TIFTON, Georgia— Peanut producers living in the Georgia Peanut Commission’s District 1 area will have the opportunity to elect a fellow peanut farmer to represent their interests during a mail ballot election to be held the month of April. Jimmy Cheney of Calhoun County and Tim Burch of Baker County were nominated to fill the seat on December 16, 2005. Cheney currently has held the position since 1997.

The Georgia Peanut Commission’s District 1 consists of Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, and Seminole counties. All farmers who grew peanuts in the 2005 crop year in those counties are eligible to vote. Farmers not receiving a ballot may contact the GPC at 1-800-346-4993 or by email at info@gapeanuts.com.

Balloting concludes on April 30 with the votes to be counted by the Certified Public Accounting Firm of Allen, Pritchett, and Bassett in Tifton, Ga.

The Georgia Peanut Commission Board of Directors represents Georgia’s 5,000 peanut farmers. Current members on the board include Commission Chairman Armond Morris of Irwin County, District 2; Commission Vice Chairman Joe Boddiford of Screven County, District 3; Commission Treasurer Rodney Dawson of Pulaski County, District 4; Donald Chase of Macon County, District 5; and Jimmy Cheney of Calhoun County, District 1.