Wes Pace selected Ag 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 25th Annual Farmer Appreciation event, held as a luncheon last Thursday, February 17, Wes Pace was announced as this year’s recipient. Wes is currently the Seminole County Middle High School CTAE Agriculture Instructor and Young Farmer Advisor.

Pace, a home-grown ag educator, was born and raised on a small cattle farm near Iron City. This farm was one of the very first to use artificial insemination in their cattle herd, and as a young boy he tagged along with his father to cattle sale auctions learning what buyers were looking for in the market place. In 1995, his Senior year at Seminole County High School, he exhibited the grand champion of the local steer and heifershow.

After graduating from high school he followed his mother’s advice and pursued a degree in Agriculture Education.

Wes attended Bainbridge College for his Associate’s Degree then on to Athens and the University of Georgia for his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education. 

His professional career began in 2000 in the Miller County school system where he spent 12 years, first as Ag teacher and FFA advisor, then later as the Young Farmer teacher. While in Miller County he completed his Master’s Degree in Post Secondary Education.

In the Spring of 2012 he left Miller County to fill the Young Farmer position here in Seminole County, and for the past 11 years, he has been a home -grown teacher and advisor for our young farmer program.

Under his guidance and direction in 2014 the Seminole County Young Farmer Chapter held the first state Young Farmers tour in Seminole County history. In 2015 Seminole County was awarded the State Outstanding Young Farmer Chapter, and in 2017 Pace was awarded the Georgia Young Farmer Advisor of the year.

During his tenure in Seminole County a total of 16 state awards have been earned by the Seminole County Young Farmer chapter. In 2023 he led a group of Seminole County students to Germany, and later hosted a group of German students and advisors over here in Seminole County.

Jeff Braswell commented, “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor. Wes’ years of service to the agriculture and educational communities here in Seminole County more than qualify him for this award. Farmers in our area are very blessed to have someone like Wes looking out for us.”

In receiving the award Pace commented, “I am blessed to live in this community. Through the years, I have learned a lot from the farmers and agribusiness people in the surrounding area. I am proud to see the growth of agribusiness in our area. I never imagined myself in a position to receive this award, and I am humbled by the recognition.”