Les Galloway (left) with Don Boice and Bert Beasley.
GALLOWAY NAMED OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMER IN SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA, SC….Les Galloway of Darlington, SC, has been named the Outstanding Young Farmer in South Carolina by the State Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association, according to John W. Parris, director of public affairs for the organization.
Galloway began his farming career in 1998 when he rented 200 acres of land. In 1999 he increased his operation by renting an additional 150 acres and purchasing 100 acres. Today, he owns and operates more than 1000 acres and is in partnership with his brother, Ryan, in a 150-acre tobacco operation. In 2004, Les and Ryan entered into a one-third each partnership with their father, Ray, for an additional 4500 acres of row-crops and livestock. The total farming operation in which Les is involved in is well over 5500 acres.
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| Les Galloway is congratulated by his wife, Kelly. |
Les and his family contract with Phillip Morris and R. J. Reynolds to market their tobacco. They sell their cotton through Staplecon, a marketing cooperative.
Galloway Farms has implemented the conservation technology known as no-till farming on ninety percent of their row crops. They participate in grid soil sampling and variable rate of application of nutrients to accommodate the maximum production potential of each crop. They are presently enrolled in the CSP Conservation Program to maintain a field by field precision placement of fertilizer, chemicals and insecticides. This practice reduces the potential loss of nutrients to the environment through the use of banding, side dressing, direct injection of fertilizer and laser guided equipment.
Les recently purchased a John Deere Field Doc Sprayer which is designed to map each field, record on a computer the date of application, rate and acreage. A computerized spreader has also been added to the tobacco operation which will evenly load boxes to maximize fuel efficiency for a more cost-effective curing process.
As a member of the John Deere Customer Focus Group, Les traveled to Germany to study, evaluate and make recommendations on the John Deere 6000 Series Tractor. He has also participated in the DuPont New Century Farmer Program in cooperation with the National FFA Foundation designed to help pave the way for young people to be successful in today’s agriculture.
A producer of tobacco, cotton, soybeans, corn and beef cattle, Les has been named state champion in cotton production twice by the SC Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association. He and his wife, Kelly, are expecting their first child in April.
The Outstanding Young Farmer Award is sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of South Carolina in concert with the SC Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association. Don Boice, an official with ArborOne Farm Credit Association headquartered in Florence, SC, presented the award.
Bert Beasley, Agri-Science and Technology Instructor at Lamar High School and Darlington County Institute of Technology, serves as advisor to the Darlington County Young Farmer and Agribusiness Chapter.