Join GPGA
About Our Association
Georgia Pecan Growers Association
As the leading state in pecan production, the Georgia Pecan Growers Association (GPGA) has been supporting its members and promoting their pecans since 1985. The Georgia Pecan Growers Association supports growers in all aspects of marketing and education. The association also produces the industry’s leading magazine, The Pecan Grower magazine; Georgia Pecans, providing pecan growers, both domestic and international, with the latest research studies and industry news to help improve upon best practices in production and business. In efforts to continue to move the needle forward for Georgia pecans and new production methods, the GPGA collaborates closely with pecan specialists and horticulturalists across the country. The GPGA also works in tandem with Georgia’s Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans and Georgia’s Department of Agriculture to ensure Georgia’s pecan growers have the tools they need to be successful. Additionally, the GPGA collaborates with sister associations from other pecan growing states and the industry’s national organizations to further promote and market pecans.
Our Mission:
Join Now
Benefits of Your Membership
- GPGA provides multiple opportunities for members to improve upon production practices. Throughout the year, GPGA offers several Educational opportunities such as our Annual Conference, Annual Fall Field Day, county pecan production meetings, subscription to our information-packed The Pecan Grower magazine, e-newsletters, social media and a knowledgeable and friendly office staff.
- GPGA serves as the Voice of the Industry through our Governmental Relations in Washington, DC and by providing Communications to all members through our website, online newsletter, The Pecan Grower magazine and social media.
- GPGA strongly supports Research and Development in the pecan industry. We work closely with pecan research teams throughout the state to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information with our members about new pecan production practices.
- Marketing Georgia Pecans to consumers is another benefit received through membership. Whether it’s a retail outlet, commercial operation or a pecan tree nursery, the GPGA works to connect your business with consumers to increase the demand and awareness for Georgia pecans.
- Commercial Members: If you are a supporting business of Georgia pecan growers, there is something for you as well! By becoming a commercial member you are not only supporting our association, but you will also receive a free listing on our website for your business as a resource for our pecan growers!
Our Members
Commercial Member List
A1 Mist Sprayers
Dan Schweers
877-924-2474
Actylis
Pieter Booysen
Aerobotics
Sean Olivari
928-444-0969
seano@aerobotics.com
Ag America Lending
Ethan Cooper
AG Georgia Farm Credit
Corey Cottle
478-987-8300
Ag Nutrients
Bryan Peters
Ag South
Sandra Meeks
Ag Technologies
Brent Davis
Air-O-Fan
Brent Davis
559-638-6546
AMVAC Chemical Corp.
Ricky Lord
AMVT LLC
David Liang
506 Stonegate Dr
Katy, TX 77494
281-506-2430
APC Industries Company
Tony Albin
909-545-5054
Apollo Pecan Nursey & Groves
Tim Brown
941-266-6691
Avery Crop Insurance
Jeremy Ryan
229-243-7216
Bag Supply Company, Inc.
John Lonza
126 Park Avenue
Moody, AL 35004
800-722-5790
Bell Irrigation Pipe & Supply
John Bell
Bridge Import Group
Jay Fentress
715-563-4828
Bergen AG Innovations, Inc.
Andres Bergen
Big John Manufacturing
Danny Sanders
Bowsmith
Stanley Kirby
Burch Corp.
Dan Pope
205-201-3807
Carden & Assoc.
Rick Lear
Carter Brothers Pecan Co.
Jonathan Arn
Calway Foods, Inc
Jack Huang
2005 De La Cruz Blvd., Suite 134
Santa Clara, California 95050
408-423-9138
510-877-6768
Fax: 408-496-6688
jackh@calwayfoods.com
Chemical Containers, Inc
John Farrell
Collins Irrigation, Inc.
John Collins
Complete Resource Management
Whitcomb Barnhill
229-405-2422
Cromartie Ag Company, Inc.
Drew Cromartie
Deer Run Investments
Mack Kimbrel
229-881-7230
Durand Wayland
Kyle Perry
101 Durand Rd
LaGrange, GA 30241
706-882-8161 ext. 173
706-577-4774
Easterlin Pecan Co., Inc.
Will Easterlin
478-244-9812
Forquimica Corp
Fernando Silva
Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service
Clint Faircloth
Gillison's Variety Fab.
Graig Gillison
3033 Benzie Hwy
Benzonia Mi 49616
800-392-6059
231-383-0005
Good Hope Industries
Phillip Connell
Greenpoint Ag
Staci Howell
Grosch Irrigation
Greg Grosch
Gulf Coast Bag, Inc.
