TIFTON, Georgia— The Georgia Peanut Commission board of directors elected Jimmy Cheney, peanut farmer from Edison, Ga., chairman during the February monthly board meeting. This is Cheney’s first term as chairman of the commission. He previously served as treasurer of the board in 2002-03.

“I look forward to serving Georgia peanut growers as chairman,” says Jimmy Cheney, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “The peanut commission represents all peanut farmers in the areas of peanut promotion, research, education and legislative efforts.”

Other officers elected during the board meeting include Joe Boddiford, Sylvania, Ga., as vice chairman and Rodney Dawson, Hawkinsville, Ga., as treasurer.

Board members Armond Morris, Ocilla, Ga., and Wilbur Gamble, Dawson, Ga., represent District 2 and District 5, respectively. The peanut producing counties of Georgia are divided into five districts in which peanut farmers elect a representative to serve on the Georgia Peanut Commission board.

Georgia Peanut Commission board member Wilbur Gamble is retiring this year and two peanut farmers were nominated in December to represent District 5. The farmers nominated include Donald Chase, Oglethorpe, Ga. and Jimmy Thompson, Shellman, Ga. The balloting for District 5 will be conducted by mail ballot April 1-30, 2004 to peanut farmers in Chattahoochee, Clay, Lee, Macon, Marion, Peach, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Terrell and Webster counties.