Tabatha Wooten and B.H.Claxton: Jeff Davis County Supervisors
Tabatha Wooten and her husband Vann own and operate a diversified family farming operation in Jeff Davis County they call T.O.P. Farms. Tabatha handles the bookkeeping/accounting while Vann takes care of the day-to-day supervision of the farming operation. They have two children. Derick is the assistant manager of T.O.P. Farms, and Lauren is in her second year of college. In addition to the family members, there are two full-time employees and one part-time employee.
Although they both grew up on family farms, they did not begin their own farming operation until 1993 when they purchased 90 acres of land and built four broiler houses. The land was purchased from the estate of Vann’s grandfather. Mr. Wooten never lived on this particular piece of land and had always referred to it as “the other place” (T.O.P.) - their farm was named to honor the memory of Vann’s grandfather. Since then, together, they have guided the farming operations helping it to grow and mature. Currently they own and manage ten broiler houses and 500 acres of land including both cultivated acres and timber. The cattle herd they started with nine cows has grown to over 125 brood cows. In addition to poultry and cattle, they produce approximately 1500 acres of row crops including corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, rye and hay. With the row crops focusing mostly on small grains, a large storage facility and grain drying system was added to the operation in 2004. In addition, the family manages a 2,500 acre hunting club. Environmental management and stewardship of the land and wildlife are a very important part of the operation.
Over the years, Tabatha has been involved in numerous church activities, civic and political organizations as listed below:
· Current Altamaha SWC District Supervisor – Jeff Davis County
· Current Member of the Georgia Cattle Association
· Current Member of the Jeff Davis Young Farmers Association
· Member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (Served as Youth Leader 1995-2003)
· Member of the Jeff Davis High School Career/Technology Advisory Committee and Youth Apprenticeship Committee
· Past Officer of Jeff Davis County Young Farmers
· Vann - Past President of the Georgia Young Farmers Association
· Vann - Current Member of the Governor’s Ag Education Advisory Committee
· Vann - Current Member of the Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau Board of Directors
In 1998 Tabatha’s family was named the Georgia Young Farmers Association Outstanding Farm Family of the Year. In 2006 the family was recognized as Conservationist of the Year for Jeff Davis County by the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District.
B. H. Claxtonhas been a Jeff Davis County District Supervisor of the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District since March of 1995.
Mr. Claxton grew up in Jeff Davis County and graduated from the local high school, which at that time was called Hazlehurst High. He then attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where he received his associates degree. After completing his work at ABAC, he attended the University of Georgia where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education, and later received his six-year Specialty Degree. After college, Mr. Claxton worked with a program called Veteran’s on the Farm Training. He did this for 18 months until he was drafted into the Army where he served for two years - including a tour of duty in Germany.
When his service time was completed, Mr. Claxton began his teaching career and married his wife Lanell Dominy, who was also a teacher. The couple was married for 53 years before her passing. They have one son and two grandchildren. Mr. Claxton taught school for 38 years, and he retired in 1989. His wife taught for 34 years. The majority of their time was spent in Jeff Davis County. Mrs. Claxton authored three books on her family tree. Mr. Claxton assisted and was responsible for three books on his family tree.
Mr. Claxton has served as President of the Georgia Ag Teacher Association and in connection with the Jeff Davis County FFA Chapter was recognized nationally for programs in which they were involved. Also, he was one of only two teachers in the nation invited to work on the Advisors’ Handbook.
Mr. Claxton is a leader and helped organize the Jeff Davis County Fair Association where he has served as its president since being established in 1989. He is a member of Seven Rivers RC&D Executive Board where he is a member at large. He is a member of the Georgia Retired Teacher’s Association. He was recently honored for his 50 year membership of the Masonic Lodge #283. He has also been a member of the Lions Club for almost 50 years.
Involved in many church activities, Mr. Claxton is a member of First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst where he has served as a deacon since 1965 and taught Sunday School for many years.
J. M.Vaughn and Frank Miles: Appling County Supervisors
J. M. Vaughn has served as the appointed supervisor from Appling County since March, 1998. He is a life long resident of Appling County. Mr. Vaughn is a retired educator having taught in the Appling County school system for forty one years. He also served as Superintendent of schools for 9 years. Mr. Vaughn has been a member of the Holmesville Masonic Lodge for over fifty years. He also served as a county commissioner for four years after which he “retired undefeated”.
Mr. Vaughn presently lives in the Southwest part of Appling County where he operates a 200 head cattle farm, and manages 250 acres of timber.
Frank E. Miles is the past treasurer of the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District and has served as supervisor since April 1998.
Frank was born 3 miles north of Baxley, Ga. on the John M. Miles Farm, where he still lives with his wife Loretta Murphy Miles. Frank and Loretta raised six children in the home that Grandpa John Miles built in 1888.
