The theme for the 19th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference theme is Navigating the Marketplace and this marks the 10th year in a row for us to attend and populate the conference blog for this great group of farmers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. This is the second year the event has been held at the Sandestin Resort on …
Marketing Peanuts to Millennials
Southern Peanut Growers Executive Director Leslie Wagner and National Peanut Board Senior VP of Marketing Ryan Lepicier teamed up at the opening session of the 18th Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about what they are doing to market peanuts to the important millennial generation. “Those of us who have millennials in their life know that they get their information …
#Peanut Growers Already Preparing for 2018 Farm Bill
It may seem like the last farm bill process just ended, because it did only two years ago, but already farm state legislators and agricultural organizations are looking ahead to starting the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations. Bob Redding of The Redding Group, who represents peanut farmers on Capitol Hill, talked about the preparations for 2018 at the 2016 Southern Peanut …
AFBF President Candidate Visits Peanut Growers
One of four candidates vying to be the next president of the American Farm Bureau Federation visited the Southern Peanut Growers Conference last week in Callaway Gardens, Georgia. Georgia Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall was pleased to visit with the peanut growers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi who held their 17th annual meeting in the largest peanut growing state …
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Returns to Her Roots
It was a homecoming for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The number two person at the USDA was raised on a peanut farm in Camilla, Georgia so she felt right at home. “That’s what qualifies me for my job, that’s what gives me my passion and my love and the ability to …
Florida Congressman Addresses Peanut Farmers
Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) is serving his second term as representative of North Central Florida’s 3rd Congressional district which encompasses 13 counties, including two of the largest peanut growing areas of the state – Lafayette and Suwanee counties. “It’s the best district in Florida,” said Yoho after making remarks to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. “It’s a large, rural, agricultural …
Southern Peanut Farmers #2015SPGC Meeting in Georgia
The location is new this year but the 17th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference has the same great line up of information and entertainment for peanut farmers and industry partners from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. For the first time in 17 years, Georgia is the host state for the event that has always been held in Panama City Beach, …
Serious Thoughts from a Funny Guy
Damian Mason is a seriously funny guy. Chuck interviewed him twice last year – at the NAMA conference and then again at the O.H. Kruse event – but the first time I have seen him was over the weekend at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, and I suspect it won’t be the last. He is making a name for himself …
Arkansas Congressman and Former Farm Broadcaster
In keeping with a fine tradition of bringing outstanding farm state lawmakers to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, this year we were honored to hear from Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and a former farm broadcaster. “In fact, we started a network back in ’06 and it has grown to about 53-54 stations …
Record Crowd for Peanut Conference
Peanut growers are in attendance in record numbers at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. This morning is the final part of the program with formal presentations. Then things get social with a golf tournament prior to this evening closing banquet. I’m leaving Cindy to finish things up on the SPGC Conference Blog while I go catch a flight to Indianapolis …