John Bridges Sr., Brinson, Georgia, received the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmer of the Year Award for District 1 at the 41st annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, Jan. 19, 2017, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and Agri Supply.

The Georgia Peanut Commission presents the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmer of the Year awards to one farmer in each of the commission’s five districts. This award is designed to honor farmers who have given life-long devotion to peanut farming and who have the passion, diligence, leadership and desire to see that the peanut industry in the state of Georgia continues to represent the highest quality possible.

Bridges began farming in 1948 on 50 acres of land he rented from his mother. He farmed this land until 1954 when he got into an automobile accident and was no longer able to farm.

He was away from the farm for about six months. During this time, he married the love of his life, Carolyn Bridges, who gave him hope and the spirit he needed to get back into farming. Bridges and his sons have been farming ever since. Bridges and his wife have four children, Lilly, Paula, John Jr. and Bill.

Bridges also works at Bridges Equipment in Brinson, Georgia, with his two sons. Outside of farming, Bridges is heavily involved with Brinson Baptist Church where he has served as a deacon for 50 years. He is also involved with Georgia Farm Bureau and Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus, Georgia, where his grandchildren attend school.

Bridges was a member of Georgia Young Farmers for ten years, Georgia Farm Bureau for 50 years, Governor’s Environmental Committee for 8 years and served on the Flint River Conservation Board for 25 years.

Bridges has been farming peanuts since 1948 and still grows approximately 1,000 acres on his farm today.  Along with peanuts he also farms cotton, timber and vegetables.

Additional district winners include: District 2 – Kenneth Hall Sr., Tifton; District 3 – Rep. Jon Burns, Newington; District 4 – Richard Nutt, Pitts; and District 5 – Glen Lee Chase, Oglethorpe. These farmers received a sign to display at their farm and a gift card from Agri Supply.