OWENSBORO, Ky. – Gary Cecil, of Owensboro, began his 50-year farming career by renting 10 acres of tobacco land and hauling hay for area farmers and ears of corn to local elevators. Today he operates 2,414 acres, 180 of which are owned and 2,234 are rented on which he grows watermelon, corn, soybeans, mixed vegetables and greenhouse flowers.

Cecil’s farming efforts didn’t go unnoticed. In early August, Cecil received a phone call from a Sunbelt Ag Expo representative, telling him he was named Farmer of the Year.

“Oh, I was kinda emotional,” Cecil said of the call he received one morning. “He said I was named farmer of the year. I said, ‘for the county?’ He replied, ‘no, for the state.’”

Cecil is now in the running for 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo Farmer of the Year, an event which will take place at Spence Field in Moultrie, Ga., on Oct. 17-19.

“The (Cecil) family works together as a unit, using each other’s strengths to make Cecil Farms a successful, diversified farming adventure,” said Scott Elliott, president of Daviess County Farm Bureau board of directors and one who nominated Cecil. “Gary is an exceptional leader who gives unselfishly of his time to benefit agriculture, farmers and his community.”

Cecil began farming in 1974. At that time, he started raising tobacco and hauling ears of corn and bales of hay for other growers. Gary and his wife, Imelda, no longer raise tobacco, but tend to row crops and raise mixed vegetables and greenhouse flowers. He does chemical and fertilizer spreading for other farm operations. He also raised enough watermelons to supply major supply chains such as Kroger.

“Our watermelon crop uses 900 hives of bees to pollinate each season,” he said.

Breaking it down, Cecil Farms has 450 acres of watermelons, 1,083 acres of corn, 882 acres of soybeans, 20 acres of tomatoes and bell peppers, and 43,000 square feet of greenhouse flowers.

Leading up to the October ceremony, Cecil has had to go through an interview process that will be part of the consideration process for the award.

“We’ve made farming a career, and we’ve been passionate about it,” Cecil said. “Passion is essential because when the hard times come, you might be tempted to walk away. Things have all worked out. My family is involved, it’s not just me by myself. You’ve got to want it badly and truly enjoy it to make it your way of life.

Cecil and Imelda were high school sweethearts who got married in 1974. They have three children (Ryan Cecil, 46, Suzanne Cecil White, 43, and Katie Cecil, 37) who are deeply involved in Cecil Farms Product, LLC.

Twenty-eight years ago, Cecil turned to the H-2A program of bringing in seasonal workers. He currently employs 21 H-2A workers.

“This reliable resource transformed our farm,” Cecil said. “We’ve had more consistency than ever, and over half the workers we employ today have been with us since the beginning.”

Cecil Farms has an active role in the community, working with local boys and girls clubs, sponsoring programs such as the Salvation Army Summer Camp, and maintaining relationships with local schools and restaurants. Cecil has served on multiple committees and been a part of various organizations since the start of his farming career.

The Sunbelt Ag Expo brings 10 state winners (Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia) together for what’s considered the most prestigious award for farmers in the United States.

The state winners of the Sunbelt Ag Expo award each receive a $2,500 cash award, a vest, and a local keepsake. The 10 state winners are now eligible for the $15,000 cash prize awarded to the overall winner by the sponsors.

Now in its 46th year, the Sunbelt Ag Expo attracts 1,200 exhibitors on 100 acres, with more than 100,000 people expected to attend.