Luke Spooner selected 2025 selected Ag Person of the Year

Luke Spooner selected 2025Ag Person of the Year

Each year the Donalsonville-Seminole County Chamber of Commerce and the Seminole County Young Farmers honor one individual who makes valued contributions to the agricultural industry of Seminole County and presents them with the Ag Person of the Year award. 

At the chamber’s 26th annual Farmer Appreciation event, held as a luncheon last Thursday, March 20, Luke Spooner was announced as this year’s recipient. Luther (Luke) Edwin Spooner, Jr., a homegrown go to cow man; a native Seminole County boy. He is from a long line of  “Lukes”.  His grandfather was actually named Lewis Emory, but he was better known as Mr. Luke; then his father was Luther Sr. Both left a huge legacy in southwest Georgia, particularly in the ag and livestock community.

From a very young age, Luke began to follow his dad around on the farm and was soon working cattle on horseback, and from what I have heart, at one time Luke and his horse blocked the railroad trestle over Kirkland’s Creek west of Jakin, just as the train was coming over the hill. We’ll let Luke explain that one later, but I understand it made front page of the Donalsonville News, about how Dad Luther rode up on horseback to stop the train before it reached the trestle where the horse was trapped. 

Luke attended Seminole County schools and was very active in 4-H and FFA, showing cattle in the highly competitive Seminole County Fat Cattle shows. Luke played football his high school years and graduated in 1966. After graduation Luke attended ABAC in Tifton his Freshman year, then transferred to UGA, the big Dawg school in Athens, where he graduated in 1970 with a bachelor degree in animal science. Go Dawgs!

The first Summer after graduation, he returned home to help on the family farm, but as soon as football season started, he convinced his dad he needed to return to Athens for accounting class, to help him keep up with all that fortune he would be making in the cattle business. Luke came home as soon as football season was over.

After that Luke began to seriously work in the livestock business, and for the next 40  or so years, he was self employed in the cattle procurement and marketing business.

After the death of Bryant Garland, Luke purchased the livestock auction market and operated it under his management. Recently, with mixed emotions, Luke decided for age and health reasons, it was time to pass the management of the operation to the younger generation. 

Luke plans to remain in the livestock agriculture industry as long as he is able to attend the auctions and to check on his cow herd.

Over Luke’s some forty years in the livestock procurement business, Luke has helped so many young and old alike buy and sell their cattle.

The Chamber would like to thank everyone who attended the annual Farmers Appreciation luncheon.  The event, sponsored by Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, was the most attended luncheon to date with over 110 in attendance. Everyone enjoyed a great meal catered by Gay’s Seafood, and listened to a speech from Don Koehler, Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission. Congressman Sanford Bishop was also in attendance and said a few words, then presented Kohler with a congressional recognition award. 

Thank you so much to all of the farmers and ag related businesses for all that you do and contribute to our local community!