Jun 16, 2022Vidalia grower Dasher recognized for support of ag education
Vidalia onion grower Walt Dasher, co-owner of G&R Farms in Glennville, Georgia, was awarded an honorary degree from the Georgia State FFA Association. The award recognizes individuals demonstrating outstanding service to agricultural education and Georgia FFA.
Dasher, a third-generation southeast Georgia farmer, has been a strong advocate for the FFA program and has been actively involved in supporting the next generations of farmers for nearly 10 years through Growing America’s Farmer’s (GAF). GAF is a program Dasher created that matches deserving agricultural students looking to pursue degrees in agricultural production with scholarships.
“It is an incredible honor to receive this degree from the Georgia State FFA Association,” Dasher said in a news release. “Their recognition of my efforts and resulting benefits to agriculture education is truly humbling.”
Since its inception in 2016, GAF has raised nearly $250,000 for FFA member scholarships in over a dozen states.
“I’ve seen first-hand the benefit these scholarships have on students who receive them, and I’m excited to see where their innovation leads us as the next generation of farm producers,” Dasher said in the release.
The convention was April 27-30 in Macon.
“Walt Dasher is a great supporter of agricultural education and FFA,” Georgia FFA Executive Director Katrina Jones said during the presentation. “He has a passion for production agriculture, and through his efforts, he is providing opportunities for FFA members to pursue careers in production agriculture. We are extremely grateful for his generosity and the positive impact he has in the lives of many FFA members.”
Now a third-generation family farm, G&R Farms began in Southeast Georgia in 1945. Today, the operation has grown to more than 5,000 acres with a main focus on Vidalia sweet onions. G&R Farms has been growing, packing, marketing and shipping sweet onions for nearly seven decades. The company is dedicated to providing consistent quality year-round while perfecting the quality and flavor of sweet onions through research and development. For more information visit www.grfarmsonions.com.
