MOULTRIE — A cattle and dairy farmer from neighboring Florida who has put 80 percent of his property into conservation programs took home the farmer of the year award Tuesday at Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition.

Cary Lightsey of Lake Wales, was the 20th recipient of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year given on the first day of the three-day farm show.

The luncheon audience applauded enthusiastically when Lightsey talked of his plans to eventually put his entire 36,200-acre operation into conservation programs and of plans to preserve the farm that has been in the family since the 1850s.

“My theory is we’re only borrowing this land from our children and grandchildren, and it is our responsibility to preserve it for them,” he said.

Preserving the land instead of selling it for residential development will protect water aquifers, the air and endangered species on the property, Lightsey said.

“We feel like they need us,” he said. “We wanted to save our traditions and family life. We always felt like the way we treat our land is the way it’s going to treat us later.”

Lightsey said 80 percent of his land is currently in conservation covenants and plans to include all of the property in such contracts in the future. The decision to put that amount of land into conservation was made during a family meeting several years ago.

Currently Lightsey, his son Clinton and other family members work the farming operation, which includes grapefruit, oranges, bahia sod, bahia seed, hay and cattle.

In an interview after the ceremony, Lightsey, 56, said he has lived his dream of raising cattle with his family.

“Ever since I was a boy old enough to walk I wanted to be a cowboy,” he said. “I wanted to raise cattle ... And I wanted to do it with my family. And that dream came true.”

Lightsey said he was surprised to win the award from among the winners from nine other states.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “I really didn’t think I’d be the winner. To win this award for my family is really the best dream a man can have. Our business has always been about family.”

The other state winners contending for the 2009 award were David Wright Jr. of Alabama, Orelan Johnson of Arkansas, Bill Brim of Tifton, Ga., Doug Langley of Kentucky, Donald H. Gant of Mississippi, Fred W. Pittillo of North Carolina, Thomas R. DuRant of South Carolina, Richard Atkinson of Tennessee, and Billy Bain of Virginia.

Each of the state winners received a $2,500 check from Swisher International.

Lightsey received $15,000 from the cigar manufacturer, $1,500 in cash and gift certificates from Dickies and Southern States, use of a Massey Ferguson tractor of his choice for a year, custom gun safe, and jacket.

James Lee Adams, a former farmer of the year winner who was one of three judges for the 2009 award, said that Lightsey’s dedication to conservation impressed the panel. The decision was still a difficult one.

“This family had the foresight to look out for that land and the future and those kids,” he said. “This choice is almost like deciding which one of your kids you love the most. It was tough.”

Georgia winner Brim’s operation includes 2,500 acres of owned land and an additional 1,500 leased acres. His crops include peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, cantaloupes, watermelons, broccoli, peanuts and greens. He raises vegetable transplants as well as pine tree seedlings in 42 greenhouses and maintains three packing and shipping facilities.