Georgia Cotton Commission Names 2026 King Cotton Award Recipients

Two standout specialists received top honors this month for their work supporting the state’s agricultural backbone, The Georgia Cotton Commission reported.

The 2026 King Cotton Awards were presented during the Georgia Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting & Professional Improvement Conference in November. These awards recognize the vital role that County Extension Service agents play in providing the research and real-time data necessary for farmers to maintain high yields and operational efficiency.

The Georgia Cotton Commission, a producer-funded organization established in 1965, uses these awards to highlight the specific contributions made by agents to the cotton industry. By investing assessments from Georgia cotton producers into research, promotion, and education, the Commission supports the infrastructure that keeps local economies stable.

Jason Edenfield of Toombs County earned the 2026 Senior King Cotton Award, a distinction reserved for agents with at least 10 years of experience.

Edenfield has been working with the UGA Extension since 2008, beginning his career in Toombs County. He currently serves as the Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent and County Extension Coordinator for the area.

His academic background includes degrees in political science from Brewton Parker University and agriculture from the University of Georgia, followed by a Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University. Over the last 18 years, he has worked alongside UGA Extension specialists on critical On-Farm Variety Trials involving cotton, pecans, and Vidalia onions.

Beyond variety testing, Edenfield provides producers with essential management data, such as the precise timing for irrigation and fungicide applications. His work also extends to spatial variability trials and serving on the UGA Pecan Team, while frequently speaking to the community about the economic necessity of the agricultural sector in Toombs County.

The Allen B. Fulford Award, which honors agents with less than 10 years of service, was awarded to Savannah Tanner.

The junior award is named in memory of Allen B. Fulford, a former county Extension agent and state cotton agronomist. Tanner currently serves as the Emanuel County Extension Coordinator and Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent.

Her career with UGA Extension began in 2016 as the Evans County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent, before she transferred to Emanuel County in 2018. Tanner holds a bachelor’s degree in diversified agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a master’s degree in beef cattle production from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Tanner’s influence reaches across the state through her role on the UGA Forage Extension Team for the southeast district and her position on the board of the Georgia Forage and Grassland Council. She contributes to statewide On-Farm Variety Trials for both cotton and Vidalia onions and co-hosts the UGA Extension podcast, Tillin’ It Like It Is.

These agents act as the primary bridge between academic research and the practical, daily needs of the farm, ensuring that new methodologies in pesticide application and forage management are implemented effectively.

The Georgia Cotton Commission remains located in Perry, Georgia, and continues to manage programs funded by producer assessments to support the state’s agricultural community.