Nominations Open for Georgia’s Young Peanut Farmer Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award. This prestigious award, recognizing exceptional contributions in the peanut farming community, will announce its state winner at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on January 15, 2026, in Tifton, Georgia.

The award is co-sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. It evaluates nominees based on several criteria, including their overall farm operation, environmental stewardship practices, and involvement in community service activities.

Recognition of Young Farmers

Chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission, Joe Boddiford, remarked on the significance of the award, stating, “We have so many young peanut farmers making a difference in their communities, and I consider this awards program a great opportunity to recognize one young peanut farmer for their contributions to the agricultural industry.”

The award is open to any active peanut farmer in Georgia who is under the age of 45 as of January 15, 2026. Importantly, each individual can only receive the award once, and there is no limit on the number of applicants from each county.

According to Katie Dougherty, district manager for BASF Crop Protection Products, “BASF is honored to sponsor the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award. We are committed to agriculture and bringing innovative solutions to producers that enable their continued success.”

Application Details

Applications for the award must be submitted to the Georgia Peanut Commission office by December 5, 2025. Interested individuals can access the award application online at www.gapeanuts.com or contact Joy Crosby at 229-386-3690 or via email at [email protected].

The winner of the 2025 award was Ryan Ireland from Ashburn, Georgia. The recipient will receive registration and hotel accommodations to attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, scheduled for July 21-23, 2026, at Panama City Beach, Florida, along with a sign to display at their farm.

This award serves not only as recognition for the hard work and dedication of young farmers but also highlights the important role they play in the agricultural landscape of Georgia.