Peanut Grower Editor
I’ve been skipping down memory lane lately thinking of the people I need to thank for the many wonderful years in the peanut industry and as editor of The Peanut Grower.
But my journey started even before this. My FFA advisor for the formative years of my high school experience was Buddy Deas, a stickler for discipline and work ethic who always had us ready and polished for any contest. The scores of banners, trophies and successful students are a testament to this man.
Next was Dr. Ken Buhr, University of Florida professor of agronomy. What a wonderful man this was. He was soft-spoken but very intelligent and encouraging. I accomplished many things in the University of Florida agronomy department, including being the first to hold a national office in the student activities subdivision of the American Society of Agronomy and receiving the outstanding student in agronomy award my senior year, because of his support and encouragement. But most important, he complimented my writing and said that I should look into a new degree at UF called Agricultural Communications. That one act changed my course forever.
With an internship at the National Watermelon Promotion Board behind me, my first real job was my entry into peanuts, which I’ve now worked with for most of my life. The Florida Peanut Producers Board was pretty brave, I think, to hire me straight out of college. Most of those wonderful farmers have passed on now, but I certainly thank them and remember them fondly.
Next up is Sonia Tighe, formerly with Vance Publishing, and Scott Emerson, who is One Grower’s associate publisher. These were the folks at Vance Publishing who hired me to be the editor of The Peanut Grower. I don’t know who my competition was or who I beat out for this role, but I thank them so very much for selecting me for a job I still dearly love.
At the helm of this peanut production magazine, there are scores of researchers and Extension folks to thank. So many great people who are willing to take time to explain things and make sure farmers have the information they need through the means of print. But there were also industry people who have been very helpful. One of those was Dell Cotton, Peanut Growers Marketing Cooperative Association, who used to joke that I never got his title right and probably still don’t even here today. Dell would help me understand industry happenings from a broad standpoint, not just his region or the Southeast or Southwest. Although he took care of growers in the Virginia-Carolina region, he always wanted what was best for all of the peanut industry. Dell is retiring in June and will certainly be missed.
I am running out of room, but I certainly want to thank you, the growers, for continuing to read The Peanut Grower. You’re the salt of the earth, and I am glad to have been able to work with you and for you all these many years.
