Two Terry County families honored

by admin

The Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Awards were handed out this week in Florida and two Terry County families were recipients.

The Glen Martin family, with his son Aaron were the winners of last year’s award, however the 2020 meeting could not be held due to COVID precautions. So, the whole family flew to Florida to be honored this year.

But, that is not all. Once again, Terry County won top honors as Tony Dill was honored posthumously with the 2021 Peanut Efficiency Award. Tony’s family all showed up to accept the award in his behalf.

These awards are given annually and it is quite an honor to see it go to Terry County producers two years in a row.

The Farm Press story, written by Shelley Hugueley, stated, “The 2020 honorees for the Southwest are father and son, Glen and Aaron Martin, Wellman, Texas. Tony Dill is our 2021 winner. The Martins and Dills farm near one another in Terry County. This PEA event will be a Texas-sized celebration on the Florida beaches. Last count, between the two families, they are bringing 36 Texans to Florida — with me, that makes 37. 

“The Martins are second-generation PEA winners. James Martin, Glen’s father, Aaron’s grandfather, was our first PEA winner in 2000. He will be there as well.  

“The observance of our 2021 winner will be bittersweet. Painful because Tony passed away Oct. 23, 2020, from COVID-19. Wonderful because we get to celebrate a man who was a dedicated farmer, husband, father, grandfather, leader and friend.  

“In May, I met with Ryan, Tony’s son, at a farm his dad had helped him lease. Ryan pulled into the field in his dad’s blue pickup. Blue was Tony’s favorite color. When I got in the pickup, Ryan warned me it was going to be a tough afternoon. “For the first time, I left the barn to plant peanuts without my dad.” This is Ryan’s 16th year.    

“Ryan reached in the back seat for his dad’s planting book. When it came to planting peanuts, Ryan said his dad always had everything ready to go. “He was always prepared,” Ryan said. As he flipped through the pages, looking at his dad’s handwritten rates, he said, “This stuff never changed. These are rates we use even now. He’s always done it the same and he’s always been successful, so I guess there’s no reason to change it.” 

For the remainder of the story click on https://www.farmprogress.com/peanuts/texas-peanut-farmers-and-florida-beaches?fbclid=IwAR162jiMrv3SJrsSfB4fy7lLLYaPt8N0GChbx5Is9SY89DMLYO_44X3tBS8

All pictures courtesy of Shelley Hugueley of Farm Press Magazine

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