Awards & Scholarships
The Georgia Cattlemen's Association is proud to award producers and industry professionals with distinguished titles each year based on their service, achievement, and involvement with GCA and within our industry. Check out the information below to read more on this year's award programs and opportunities!
IMPORTANT FOR 2023:
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE submitted BY JANUARY 5, 2024
Please select the titles below to download the award applications.
YCC AI School Application
This initiative will award one applicant a scholarship to attend an ABS AI course. The selected applicant will have the opportunity to coordinate with ABS to sign up for their course and receive an AI Kit sponsored by Southeastern Cryo Services.
Producer of The Year
The Cattle Producer of the Year award recognizes a GCA member who actively works to enhance the productivity of the association through their involvement on a local and state level, showcasing sustainable management practices in his/her own cattle operation and shares that knowledge with other through their leadership qualities.
Junior Cattleman of The Year
This award recognizes a Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association member who goes above and beyond the call of duty, participating in a variety of GCA and GJCA events and serving as a great advocate for Georgia agriculture and the beef industry.
Veterinarian of The Year
This award recognizes an outstanding large animal veterinarian who supports his/her local association.
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award
This award recognizes individuals who are BQA certified, use these principles on their operation and show BQA leadership in their communities.
County Agent of the Year
This award recognizes excellence in extension agents who support his/her local GCA chapter.
Outstanding Vo-Ag Teacher Award
This award recognizes excellence in vocation agriculture teachers who support his/her local GCA chapter.
Chapter of the Year Award
This. award recognizes outstanding work by local associations in a variety of areas, including membership, participation in GCA activities, legislative affairs, community involvement, local events and service to members.
GCA Scholarships
Scholarships will be awarded for the 2024 school year. To be eligible, a student must attend the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College or Berry College majoring in Animal Science, Ag Communications, Ag Leadership, Ag Business or other related fields combined with a livestock background. In addition, he or she must be a current GJCA member.
2022 - 2023 Georgia Cattlemen's Association Award Recipients
Since its establishment, GCA has worked to preserve the heritage of Georgia’s beef cattle industry for the future. The distinct legacies of those who laid the foundation for our association, live on through our mission to unite and advance Georgia’s cattle industry. As a testament to the individuals who prove the impact of a grassroots organization, the theme for our 61st Annual GCA Convention was “Iron Sharpens Iron”. Our theme challenged members to reflect upon the mission of our organization to ensure that we are continuously working to lay the groundwork for future. As hundreds of cattle producers and industry supporters gathered in historic Columbus, Georgia, we had the opportunity to recognize the GCA members who are doing just that. From honoring industry leaders that have strengthened the community of young cattle producers through presenting the Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC) Visionary Award winner, to celebrating the growth of local chapters through naming the winner of the Chapter Membership Award, and awarding one of our most prestigious honors by announcing GCA’s Cattle Producer of the Year, our award winners prove the future success of our organization is directly correlated to the time invested by our members.
Check out the information below to read more on our 2022-2023 winners!
2022 Cattle Producer of the Year - Kyle Potts
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Meet GCA’s 2022-2023 Cattle Producer of the Year Award Winner, Kyle Potts. Located in Jefferson, Georgia, Potts owns and operates Potts Brothers Farm, where he has an Angus Seedstock operation, a commercial cow/calf operation, and a backgrounding/feeding operation to help supply their farm-to-plate business: Potts Family Meats. Through his love of cattle, Kyle has found his true passion - for working to develop a sustainable product, encouraging education for those wishing to enter the industry, and for the industry's value to become evident to all. He tells them,
“Cattle producers are honest, hard-working people that want to produce a good, wholesome product for the ever-growing global population. We want the world to know that the products we produce are not only sent out for consumption to the public but are also consumed in our own households.”
Kyle is a prime example of the success found in promoting this mindset. Today he is still paving the way for small farmers and ranchers. As he follows his own passion, he continues to raise cattle and encourages anyone who will listen to be part of the cattle industry. We are proud to call Kyle a member of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association and celebrate the work he is doing to unite and advance Georgia's cattle industry!
2022 Largest Net Membership Increase
Appalachian Cattlemen's Association
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Thank you to our membership award sponsors!
2022 Greatest Percent Membership increase
Appalachian Cattlemen's Association
In addition to our Chapter Membership Award, GCA also recognizes a local chapter association that has achieved the greatest percent increase in regular membership. Congratulations to our 2022 winner, the Appalachian Cattlemen’s Association!
2022 top NEW MEMBER RECRUITER award
Howard Johnson - Mid-GA Cattlemen's Association
GCA’s Top Hand Award goes to an individual that has spent countless hours working to recruit new members into our association. Congratulations to this year’s Top New Member Recruiter Howard Johnson from the Mid-GA Cattlemen’s Association!
2022 County agent of the year award
Shanna Reynolds - Oglethorpe County Cattlemen's Association
GCA’s long standing partnership with Georgia Cooperative Extension has allowed our association to continue to provide updated, credible resources to cattle producers throughout the state. The County Agent of the Year award recognizes the outstanding count extension agents that go above the call of duty in the support of their local cattlemen’s Associations. Congratulations to the 2022 County Agent of the Year Award recipient, Shanna Reynolds!
2022 Junior Cattleman of the Year Award
Maddie Dean - Ocmulgee Cattlemen's Association
This award recognizes a Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association member who exhibits exceptional leadership skills, participates in a variety of GCA and GJCA events and serves as an advocate for Georgia agriculture and the beef industry. Meet our 2022 Junior Cattleman of the Year, Maddie Dean!
“In my opinion, the Georgia Junior Cattleman is a family. We are a large family of young cattlemen and cattlewomen who can join together and share their passion for the Agriculture industry with each other. Through the GJCA I have gained numerous friends and relationships that will last for decades. I’m thankful for all the many opportunities the Georgia Junior Cattlemen Association has provided to help influence and prepare us juniors for the future of feeding America. Without the GJCA and young producers, our cattle industry has no future.”
