplishments, his local footprint tells a richer story. For many years, Dr. Gorbet has donated cattle to FFA chapters in Jackson and Houston counties, making it possible for students who might not otherwise have access to quality steers or heifers to get into the show ring and learn first-hand the skills and responsibilities of livestock production. Dr. Gorbet also served as a committee member for the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association steer show, showing his willingness to serve at the grassroots level of youth development. In addition, he has also supported events like the Panhandle Youth Expo— always quietly, always committed to the idea that agriculture is strengthened when the next generation is prepared, engaged, and empowered.
In awarding Dr. Gorbet the AgVocator Award, we recognize not only the scientific and technical advances he has brought to local agriculture, but perhaps more importantly, the “people-side” of his work: his mentorship, his willingness to invest in young talent, and his belief that one of the greatest legacies we can leave is a new crop of agriculturalists who are prepared to carry our industry forward.
Because here’s the reality, cultivating the next generation of ag professionals is more than a nice idea—it’s essential to our future. It’s those young men and women who will take our industry into the next 20, 30, 40 years. We need minds trained, hearts committed, values rooted in service, and hands ready to do the work. Dr. Gorbet, through his actions and advocacy, has helped make that happen in numerous young lives in our county.
Tonight, on behalf of Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, our members and staff, and the many young lives you’ve touched — thank you, Dr. Gorbet. Please join me in honoring a man who truly embodies the spirit of the AgVocator Award.
The AgVocator awards are sponsored by Farm Credit of Northwest Florida. Nominations of award recipients were received from local agricultural organizations.
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