Decatur County farmer appointed president of Georgia Farm Bureau

A produce farmer from Southwest Georgia’s Decatur County has been appointed the new president of the Georgia Farm Bureau, the largest farm organization in Georgia.

Gerald “Jerry” Long of Bainbridge was appointed to serve out the remaining term of immediate past president Zippy Duvall of Greene County in northeast Georgia.

The appointment happened Tuesday, Jan. 12 after Duvall was elected the new president of the American Farm Bureau Federation at its annual conference in Orlando, Fla.

Because Duvall will now focus on his national duties, Jerry Long–who had previously been elected as 1st vice president of the Georgia Farm Bureau–will serve in the leadership role through December 2016, when another election for the statewide position is held.

Andy Bell, president of the Decatur County Farm Bureau, said he was delighted for both Long and Duvall. Bell said it’s the first time, as far as he is aware, that someone from Georgia has served as the president of the American Farm Bureau. It’s also rare that someone from deep South Georgia will serve as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau (Wayne Dollar of Thomas County, Georgia is a past president of Georgia Farm Bureau.)

See More Pictures from Georgia Farm Bureau reception for Zippy Duvall and Gerald Long

About Zippy Duvall

Duvall, a chicken, hay, and cattle farmer from Greensboro, Ga., in Greene County. He served 4 1/2 terms as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau. Zippy Duvall is a third generation dairy farmer who currently maintains a 300 head beef cow herd while producing quality hay to supply his needs. Zippy and his wife Bonnie have also developed a poultry production operation, growing out over 750,000 broilers per year. Farming is a business, a lifestyle and a proud tradition for the Duvall family and it will undoubtedly be carried on for generations to come. (See ZippyDuvall.com)

Zippy began his Farm Bureau journey in 1977 when, after his late father heard him complain about the price of milk and told him, “If you think the price of milk is not enough, or if you think the regulations are too tough, you’ve got to get outside your fence rows.” His father continued to encourage Zippy to get involved, and Zippy attended his first Greene County Farm Bureau meeting in Georgia 36 years ago.

Related Article: Up Close: Who is Zippy Duvall? (FarmFutures.com)

Listen to Zippy Duvall’s Press Conference after being elected president of the American Farm Bureau

About Jerry Long

Farmer Jerry Long and his wife, Janice, were honored as the Decatur County Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Ag Man and Ag Woman of the Year, according to the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight. The Longs have 400 head of cattle, run a 100-acre “U-Pick” produce farm and grow numerous crops. (Long Farms Natural Produce website)

Long is also a voting member of the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County.