News

BRAG honors top growers, friends of farming

Blue Ridge Apple Growers President Rex McCall presented the Grower of the Year Award to Danny and Judy Justice.

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 22, 2024

Around 300 growers, suppliers and industry supporters turned out for the 2024 Southeast Apple School Feb. 6 and 7 at Blue Ridge Community College.

The two-day event featured site visits to two apple packing operations in Edneyville and more than 15 presentations at BRCC’s Blue Ridge Conference Hall on such topics as ag-tourism, orchard weed management, apple breeding and direct marketing.

Growers also celebrated the first official Apple Growers Day, now set on the first Wednesday of February thanks to a resolution adopted last month by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners.

North Carolina Apple Growers Association President Jon Klimstra, a Polk County apple farmer, presented the organization’s Lifetime Membership Award to Tommy Atkins, who has devoted his career to selling, servicing and installing apple sprayers and packing machinery.

“I have 3½ acres,” Klimstra said. “Every time I called him up and asked him for something I felt like I always got the same attention as somebody who had 200 acres.”

Blue Ridge Apple Growers President Rex McCall presented the Grower of the Year Award to Danny and Judy Justice. Other BRAG awards went to Gary Pryor, Lifetime Achievement Award; 2023 BRAG secretary-treasurer Dawn Creasman, Behind the Scenes Award; and Cooperative Extension migrant worker specialist Chris Just, Friend of the Apple Industry Award.

McCall, president; Trey Enloe, vice president; and Linda Pryor, secretary-treasurer; were installed along with 2024 directors Grayson Laughter, Alan King, Cheryl McCraw, Bryan Gilbeert, Cole Revis and Todd Kirmss.