Mid-South gins have made tremendous improvements in safety since the start of the comprehensive safety program instituted by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association several years ago.

"These companies have made it a priority to have a safe working place for their employees," says Larry Davis, SCGA safety director, who conducts comprehensive evaluations of member gins each year.

Gins earning awards for high scores on their evaluations were honored at a luncheon at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.

"More than 90 awards were earned last year," Davis notes.  "Of that number, 21 were the Platinum Award, the highest level attainable in 2010, and 27 were the Gold Award, the second highest. Even the gins that rank in the 99-plus percentile are constantly looking for ways to make their operations even better. All the awards, from Bronze to Platinum, reflect outstanding achievements by these gins."

Scoring ranges for the awards are: Platinum 99.8-100; Gold 99.6-99.79;  Silver 97-99.59; and Bronze 94-96.9.

"All the winners are to be congratulated for their continuing efforts to have a safe workplace," Davis says.

Award winners for 2010 were:

ARKANSAS— Most Improved Safety Award for the Southern Cotton Ginners Association, Southern Arkansas Warehouse & Gin LLC, Bradley.

Platinum Award for Excellence in Safety: McGehee Producers Gin, McGehee; Pendleton Gin Co. Inc., Dumas; Cotton Growers Inc., Dell; Griffin Gins Inc., Helena.

Gold Award for Excellence in Safety: Round Lake Co-op Gin, Grady; McClendon, Mann & Felton Gin #3, Marianna; Shawnee Village Gin LLC, Joiner; Tillar Gin & Fertilizer Co. LLC, Tillar; Adams Gin, Leachville; Winchester Gin Company, Winchester; Childress Gin & Elevator Co., Inc., Monette.

Silver Award for Excellence in Safety: New Gin Co., Coy; Langston Enterprises, Inc., Blytheville; GPS Gin Co. Inc., Portland; McClendon, Mann & Felton Gin, Marianna; Dumas Cotton Gin LLC, Dumas; Monette Coop Gin, Monette; Langston Gin Company, Luxora; Kiech-Shauver-Miller Gin Co., Monette.

Bronze Award for Excellence in Safety: Portland Gin & Warehouse, Inc., Portland; Service Coop Gin, Marvell; New Peoples Gin Co. Inc., Holly Grove; Bay Gin & Mercantile Co., Bay.

LOUISIANA— Most Improved Safety Award, Monticello Gin Systems Inc., Epps.
Platinum Award for Excellence in Safety: Tanner & Co., Frogmore; Tri-Parish Gin, LLC, Lettsworth.

Gold Award for Excellence in Safety: Newellton Gin Company, Inc., Newellton; Tensas Co-op Gin, Inc., Newellton; Lagniappe Cotton Gin, LLC, Hamburg; McNutt Gin Inc., Boyce; Catavoy Cotton Gin, LLC, Jonesville.

Silver Award for Excellence in Safety: Concordia Farmers Gin, Ferriday; Valley Gin Inc., Shreveport; South Franklin Gin, Inc, Wisner.

Bronze Award for Excellence in Safety: Associated Producers Co-op, Winnsboro.

MISSISSIPPI— Most Improved Safety Award: Cotton Producers Inc., Bentonia.

Platinum Award for Excellence in Safety: Silver Creek Gin Co., Holly Bluff; Vance Gin Co. Inc., Clarksdale.

Gold Award for Excellence in Safety: Quito Gin Company, Itta Bena; Vaiden Farmers Gin, LLP, Vaiden; Columbus Gin, Shaw; Avon Gin Inc., Avon; H.B. Hood & Sons Gin, Gunnison; Hi Grade Gin Corp, Winona.

Silver Award for Excellence in Safety: Doolittle Gin Inc., Gore Springs; Four County Gin Inc., Calhoun City; Mill Creek Gin, Inc., Lyon; Calhoun County Gin Inc., Calhoun City; Tunica Gin Corp., Tunica.

Bronze Award for Excellence in Safety: Mattson Gin Inc., Dublin; Yalobusha County Gin Company, Coffeeville; Gaddis & McLaurin Gin, Bolton.

MISSOURI— Most Improved Safety Award: Vanduser Gin Co. Inc., Vanduser.

Platinum Award for Excellence in Safety: White Oak Gin, White Oak; Blakemore Cotton & Grain LLC, Campbell; Citizens Gin - Division O.H. ACOM Farms, Inc., Wardell; Stokes-Mayberry Gin Co. Inc., Malden; Portageville Farmers Gin, Portageville; Sandy Ridge Cotton Co. LLC, Malden; Farmers Union Gin & Warehouse Co. Inc., Senath; Dalton Cotton Company, Senath.           

Gold Award for Excellence in Safety: D.G. & G. Inc, Sikeston; Cardwell Cooperative, Inc., Cardwell; A.C. Riley Cotton Co. Inc., New Madrid; McCord Gin Company, Gideon.

Silver Award for Excellence in Safety: Graves Kennett Gin, Kennett; Bootheel Cotton Co., Matthews; Matthews Cotton Co., Sikeston; Peach Orchard Gin Co. Inc., Gideon; Mahan Gin Co., Parma.

Bronze Award for Excellence in Safety: L. Berry Gin Co., Holland; Crowder Gin Co., Sikeston; Caruthersville Gin, Caruthersville; Stoddard County Cotton Co., Bernie.

TENNESSEE— Most Improved Safety Award: Farmers Friendship Gin, Inc., Friendship.

Platinum Award for Excellence in Safety: Zion Gin Co., Brownsville; Longtown Gin, Mason; Crockett Gin Co. LLC, Maury City; Espey Gin Co., McLemoresville; Burlison Gin Company, Inc., Burlison.           

Gold Award for Excellence in Safety: Farmers Gin of Humboldt, Humboldt; Arp Cotton Gin Co. LLC, Ripley; Phoenix Gin Co., Tiptonville.

Silver Award for Excellence in Safety: L & H Gin, Alamo; Oak Grove Gin LLC, Somerville.                       

Bronze Award for Excellence in Safety: Cairo Farmers Gin, LLC, Alamo; Crockett Mills Gin, LLC, Crockett Mills; Tennessee Gins & Warehouses, Covington; Halls Gin Company, Halls; Hickory Valley Gin, Hickory Valley; Turnpike Gin, LLC, Brownsville; Tibbs Gin #2, Brownsville.