Before the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year is selected, judges visit and tour each state farmer of the year finalist, and all of the finalist farmers demonstrate strength, character and skills in the field.

The winner is chosen by various factors, according to the Sunbelt Ag Expo website, including “a commitment to excellence, economic and environmental sustainability, leadership on the local, state and national level, sound management, planning for the future, diversity of enterprises within the operation, sound marketing and promotion, employee retention, how they started and how far have they come.”

This year the Farmer of the Year award is in its 34th year. Last year, Friends of the Farmer of the Year Fund was founded to support the continuation of the program, by donating toward expenses. Sponsors donate to help continue making recognition of farmers' accomplishments possible.

Steve Cobb of Lake City, Arkansas, who leads Cobb Farms, earned the award last year. His partnership enterprise started half a century ago in Craighead County, and now grows row crops, produce, and raises show pigs on a combination of 4,500 shared and owned acres.

The 2024 Farmer of the Year finalists are Joel Sirmon, Alabama; Ted Huneycutt, Arkansas; Jason Watts, Florida; Bruce Allen Redmond, Gerogia; Faylene Whitaker, North Carolina; Ty Woodard, South Carolina; George McDonald, Tennessee; and Walter Bass, Jr., West Virginia.

The winner will be announced on the opening day of the Sunbelt Ag Expo Oct. 15 in Moultrie, Ga.