The 2021 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the 2022 Georgia Cotton Commission Annual Meeting on January 26, 2022. The awards are co-sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and Bayer Crop Science/Deltapine and administered by the University of Georgia Cotton Team. Yangxuan Liu from the UGA Cotton Team conducted the analysis and presented the 2021 Georgia Quality Cotton awards at the annual meeting.

The purpose of the awards is to recognize producers and ginners of high-quality cotton fiber and to identify their general management practices for the benefit of other growers. The producers and their gins received a plaque, and the winning producers received a $500 cash award. The UGA County Extension Agent for each winner was also recognized as they work closely with the farmers during the growing season.

The awards are given in each of these three cotton acreage categories: 1) less than 500 acres, 2) 500 to 1,000 acres, and 3) greater than 1,000 acres within the four regions of the state. Winners in these categories are determined by the loan value and premiums of their cotton. The winners’ excellent achievements are due largely to their management practices and expertise. The sponsors of this program congratulate the following winners:

Region 1

• Less than 500 acres

  • Grower – Cole Thompson, Pulaski County

  • Ginner – Arabi Gin Company, Arabi

  • Nominated by – Jay Porter

• 500-1000 acres

  • Grower – Eddie Luke Farms, Crisp County

  • Ginner – Arabi Gin Company, Arabi

  • Nominated by – Joshua Grant

• 1000+ acres

  • Grower – Scotty Raines Farms, Turner County

  • Ginner – Sconyers Gin and Warehouse, Sycamore

  • Nominated by – Guy Hancock

Region 2

• Less than 500 acres

  • Grower – Alton Walker, Burke County

  • Ginner – Bryant’s Gin, Bartow

  • Nominated by – Peyton Sapp

• 500-1000 acres

  • Grower – Robert & Richard McElmurray

  • Ginner – Farmers Gin & Storage, Wadley

  • Nominated by – Peyton Sapp

• 1000+ acres

  • Grower – S & M Farms Partnership

  • Ginner – Farmers Gin & Storage, Wadley

  • Nominated by – Pamela Sapp

Region 3

• Less than 500 acres

  • Grower – Bert Ponder

  • Ginner – Omega Gin, Omega

  • Nominated by – Justin Hand

• 500-1000 acres

  • Grower – Millirons Farms

  • Ginner — BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman

  • Nominated by – Joshua Dawson

• 1000+ acres

  • Grower – Herbert Price Farms

  • Ginner – BCT Gin Co., Inc., Quitman

  • Nominated by – Michasia Dowdy

Region 4

• Less than 500 acres

  • Grower – John Bulloch

  • Ginner – Boston Gin Co., Boston

  • Nominated by – Sydni Barwick

• 500-1000 acres

  • Grower – Morning Dove Farms

  • Ginner – Clover Leaf Gin, Inc., Donalsonville

  • Nominated by – Cindy Meadows

• 1000+ acres

  • Grower – Heard Family Farms

  • Ginner – Clover Leaf Gin Inc., Donalsonville

  • Nominated by – Cindy Meadows

The final award given was the overall Best Cotton Award. This was awarded to the Georgia cotton producer with highest loan value and premium. The 2021 Best Cotton Award went to Pulaski County’s Cole Thompson with a loan value of 57.70 cents/lb and a premium of 5.70 cents/lb.