The Georgia Association of County Agriculture Agents (GACAA) is a professional association among agriculture and natural resources agents in Georgia. Each year since 1972 the association receives nominations from across the state to from which to award the GACAA “Friend of the County Agent Award.” The recipient of this prestigious award is recognized at the annual GACAA meeting which is held at a different location in the state each year. The 2023 GACAA annual meeting was recently held in Augusta, Georgia November 13 – 15 in which Cook County farmer Mr. Everett Franks was recognized by the association as the 2023 Friend of the County Agent Award – for Years of Support and Leadership in The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, November 2023.
Everett Franks has long been a supporter of UGA Extension agriculture and natural resource programs in Cook County and the effects of his involvement have reached peanut producing counties in GA and the entire SE United States. Mr. Franks currently farms traditional row crops and has produced vegetables and tobacco as well. He has been a consistent supporter and advocate of UGA Extension and Extension programs and has collaborated with UGA Extension Agents and UGA Extension Specialists for almost 3 decades. Of significance have been the on-farm data he has generated through UGA Extension collaborations from which UGA unbiased research-based recommendations are based. Mr. Franks has dedicated significant land and resources to test new products, varieties and production techniques in the commodities of peanuts, cotton and tobacco. For the past 25 years he has dedicated entire fields to evaluate peanut fungicides in collaboration with UGA Extension agents and specialists. Results of his trials have been disseminated by UGA Extension and agriculture industry representatives in all peanut producing counties in Georgia, Florida and Alabama in addition to multiple peanut production events throughout the country each year. The results from Mr. Franks collaboration with UGA Extension have had significant impact throughout the peanut growing regions of the country.
Today’s agriculture production systems require farmers to be true stewards of the environment in order to sustain an operation. Their profession requires skills that most are unaware of. Adapting to weather patterns, choosing a crop according to soil chemistry, recognizing beneficial insect versus harmful insect populations in a crop, interpreting satellite imagery while constantly following the agriculture commodity markets are some of the traits that encompass modern farming. Everett Franks began farming with his dad Herschel Franks in the mid 70’s and has successfully adapted to changes as they come along. Everett is known for his sense of humor, infectious laugh and positive outlook and UGA Extension has been blessed by its association with him. Congratulations to Cook County Farmer Mr. Everett Franks for earning this prestigious award.
