MACON, Ga. – Colquitt County Farm Bureau member Elton Baldy was named a finalist for the Georgia Farm Bureau 2017 Young Farmer Achievement Award.

The award recognizes young farmers who earn the majority of their income from production agriculture. The other finalists were Ben and Vicki Cagle of Cherokee County and Thomas and Alicia Harrell of Madison County. The Harrells were announced as the winner during the GFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference, held July 19-22 on Jekyll Island.

Baldy grows peanuts and cotton along with a variety of vegetable crops on 2,000 acres. He also has a retail store at the state farmers market in Moultrie, where he sells produce directly to the public.

He is also a licensed auctioneer.

Baldy lives in Norman Park with his wife Tabitha and son Henry.

As the state winner, the Harrells receive a crossover utility vehicle sponsored by Southern Farm Bureau Life, a $500 cash prize from AgSouth Farm Credit and an expense-paid trip to the 2018 American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Jan. 5-10, to compete for national honors. The two runners-up each received a $500 cash prize from Georgia Farm Bureau.

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 member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership.