Appling Cooperative Extension County Agent Shane Curry presented the Excellence in Agriculture Award at the Baxley-Appling County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting held on January 29 at the Baxley Church of God Social. Curry presented the award to Joe Eason. The following is the information Curry presented at the meeting about Eason.
The 2012 Excellence in Agriculture winner is Mr. Joe Eason. Joe is very well known, especially to the livestock business. He’s work in many areas of the cattle industry nearly all his life. One look at him and you know he’s a cattleman! He cares about what he does and he can make a horse do things that most people didn’t even know were possible! He’s passionate about his job and he has a great appreciation for taking care of the land and many conservation practices. He’s also willing to help anyone and is called on to do cattle demonstrations all the time.
He served as president of the Piney Woods Cattlemen’s Association in 2012.
For 10 years Mr. Eason has worked for Woody Folsom managing Circle F. Ranch. Circle F is a cow and calf operation and one of top cattle operations in the state. Their herd usually varies from 300 to 500 brood cows.
Circle F Ranch is now beginning to change over to a Registered Brangus Business. They will be helping Black Water Cattle Company, from Lake Park, provide bulls for cattle producers all around the country. Circle F Ranch hosted the Region 15 Heifer sale in 2007 and 2008. They also hosted the state wide Young Farmers Tour in 2011 and the Appling County Farm Tour in 2012.
Circle F’s main source of feed in the winter is hay. They bale 3500 to 5500 rolls of hay a year, depending on the season.
Horses are also a big part of their operation. They do all of their cow work on horseback because they believe it is the quickest and easiest way to work cattle.
Joe competed with his horses in a 28 event Ranch Sorting Competition where he won 20l2 Ranch Sorting Champion. He also team ropes and worked the 20ll-20l2 and now the 2013 Rodeo season as a pick-up man for Heavenly Acres Arena in Screven, GA.
Eason has helped promote the importance of a good vaccine program for cattle. Since 2003 Circle F Ranch has been on Pfizer Animal Health Vaccine program.
Joe married Penny Pierce in 1988 and the couple attends Spring Branch Missionary Baptist church. Congratulations the 2012 Excellence in Agriculture winner, Mr. Joe Eason!