Cody Mitchell watched the drone hover above, readying to spray a dose of plant-growth regulator over the top of some cotton in need of it. It was mid-July, and nothing else could get into the field. A boot would sink between the rows it was so wet.

This year’s planting and early growing season was another typically atypical start for Mitchell, as manager of the Sunbelt Ag Expo’s 600-acre Darrell Williams Research Farm in Moultrie, Ga. Much like the heavy-production commercial farms that surround it, the Expo is a real working farm that needs to produce yields to return money, and Mitchell and the farm crew deal with the weather to make it happen.

Mitchell is 30, which might seem young for a farm manager, but considering he took the job when he turned 21, well, young is relative. When the farm manager position came open nine years ago, you could say he was thrown into the fire of production agriculture on one of the region’s most recognizable farms. He had to learn quickly.

“When the position came open in August of 2016, it was a natural succession to give Cody Mitchell a shot at the position. We named Cody the interim farm manager and said, ‘Show us what you can do.’ In two short months, Cody jumped in and took the bull by the horns. It became obvious that Cody, even at a young age, was the right man to lead our Darrell Williams Research Farm staff and research activities,” said Chip Blalock, Sunbelt Ag Expo executive director. “We were so impressed with his work ethic, his growing knowledge of research farming, his ability to get along with others and organize the happenings on the farm leading up to and during the 2016 Expo, that we removed the interim tag two months later, with the official announcement at the Expo Luncheon that year.”

Mitchell’s family owns a farm in Sycamore, Ga., 40 miles north of the Sunbelt Expo grounds. He grew up on the farm, but his family didn’t farm it. They rent it out. It is still in production today. After high school, he went to nearby Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to earn a degree in turfgrass management. While at ABAC, he needed a job. He got one as a student worker for Stanley Culpepper, a University of Georgia Extension weed specialist.

“And working for Dr. Culpepper, that’s where I really started learning the ins and outs of how crops are grown,” he said. “I’ve had several mentors over the years, and he is certainly one of them.”

Other mentors would follow.

After graduating ABAC with that turfgrass degree, he soon got a job at the Expo as one of the farm workers, where he learned more about the Expo and how its farm works.

During those first years and up to today, Mitchell said Cali Mendoza has guided him most on the farm. Mendoza is the foreman and has worked at the Expo farm for more than 25 years. He was hired by the man the Expo farm is named after, the well-known and influential Darrell Williams, who passed away 15 years ago.

“There’s nothing on the farm Cali doesn’t know how to handle, and he has always been there to help guide me. But he is more than a coworker, he’s one of my best friends and like family,” Mitchell said.

The 2017 growing season was Mitchell’s first as the full-time farm manager

“I remember 2017 as the best I’ve had. All the stars lined up. Every time you were about ready to turn a pivot on, it would rain. It was cool with the rain and the corn pollinated right. We got the nitrogen on perfect with the cotton, and never missed a spraying on the peanuts. Got six cuttings on the hay. We didn’t have any extra cost that year. I was like, man, this is easy. This is awesome. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to do this,” he joked.

He learned later that those unicorn perfect seasons are rare.

In 2018, Hurricane Michael changed everybody’s season in the region, including the Expo’s. The following year was a recovery year, but a struggle. Then the Covid setback happened, but the farm worked on.

“I learned that in farming, you really have to earn it to make it work, and you still don’t always win, it seems,” he said.

What’s one thing people might not know about the Expo farm?

Mitchell said in any given year, more than 200 research trials are conducted on the farm, including those with UGA Extension specialists for corn, cotton, peanuts and forage, along with research with industry partners. All test plots are taken care of by the Expo farm staff, from planting to harvest.

Mitchell and Blalock each year develop a production and marketing strategy to make the most return from the crops grown on the farm.

“I’ve learned a lot over the years, learned how to solve problems. The mentors I’ve had helped guide that, like Dr. Culpepper, Chip and Cali. Our local UGA Extension county coordinator Jeremy Kichler can be included in that too, along with several others I’ve met through the industry. It’s a tightknit community, ag,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s parents are Jeff and April. His sister is KaDee. He is married to Kaylyn, a pharmacist. When not on the Expo farm, he is an avid golfer, competing in tournaments, and he likes to get offshore to fish when he can.

“Cody has not looked back and has excelled at continuing to try and true the latest seed varieties, crop protection, soil fertility, irrigation and precision ag practices. He and his staff take great pride in knowing that the research that they conduct will ultimately enhance the farmers’ economic and environmental sustainability across the southeast. We are proud of Cody, Cali and Mason for the great job that they do,” Blalock said.

Back on the Expo farm on that mid-July day, Mitchell said the wettest May in recent memory hit south-central Georgia this planting season, followed by one of the hottest Junes, with little rain. And then came the heavy downpours in July and a tropical storm in August brought more rain. Not a perfect weather season, but things got back on track on the farm.

“Right now, despite all the rain we've had and all the obstacles, the cotton and the peanuts are both looking great right now. Both of those crops will still be here in the fields on the farm during our show in October. We would love for everybody to come out, tour the farm and see us during the expo this year in October,” Mitchell said.

The Sunbelt Ag Expo takes place Oct. 15-17.