Pat and Graydon Bobo received the Wilkes County Cattlemen's Hall of Fame Award presented by Dr. M.R. Clayton on behalf of the Association. Shown above are (l-r) Mike Bobo, son of the recipients, Pat Bobo, Dr. Clayton, Graydon Bobo, and Miriam Bobo, daughter-in-law of the Bobos. The Wilkes County Cattlemen's Association (WCCA) held its Twenty Fourth Annual Awards and Installation Banquet at the McGill-Woodruff Agricultural Center November 22. The event was sponsored by AgGeorgia Farm Credit, ACA.

Graydon and Pat Bobo received the 2008 Hall of Fame Award, presented by Dr. M.R. Clayton. Bobby Walker received the 2008 Environmental Stewardship Award presented by Eddie Walker.

Some of the highlights given by Dr. Clayton in presenting the inductees included the fact that Mrs. Bobo was born in Bainbridge and attended business college in Atlanta where she met her husband to be, Graydon Bobo of Wilkes County. After being married in 1963, they returned to Wilkes County in the early 1970s where she worked for Dr. Clayton as office manager at Washington Veterinary Clinic. Mr. Bobo became office manager at the Wilkes County Stockyard.

Bobby Walker received the Environmental Stewardship Award presented by Eddie Walker on behalf of the Wilkes County Cattlemen's Association. Both inductees are active and devoted members of the Tignall Baptist Church where they serve in many capacities. She has served in many areas of the Wilkes County Cattlewomen's Association, including president. She has served as president, treasurer, and secretary of the Georgia Cattlewomen's Association and is currently a director. She introduced and started the Beef Ambassadors Program in Georgia. She currently serves as treasurer of the WCCA.

Mr. Bobo is a graduate of Washington High School and Atlanta Business College and worked for General Electric and British Petroleum before returning to Wilkes County.

He became associated with Senator Sam McGill at the Wilkes County Stockyard in 1973, and currently is co-owner and manager. He is a past member of the Lions Club; past president and director of WCCA; a director of the Washington Area Steer and Heifer Show. He has served on several committees of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association and now serves as vice-chairman of the Georgia Beef Board.

He is a member of the Georgia Livestock Marketing Association, having served all offices and is currently the secretary. He is a member and past Southeast Director of the National Livestock Marketing Association; and has received the Friend of 4-H Award in Wilkes County and in McCormick County, S.C.

In making the Environmental Stewardship Award to Bobby Walker, Eddie Walker gave the following information about the recipient.

Bobby Walker is a sixth generation Wilkes County farmer in the Rayle community. He is a 1954 graduate of Washington High School and enlisted in the United States Army following graduation. The majority of his service years were in Germany and it was during this time that he developed a fondness for the German culture, and especially German farmers who took great pride in their fields and livestock.

After being discharged from the service, Walker came home to begin his farming career. The farm consisted of cotton and a herd of Hereford cattle. Terraces and contour planting were used to control erosion as much as possible.

In the early 1960s he built his first broiler house with a contract to supply chickens to Athens Poultry Company. The litter from the broiler houses was used to fertilize the row crops and pastures on his farm.

Diversity was, and still is, an important aspect of the Walker farm, having grown cotton, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and wheat over the years. Cattle, broilers, hogs, and turkeys have been raised. The turkeys were raised independently of any processor and were sold to plants in North and South Carolina and Virginia.

Today his farm consists of a Black Angus and Baldy commercial herd. Wheat is still grown to be used in over-seeding pastures, hayfields, and to sell to the public. By taking soil samples and implementing a nutrient management plan, the use of poultry litter has helped his fields become some of the most productive in the area.

In recent years, he has fenced the cows out of the creeks; installed watering tanks; created stream crossings, graveled heavy used areas; and built a stack house to store litter. A no-till drill was purchased to plant wheat and to over-seed pastures and hayfields.

With the many changes and improvements made by this year's recipient over the years, it is obvious that Walker has developed a "leave it better than you found it" philosophy.

Jeff Pendrey, 2008 WCCA President, presided at the banquet. He introduced the 2008 officers and announced the new 2009 officers who are Jeff Pendrey, president; Laurie Dehil, vice-president; Carol Jackson, secretary; Pat Bobo, treasurer; and Alan Bridges, past-president.

Current directors of the association are Dr. M.R. Clayton, David Reville, George Smith, and Thomas Charping, two years; and Wade Johnson, Willard Lance, David Van Hart, and Tony White, one year. Chris Charping is a junior director; and Ag Agent Rick Smith is exofficio director.

The always-popular cake and pie auction was held, raising needed funds for the many projects of the WCCA.