Hitchcock receives Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award

Released: January 22, 2013

TIFTON, Ga. —James Hitchcock, Jr., of Tennille, Ga., was awarded the Oustanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award during the 37th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show held Jan. 17, 2013, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Ga. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and Bayer CropScience.

The award is presented to one Georgia peanut farmer based upon the applicant's overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership and community service activities.

This year’s winner demonstrates volunteerism and service to agriculture in his area. The winner developed his passion for farming while growing up on a diversified row crop operation. Today the farming operation consists of 1,365 acres of crops including peanuts, corn, soybeans and hay. Hitchcock also raises 125 head of cattle.

On the farm Hitchcock utilizes variable rate lime on all crops. All of the irrigation pivots use low pressure nozzles and most use electrical irrigation pumps. In 2012, Hitchcock purchased two new pivots with wireless technology to monitor from his smart phone. Hitchcock also uses GPS systems to plant, spray and harvest more efficiently.

Hitchcock has served as county Farm Bureau Young Farmer Chairman, County Farm Bureau Board Member, State Young Farmer Committee, chairman of the Farm Service Agency Committee, UGA Cooperative Extension Advisory Board, president of the local Cattlemen’s Association board and is a member of Georgia Young Farmers. He also volunteers with Life on the Farm through Farm Bureau and helps with AWANA Kids Program at church.

As the award winner, Hitchcock receives an all-expense paid trip to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City Beach, Fla., held in July.

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For more information

Joy Carter Crosby
Director of Communications
joycarter@gapeanuts.com
phone: (229) 386-3690