Len Alphin, co-owner of Commonwealth Gin in Windsor, Va. is the Southesat Ginner of the Year for 2017 while Huntsville, Ala. farmer Mike Tate received the 2017 Producer Recognition Award from Southern Cotton Growers.

The awards were announced at the annual meeting of Southern Cotton Growers and Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The two awards are among the cotton industry’s most prestigious recognitions.

The Alphin family built their first gin in 1992 and their second gin in 1995. Len and his brother Tom have been running both gins ever since and have brought their children in to work with them over the years. Tom Alphin is also a past recipient of the Ginner of the Year honor, marking the first time two brothers have received the recognition.

Len Alphin  currently serves or has served as a director  to the Southeastern Cotton Ginners, delegate to the National Cotton Council and a member of the Joint Cotton Industry Bale packaging committee. Len and his wife Jane have two children Amber and Bruce.

Tate was recognized for his many contributions to Southern Cotton Growers and other cotton  industry organizations. He is past president of Southern Cotton Growers and past chairman of the American Cotton Producers Association. He is a longtime director of Cotton Incorporated. Tate is  well known and respected   throughout the cotton industry for his active participation and dedicated service. He is also the 2009 Farm Press High Cotton Winner for the Southesat region.

 Tate manages his 6,000 family farm in northern Alabama that includes cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans and pumpkins. Tate and his wife Sherry have a daughter, Sheree, and a granddaughter, London.

Mike Tate received the 2017 Producer Recognition Award from Southern Cotton Growers. Photo by Pam Caraway.