Each year, the Southern Crop Production Association recognizes leaders who made significant contributions to agriculture and the crop protection industry. 

At SCPA’s 69^th annual meeting Nov. 7 at the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, the late Don Parker, vice president of technical services for the National Cotton Council, posthumously received the Don W. Beise Award that recognizes significant service to agriculture and the crop protection industry by an individual not a member of the association. Parker died Oct. 2 due to complications with pneumonia. 

The SCPA Rising Star Award, which recognizes young and emerging talent that is positively influencing Southern agriculture, went to Taylor Holmes, assistant director of sales for crop protection at Coastal AgroBusiness in Greenville, N.C. 

Allison Romick, director, South Region, U.S. Crop Protection at BASF, presents the SCPA Distinguished Service to Southern Agriculture to John Taylor, owner of Gemini Agricultural Consulting. Congratulating Taylor are Bucky Kennedy, left, SCPA’s executive vice president, and Jim Whitehurst, president and CEO of Coastal AgroBusiness, and SCPA’s board president. (Photo by John Hart)

John Taylor, of North Beach, Fla., owner of Gemini Agricultural Consulting, received the Distinguished Service to Southern Agriculture Award that recognizes a leading individual who has made a significant contribution to Southern agriculture.  

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual within SCPA or outside the SCPA membership who is an acknowledged trendsetter, role model and contributor to the overall positive image of the industry and leading driver of innovation throughout the Southern United States. 

Wayne Brown, field representative with Nichino America in Moultrie, Ga., received SCPA’s William C. LaRue Award that recognizes outstanding service to the Southern Crop Protection Association and the crop protection industry by a member of the association. Joining Brown are Bucky Kennedy, left, SCPA’s executive vice president, and Jim Whitehurst, president and CEO of Coastal AgroBusiness, and SCPA’s board president. (Photo by John Hart)

The William C. LaRue Award recognizes outstanding service to the Southern Crop Protection Association and the crop protection industry by a member of the association. It was presented to Wayne Brown, field representative with Nichino America in Moultrie, Ga. 

The Edgar and Ann Duskin scholarship winners were also announced at the annual meeting. The scholarships are open to college students pursuing a bachelor's degree in a crop-related discipline. Eligible students must reside within SCPA's represented states and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is administered through FFA. 

This year’s winners were: 

SCPA includes more than 60 member companies in 16 Southern states, from Texas to the Midsouth, down to Florida and up to Maryland. The association acts as the unified voice for the Southern crop production industry at state and federal levels, addressing industry issues like crop protection policy, biotechnology, seed treatments, fertilizer, adjuvants and biostimulants, along with others as needed.