Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) presented Bob Izlar its 2025 GFB Commodity Award during the annual GFB Commodity Conference held Aug. 14 at the Classic Center in Athens.

The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture. The GFB Board of Directors selects the award recipient from nominees submitted by the organization’s commodity advisory committees. The GFB Forestry Committee nominated Izlar for the award.

According to the Georgia Forestry Association, Georgia has more than 22 million acres of privately owned forestland, the most of any state, and ranks No. 1 in annual timber harvest volume, forest products exported, seedling production for reforestation. Georgia’s forests have an economic impact of $41.3 billion and support 143,946 jobs.

A native of Ware County, Izlar began his professional career with the Brunswick Pulp & Land Company, where he gained hands-on experience and knowledge on the production side of forestry, advancing to the level of district manager before becoming a division forester for the American Pulpwood Association.

His first lobbying job was as the Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) executive vice president. After four years at the MFA, Bob returned to his home state to serve as the Georgia Forestry Association executive director. During his 11-year tenure at GFA, Izlar built strong relationships with Georgia Farm Bureau and other industry advocates. In this role, he was instrumental in helping develop and pass the first conservation use value assessment legislation (CUVA) that allows farm and forestland to be taxed on its current use rather than market value. He authored the book “Property Tax Incentives for the Georgia Landowner,” available from the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business.

“Bob is a long-time friend who I know was the best advocate of the Georgia Forest Industry when we both were at the Capitol,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “His common-sense working knowledge of CUVA makes him a great friend to Georgia’s farming community on tax issues. Congratulations to a true friend of our state’s largest industry.”

Izlar served in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1969 to 1974 and then in the reserves until 2006, reaching the rank of colonel.

In 1998, Izlar began serving as the founding director of the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business. Under his leadership, the center produced some of the nation’s top forestry graduates and secured more than $8 million in endowment funding for the center. He retired from UGA in 2021 and continues to make significant contributions to the industry as a consultant.

Izlar earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in forest management from the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources. He earned a master’s degree in finance from Georgia Southern University.

Izlar and his late wife, Janice, have two children and three grandchildren. He lives in Danielsville.

Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization and has 158 county offices. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, state and national activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors. GFB offers its members a wide variety of benefits, including insurance, but enrollment in any of the member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership.