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 2024:
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE submitted BY email by JANUARY 6, 2025 or postmarked by december 30, 2024
Please select the titles below to download the award applications. (Check back in the Fall for updated application links.)
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.
Outstanding Agriculture Teacher Award
This award recognizes excellence in agriculture teachers who support their 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.
2023 - 2024 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 62nd Annual GCA Convention was “Building the Herd”. Our theme challenged members to reflect upon the mission of our organization to ensure that we are continuously working to invite fellow producers into our organization. As hundreds of cattle producers and industry supporters gathered in historic Columbus, Georgia, we had the opportunity to recognize the GCA, GCWA, YCC, and GJCA 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, 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 2023-2024 winners!
2023 Cattlewomen's hall of fame inductee - Betty joe Greene
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Meet GCWA’s 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee, Betty Joe Greene. Located in Forsyth, Georgia, Greene and her late husband, Fred Greene, started their cattle operation in 1972. Their operation was recognized as the 1999 GCA Commercial Operation of the Year. Betty Joe served as the Mid-Georgia CattleWomen's President in 1982-83 and the Georgia CattleWomen's President in 1986-87 and on the board from 1986-2002. Betty Joe and Fred enjoyed attending the GCA Tours, National Cattlemen's Conventions, and NCBA Region II meetings to learn more about the cattle industry throughout the country. They were very supportive of local youth by providing steers to exhibitors and purchasing the steers at the local West Central Georgia Show. They provided scholarships to numerous students with the Harvey Greene Memorial Scholarship in memory of Fred's dad. Besides serving as a GCWA officer, Betty Joe also assisted with the planning and coordination of the Georgia Beef Cook-Off contest, Beef for Father's Day events, Beef Ambassador Program, Region II Meetings, conventions, fundraisers, queen's contests, and many more events. Betty Joe was one of the first cattlewomen to assist with the cattlewomen's booth at the SunBelt Expo where they promoted beef and the association to the consumers. Betty Joe's leadership skills and her passion for the cattle industry helped the association to be able to provide information about beef and agriculture to consumers.
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2023 Largest Net Membership Increase
Colquitt County Cattlemen's Association
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Thank you to our membership award sponsors!
2023 Greatest Percent Membership increase
Colquitt County 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 2023 winner, the Colquitt County Cattlemen’s Association!
2023 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!
2023 County agent of the year
Greg Pittman - Jackson 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 county extension agents that go above the call of duty in the support of their local cattlemen’s Associations. Congratulations to the 2023 County Agent of the Year Award recipient, Greg Pittman!
2023 Agriculture Teacher of the year
Bert Bodiford - Pachitla Cattlemen's Association
Bert is the Young Farmer Advisor at Pataula Charter Academy and leads the Program Committee for the Pachitla Cattlemen's Association. He contributes to their chapter by coordinating all of their educational programs, cooking at their chapter meetings, and goes above and beyond to recruit new members. Congratulations to the 2023 Agriculture Teacher of the Year Award recipient, Bert Bodiford!
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2023 David Gazda Visionary Award
Howard Johnson - Mid-Georgia Cattlemen's Association
This award is presented by the Young Cattlemen's Council annually and recognizes a Georgia Cattlemen’s Association member who goes above and beyond to support and mentor young cattle producers. Meet our 2023 David Gazda Visionary Award Recipient, Howard Johnson!
Howard served as the Owner and CEO of Johnson Battery for over 34 years before retiring from the business around 2020. Upon retiring from Johnson Battery, Howard decided to get serious about the cattle business and has been an involved and dedicated member of GCA since then. He has won the Top Member Recruiter award twice in a row and gives unwavering support to the Young Cattlemen's Council through his time, talent, and treasure.
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2023 CattleWoman of the Year
Pam Walters - Mid-Georgia Cattlemen's Association
This award is presented by the Georgia CattleWomen's Association annually and recognizes a Georgia CattleWomen's Association member who goes above and beyond to further the mission of GCWA through promoting beef and educating consumers. Meet the 2023 GCWA CattleWoman of the Year, Pam Walters!
Pam is a driving force behind the Mid-Georgia Chapter. She is one of the first to arrive and last to leave an event. Pam and her husband volunteer at many events such as Beef Day, fundraisers, shows, Farm Days, meetings, and workshops. The Mid-Georgia Cattlewomen describe Pam as a Christian who is a considerate, hardworking lady that loves agriculture, people, and the cattle industry.
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