Georgia Magazine - June 2018 - 8

COMPILED BY JENNIFER J. HEWETT

Cattleman named 2018 Georgia Farmer of the Year
horses along with commodity timber
products. More importantly, we are
producing these commodities in an
efficient and sustainable manner in
the hope and expectation that future
generations of our family can live
and work on the farm and meet the
lifestyle and production goals they
choose."
At the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie in October, Vaughn
will represent Georgia and compete
against farmers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee and Virginia for the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern
Farmer of the Year Award.
-Sharon Dowdy, University of
Georgia, and Caitlin Jackson,
Monroe County Extension

Georgia tourism generates record economic impact

James Vaughn, a cattleman from Monroe
County, was named the 2018 Georgia Farmer
of the Year during a ceremony in Atlanta
on March 20. Under his leadership, Vaughn
Farms has grown from a 500-acre cattle farm
to a 5,590-acre, diversified farm operation.

Nominate your favorite
athletes

fficials with the Georgia Sports
Hall of Fame in Macon are seeking
nominations of athletes, coaches/
managers and others who have made
significant contributions over the
years to sports in Georgia.
For additional nomination requirements for Class of 2019 inductees, visit bit.ly/gshfnom; nominations
are due by July 1, 2018.
For information about the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, visit gshf.org.
ISTOCK.COM / SKODONNELL

OFFICE OF GOV. NATHAN DEAL

ourism in Georgia is big business, generating a $60.8 billion impact on
Georgia's economy in 2017. Gov. Nathan Deal made the announcement
in January at the annual Tourism, Hospitality & Arts Day at the state
Capitol.
"Georgia's tourism industry is a powerful economic-development tool
for local communities and our state as a whole," Deal said. "This impact
goes well beyond direct spending by visitors, as the industry provides job
opportunities for more than 450,200 Georgians, accounting for approximately 10.6 percent of the state's non-farm workforce.
"As this industry continues to grow, this success reflects our state's
status as a world-class tourism destination and once again affirms that
Georgia is on the minds of travelers around the globe."

UGA CAES

onroe County cattleman and
Southern Rivers Energy member
James Vaughn has been named
the 2018 Georgia Farmer of the Year.
Under his leadership, Vaughn
Farms in Forsyth has grown from a
500-acre cattle farm to a 5,590-acre,
diversified farm operation. Vaughn
and his family grow Bermuda grass
hay for the local and wholesale markets, raise beef cattle, sell bred heifers
and registered bulls, grow 4,000 acres
of timber and train cutting horses.
"In the 35 years I have been active on the farm as an adult, I have
achieved an important goal of maintaining a farm business where my
family can work and maintain the
lifestyle we enjoy," Vaughn says. "Together, we are reaching another goal:
producing high-quality beef, hay and

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GEORGIA MAGAZINE

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - June 2018