TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - The 48th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show kicked off today with amazing door prizes to help make farmers’ life a little easier. Farmers say they are excited to have these incentives to help encourage the next generation of farmers.

“We need young farmers in our neighborhood.”

Farming today is hard and expensive work but it’s also rewarding. According to Farm show chairman, Rodney Dawson, getting people excited about agriculture is just as hard.

“I hear so much about the struggles, especially with the commodity prices like they are. there’s not many of us left. The average age of a farmer today is high 50s.” says Rodney Dawson, Farm show chairman.

But for the Williams family, love for Agriculture began at home, with their 1-and-a-half-year-old son, Walker Williams, finding a love for tractors and farming, before he’s even able to talk.

“His dad worked on tractors so when he first got on a tractor, he was all smiles .. It’s something that not many people pursue now because it’s not a lot of money making but if you grow up in it and love it, it’s in your blood and I think it’s in his too.” says mom Rebekah Williams.

We all know that farming equipment can be extremely expensive. Just one of these machines can start at $200,000 and can range to $700,000. That’s why the Peanut Commission is doing something incredible today - they’re giving away two peanut combines, $5,000 cash, up to $30,000 in awards and discounts on machinery just to help make farmers’ work a little easier.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing because that helps the young farmers or the old farmers to become more adequate about doing their jobs and they need that. I’m glad they get it, I don’t care who gets it. I’m just glad somebody gets it.” says Metcalf.

This is just one example of how The Peanut Farm Show is equipping farmers with all the latest information on technology and to help farmers finalize their bottom line to make them profitable on their farm.

“The equipment dealers are offering this as a door prize for the winner. Over $200k, $220-$240k depending on the model. $10k off the retail price of the combine, so it’s a lot of money being given away today.” Dawson says.

“This machine is 30 percent more capacity. This will increase your ability to harvest more acres in a day.” says sales representative Marcio.

Specialists are encouraging farmers to be mindful of weather events in 2025 in comparison to 2024. Also, be aware of the soil-bred insects that can impact your crops.

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