The Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious honors in Southeastern agriculture.

Ten winners from ten states participate in the program, coming from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

All nominations go through the state coordinator.

In the previous 31 years of the award, Swisher has awarded over $1.2 million to the state and overall winners. Each state winner receives $2,500 in cash and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Ag Expo.  A vest from the Sunbelt Ag Expo is given to each state winner and nominator. Syngenta donates $500 to each state winner’s charity of choice and Massey Ferguson North America provides each winner with a gift package.

Only one will get tapped as the top Southeastern Farmer of the Year, but neither the farmers nor the general public will know until it is announced at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The overall Southeastern winner receives an additional $15,000 from Swisher.  Other prizes for the overall winner include use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year or up to 250 hours (whichever comes first) from Massey Ferguson North America, a jacket from the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a Hays LTI Smoker/Grill, and a Henry Repeating Arms American Farmer Tribute Edition .22 rifle from Reinke Irrigation.

Here are this year’s Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year state winners.

Photos and information courtesy of Sunbelt Ag Expo.