Roger Rochman
281-556-8500
Haifa North America
Kelvin Stokes
Horne Pecan Company
Kimberly H Folmar/Kelly H. Zegalia
1305 Southerfield Rd
Americus, GA 31719
229-380-0823
Howhum Nurseries
David Simpson
ICL Fertilizer
Hal Russell
Irrigation-Mart
Leah Simmons
318-255-1832
J. Brock Consulting, LLC
Jason Brock
J.G. Shuman Farms
John G. Shuman
Kinloch Plantation Pecan Oil
Tommy Hatfield
318 435-1455
Kitchen's Pecan Scouting, LLC
Billy Ray Kitchens
Lineage Logistics
Van Griffin
Lasseter Equipment Group
Judd Lasseter
Mason Tractor Company
Brittany Shaddix
Miller Chemical & Fertilizer
Darin Singleton
Native Earth, LLC
Chris W Wilson
Natural Impressions
Harlo Lovett
Navarro Pecan Company
John Hutchens
Mary Magers
R J Sikes
Nelson MFG. Company
Mike Estes
530-673-0919
Nichino America, Inc.
Wayne Brown
229-456-2082
NIPAN LLC
Mark Crawford
229-460-5922
NuFarm Americas
Brad Lang
229-894-0568
Oklief LLC/CR Manufacturing
Chris Whiting
Orchard Machinery Corporation
Brian Anderson
Pecan Nut Busters, Inc.
Carleton Dailey
Peerless Manufacturing
Tracey Lumpkin
Plant Food Systems, Inc.
Gary Veal
229-425-1407
Pitts Insurance Agency
Lisa McKinley
229-648-6496
Planters First
Eli Tinsley
Prevegenics
Andy Tuck
Priester’s Pecans, Inc.
Thomas Ellis
-334-227-4301 (O), 334-657-3222 (C)
Rabo Agrifinance
Ashley Swanson
309-371-9406
Ashley.Swanson@RaboAg.com
Rain Bird Corporation
Mike Jacobson
Renfroe Pecan Co.
Geoff Hamil
Reveam, Inc.
Chip Starns
Michael Young
Riden Soil & Fertility
Garret Riden
R W Griffin Industries
Randy Gay
Shiver Diesel Injection & Turbocharger
Scott Shiver
Syngenta
Lyle Stewart
Savage of Georgia
Billy Brown
229-787-5115
Simpson Nurseries
Fred Beshears
Southeast Pecan Company
Garland Nessmith
4455 Westside RD
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-764-43357
Southern Ag & Insurance Services
Mark Cox
Southern Agri-Gro, LLC
Zac Zschiesche
SouthWest Georgia Farm Credit
Anna Kinchen
Stone Mountain Pecan
Robby Coker / Chris Coker
1781 U.S. Hwy 78
Monroe, GA
770-207-6486
Stuckey's Corporation
Stephanie Stuckey
705 S Main Street
Wrens, GA 30833
Sumner Ag Services Inc.
David Sumner
Summit Agro
David Cole
941-456-0110
SVN Saunders
Ralston
Dantzler Real Estate
Dan Brooks
SQM North America Corp
Ryan Barham
TRC Partners
Tim Martel
The Peed Company
Seth Peed
The Irrigation Store, Inc.
Stacie Hiers
Teleos Ag Solutions
Justin Harrison
229-326-5861
Trécé Incorporated
918-785-3061
Tri-County Ag Services LLC (RW Griffin)
Eddie Sholar
TriEst Ag Group - Greenville
Lauren Roberson
TriEst Ag Group, Inc
Perry Fuller
Triangle Chemical Co.
Mark Hawke
229-344-6508
TOL Incorporated
Scott Hermann
VICAM, A Waters Business
Lanny Smith
Valent USA
David Yoder
25047 N.E. Grady Tew Rd
Altha, FL 32421
850-377-8137
John V Altom
4503 NW 186 Street
Newberry, FL 32669
352-316-1366
Vestaron
R.J. Byrne
Weiss McNair
Fred Corona Director of Sales and Marketing
530-891-6214 x219
W. G. Hamil, LLC
Michael Hamil
Walthall Oil Company
Allison Walthall
Waters Agricultural Lab, Inc.
Jarrell D. Cooper
WECO The Science of Optical Sorting
Eric Horner
WiseConn Engineering
Brock Ponder/Sarge Pachero
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
President
Chris Clough
Clough Pecan Company
Blackshear, GA 31516
Cell: 912-288-1947
Vice President
Kyle Durrence
Durden Pecan Co.