Mr. Miles graduated from Baxley High School in 1947 and then completed two years at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 1949. He then farmed in Appling County for one year before entering the U.S. Air Force in April 1951. He served 4 years active duty including 18 months in Korea during the Korean War. After his active duty, Frank continued to serve in the Georgia Air National Guard until his retirement as a Captain in 1994.
Mr. Miles graduated from the University of Georgia in December 1957 with a BSA Degree in Science and Agriculture Education. He taught Vocational Ag in Odum, Ga. 1958/1959. He then came back to Appling County High School in July 1959 where he taught Vocational Agriculture until he retired in 1994.
Frank organized the Appling County Young Farmer Chapter in 1972. This chapter grew to be the largest chapter in the Nation for several years. During his time as advisor the Chapter had 5 state presidents and many other officers. Mr. Miles was selected “State Outstanding Young Farmer Supervisor” five straight years.
Mr. Miles now works with his wife at their business Miles Tractor Co. where they sell McCormick tractors as well as several other lines of farm equipment.
Frank is a member of Ten Mile Baptist Church where he has served as a Deacon for more than 40 years. He still is an active member of the Appling Co. Young Farmers, Farm Bureau, The Heritage Center and other community organizations. He holds three FFA Degrees and is a Master 4-H Club member. He is a member of the Appling Co. Retired Teachers, and Chairman of the S.E. Ga. Retired Vocational Agriculture Teachers Assn.
Eight of Mr. Miles Vo Ag students became ministers, and Frank gives God all the credit and glory for any success that he has been privileged to enjoy.
Mr. Pat Tanner and Mr. George Yearty: Bacon County Supervisors
C. "Pat" Tannerhas been serving as the appointed supervisor from Bacon County since 1992. Mr. Tanner is a retired Postmaster and farmer. He is a member of Campground United Methodist Church. His family consists of his wife of 41 years Lyne, two children, and two grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys going on mission trips for his church. He has been on a number of mission trips to several countries in South America, as well as many in the United States.
Pat lives on a 160 acre farm in the Taylor Town Community of Bacon County where he helped organize a volunteer fire department. He leases out 70 acres of cropland to a farmer who practices conservation tillage and manages timber on the remainder of the farm. He has always been a conservationist and enjoys serving on the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. Pat also serves on the Upper Satilla 319 Steering Committee, a program designed to encourage the use of Best Management Practices to improve and sustain water quality in our ponds, lakes, streams, and other wetlands.
Pat is very active in representing our District at statewide functions of the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors (GACDS).
George Yearty has served as the elected supervisor from Bacon County since 2002. George has been employed with CSX Railroad since 1971, and he presently works as a trainer for CSX employees. His family consists of his wife of 40 years, Lynette, two children and two grandchildren. George lives on a 130 acre farm in the Taylor Town Community of Bacon County.
He manages a small beef cattle herd and 30 acres of pasture. The remainder of the farm is managed for timber. In his spare time, George serves as a volunteer fireman.
Mr.Travis Cook and Mr. Garry Spires: Telfair Supervisors
Travis P. Cook has been an Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor since October, 1987 and has served as Chairman of the District for many years. Travis grew up in Telfair County and received a Bachelors degree in Forestry from the University of Georgia. He is Vice President of Cook Petro Inc. in McRae, Ga. He owns and manages a diversified farming operation consisting of Timber, Cropland, and approximately 80acres of Pecan Orchards.
Travis is a Sunday School Teacher at the First United Methodist Church in McRae. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors at Merchants and Citizens Bank, Past President of the McRae Rotary Club, Past President of the McRae Jaycees, a member of the Telfair County Farm Bureau, and the Telfair County Cattleman’s Association. He also serves on the Pine Country RC&D Council Board of Directors. He is a former Director of the American Turpentine Farmers Association and served on the Telfair County Board of Commissioners for 16 years.
Garry Spires is a life long resident of Telfair County and lives on the farm where he was raised. He is married to the former Elaine Kight Ray. They have two sons, Shawn and Newly Ray, and 2 grand children. They attend Southside Baptist Church.
Garry is a member of the Telfair County Young Farmers Organization. He has served on the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District Board for 4 years. He was one of the first farmers in Telfair County to adopt Conservation Tillage as a farming method. He worked closely with NRCS and the Altamaha District to promote Conservation Tillage or No-Till farming, hosting several tours and demonstrations on his farm and speaking to several groups about the importance of Conservation Tillage, and soil, water, and air quality. He was named Conservationist of the year for Telfair County in 2004. He has also passed his conservation ethic on to his son Shawn who farms with him. They farm over 600 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans, peanuts, and wheat, all no-tilled.
