The Vidalia® Onion Committee (VOC) hosted its annual awards banquet on February 6 at the Hawks Point Golf Club in Vidalia, Georgia. Jason Herndon from L.G. Herndon Jr Farms Inc. was named grower of the year and J. Scott Angle, former Dean of the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was inducted to the Hall of Fame. Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Commissioner Gary Black also spoke at the event.
The 2015 Grower of the Year was awarded to Jason Herndon from L.G. Herndon Jr Farms Inc. A family owned and operated business, L.G. Herndon Jr Farms Inc. has been in business for over 30 years and now averages 500 acres of Vidalia Onions each year. Jason manages the farm for his uncle, “Bo” Herndon Jr. who was named grower of the year in 2008.
J. Scott Angle was Dean and Director of the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past decade. Angle oversaw a period of significant growth in the college's instruction, research and outreach. He recruited several nationally and internationally recognized researchers to help broaden the scope and impact of the college's research. He also strengthened the links between the college's research and extension units to ensure that farmers and other stakeholders in each of Georgia's 159 counties have access to the latest, evidence-based information. In 2015, he became president and CEO of the International Fertilizer Development Center.
The awards were presented by Vidalia Onion Committee Director Susan A. Waters and Vidalia Onion Business Council Director Bob Stafford. Waters stated, “It was a great honor to present the Grower of the Year Award to Jason Herndon who has served as Vice Chair and Chairman of the Committee. We also wanted to recognize Scott Angles’ contribution to the Vidalia industry especially since the University of Georgia has played a key role in providing critical crop research and helping the industry to improve the flavor of our premium sweet onions.”
For more information:
Susan Waters
Vidalia Onion Committee
+1 912 537 1918