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 2022:

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE submitted BY JANUARY 6, 2023

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.

Outstanding Vo-Ag Teacher Award

This award recognizes excellence in vocation agriculture teachers who supports his/her local 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 2023 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.

2021 - 2022 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 60th Annual GCA Convention was “Securing beef’s future in Georgia.” 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 Savannah, 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 2021-2022 winners!

2021 Cattle Producer of the Year - Joseph Egloff

Meet GCA’s 2021-2022 Cattle Producer of the Year Award Winner, Joseph Egloff. Located in Forsyth, Georgia, Egloff owns and operates Rocking Chair Ranch and Mid South Packers, where he has established a productive direct-to-consumer marketing platform that sells products to local restaurants, retail stores, and farmer’s markets across the southeast. Through his love of cattle, Joseph has found his true passion - encouraging new, young, and sometimes old farmers to think outside the box, whatever that might be for them. He tells them,

“To be successful you don’t have to inherit a farm, you don’t have to raise a certain breed of cattle, you don’t have to do it like your daddy or neighbors do it, you don’t have to sell your cattle at the stockyard or ship them out of the state. You just have to work hard, surround yourself with smart people, don’t be afraid of new ideas, ask questions and follow your own passion.”

Joseph is a prime example of the success found in adopting 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 Joseph a member of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association and celebrate the work he is doing to unite and advance Georgia's cattle industry!

2021 Largest Net Membership Increase

Meriwether County Cattlemen's Association

Each year, our friends at Fuller Supply and Priefert generously agree to donate a portable squeeze chute to the GCA chapter who has acquired the largest net membership increase. Congratulations to this year's winner, the Meriwether County Cattlemen's Association, for achieving the largest net increase in chapter membership!

Thank you to our membership award sponsors!

2021 Greatest Percent Membership increase

Meriwether 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 2021 winner, the Meriwether County Cattlemen’s Association!

2021 top Hand award

Darrel McCoy - Meriwether County 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 Darrell McCoy from the Meriwether County Cattlemen’s Association!

2021 County agent of the year award

Sarah Dyer - Tri-State 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. Meet the 2021 County Agent of the Year Award recipient, Sarah Dyer!

Sarah currently serves as the Vice Chair of GCA's Young Cattlemen's Council, is an active member of the Tr-State Cattlemen's Association, and works as the UGA Extension Agent/Coordinator for Dade County. Sarah, in partnership with her husband, Jeremy, owns a diversified livestock operation specializing in show goats, seed stock cattle, and producing Georgia Grown beef. Dyer obtained a Master’s Degree in Animal Science and Business Management from the University of Florida, where she studied the impact of cattle genetics on meat quality characteristics, the healthfulness of beef, and consumer preferences and willingness to pay for beef products. Sarah not only serves as a valuable resource for producers Dade County, but for the entire Tri-State Cattlemen's Association. She loves to work with her local farmers, as well as teach youth about agriculture and livestock production.

2021 Junior Cattleman of the Year Award

Bryson Smith - Floyd County 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 2021 Junior Cattleman of the Year, Bryson Smith! Bryson is a Freshman at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and is working towards his degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Livestock Production.

“To me, GJCA means opportunity on so many levels. Opportunity to engage and interact with other young people across the state that have similar interests. Opportunity to participate in educational and leadership activities to help me grow as a person and as a producer. Opportunity to gain knowledge from experienced and successful cattlemen from all aspects of the cattle industry. GJCA also means the future of the beef industry in our state. The youth of today are the industry leaders of tomorrow and it's very important to keep them engaged and active in this industry.”

Bryson has been an active member of GJCA for several years and has made an impact through his time as a member of the Floyd County Cattlemen’s Association, his role as a GJCA Ambassador, and now as the President of the GJCA Officer Board. He has been involved with both 4-H and FFA, showing beef cattle throughout the state and winning multiple awards throughout his career. We are thrilled to honor Bryson as the 2021 Junior Cattleman of the Year and we are confident that the future of our industry is in good hands because of young leaders like him.