Reidsville, GA 30453
Home: 912-557-6115
Cell: 912-237-0105
Executive Director
Samantha McLeod
Tifton, GA 31794
Office: 229-382-2187
Cell: 229-402-3106
Miley Adams
Camilla, GA 31730
Home: 229-328-7700
Cason Anderson
CCA Pecan
Kathleen, GA
478-952-2875
Rob Cohen
Bainbridge, GA 39818
229-726-2621
Slade Ellis
Ellis Farms LLC
Vienna, GA 31092
Cell: 229-268-9041
Bert Hiley
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Cell: 478-955-7435
Mike Horne Jr.
Horne Pecan Company
Andersonville, GA 31711
Cell: 229-942-2135
Scott Hudson
Hudson Pecan Co.
529 VoTech Dr
Ocilla, GA 31774-3641
Cell: 229-425-1130
Kirk Law
Chula, GA 31733
Cell: 229-392-4362
Advisors
Will Easterlin
Easterlin Pecan Company
Montezuma, GA 31063
478-472-7731
Mark Hawke
Oakland Meadows Business Park
Leesburg, GA 31673
229-432-7400
Mike Horne
Andersonville, GA 31711
RG Lamar
Lamar Pecan Co.
Hawkinsville, GA 31036
Office: 478-230-8065
Meet The Staff
Samantha McLeod
Executive Director & Editor of The Pecan Grower magazine since February 2017
Samantha joined the GPGA staff as Executive Director in February of 2017, following her passion of supporting farmers and being an advocate for agriculture. Prior to GPGA, Samantha worked for Case IH Agriculture for 5 years, first in a Commercial Rotational Development program, then as a Commercial Product Trainer, and finally as the Southeastern Crop Production Sales Specialist representing the manufacturer’s line-up of planters, seeding, and tillage equipment across seven states.
Outside of GPGA, Samantha is happily married to Robert McLeod III and lives just outside of Tifton, GA. Together they have two beautiful boys, Arlan (3) and Curtis (1) and enjoy running their small herd of Registered Black Angus cattle and helping out on the family’s farm.
Sheila Harnage
Finance since January 2013
Originally from Omega, Georgia, Sheila graduated from Tift County High School in 1985 and then went on to graduate from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, located in Tifton, Georgia in 1987. She went back to school to obtain a degree in Accounting from Moultrie Technical College in 2012. Prior to coming onboard with GPGA, Sheila homeschooled her 4 children from 1991 until 2013 from kindergarten through their graduation.
Outside of GPGA Sheila is happily married to Scot Harnage. The two share four children and two step grandchildren. Sheila is actively involved in her church and loves to spend time with family.
Amy Howell
Grants Coordinator & Copy Editor for The Pecan Grower magazine since 2014
A native of Tifton, Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree and Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the GPGA team, Amy worked at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for 5 years and, prior to that, lived and worked in Atlanta for 8 years in both state government and the private sector.
Outside of GPGA Amy and her husband, Courtney, have three children and are active in their schools, church and community.
Mary Mikelyn Bruorton
Communication & Events Coordinator
Originally from Homerville, Georgia, Bruorton attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) for a year and a half before transferring to the University of Georgia Tifton. During her time in college, she completed an internship with Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, where she was the marketing and communications intern. She also worked under Dr. Johnathan Oliver, researching Xylella on various blueberry varieties. Bruorton graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from the University of Georgia. She serves as GPGA’s Communication and Events Coordinator.
Prior to joining GPGA in August of 2021, Bruorton was an Outreach Specialist for the Produce Safety Department with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Mary Mikelyn joined the GPGA staff in August 2021, where she wanted to continue her career in supporting and advocating for both Georgia farmers and Georgia pecans.
Outside of GPGA, she is active in church and loves spending time with her family and dog, Reese. Bruorton has always been an active member of the agricultural industry and by joining GPGA, wanted to continue her career in supporting and advocating for both Georgia farmers and Georgia pecans. Growing up and working within the blueberry industry on a farm and packaging facility, Bruorton knew that she wanted to advocate for American farmers and be a part of the agricultural industry. She says that she owes her love and passion for agriculture to her father, Mike Bruorton, and values the loving support in her endeavors from her mother, Beverly Bruorton.
Contact Us:
Georgia Pecan Growers Association
(P.O. Box 1367)
Tifton, Georgia 31794
Phone: 229-382-2187
Fax: 404-393-9298
HOME | JOIN GPGA | MAGAZINE | PECANS | INDUSTRY | RECIPES | MERCHANDISE | EVENTS | CONTACT US
Website By Ranch House Designs