The 2024 Hall County AgriBusiness Awards were presented Tuesday morning at Jaemor Farm Market.
The awards recognize business leaders in Hall County agriculture community, and Jaemor co-owner Drew Echols said it was an honor to host the event.
"Clearly, our customers get to utilize (our facilities,) but we want our industry to be able to use them and to be able to gather and celebrate the industry that we love," Echols said.
Four awards were given out in total, with the Farmer of the Year Award going to Dale Jones. Jones is a board member and volunteer with the Hall County Farm Bureau.
"I feel very humbled to receive this award. I'm a cheerleader for agriculture," Jones said. "I got my start milking cows at 12 years old with my uncle in Flowery Branch, so I've had a lot of experience in agriculture. Even when I was teaching it was good therapy.
Former Gainesville City School Board member Sammy Smith won the Friend of Agriculture Award. Gillsville-based Country Charm Eggs was named AgriBusiness of the year, while its founder, Vince Booker, was posthumously given the Agriculture Hall of Fame Award.
Several speakers at the event, including Jones, pointed to the importance of encouraging the youth of Hall County to continue the area's legacy in agriculture.
"Young people are trying to find work, and there is plenty of work in agriculture, and I don't mean in the field, I mean in the business," Jones said. "Agribusiness offers so many opportunities for young people, and the thing about it is, I'm not sure they're informed about how many jobs are out there."
The Hall County Farm Bureau, the Hall County Chamber of Commerce and UGA Extension Hall County presented the awards.
