Each year, the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association awards one of our members as the Ginner of the Year. The guidelines for the selection require that the member be an active member of the Association, a progressive ginner that strives to keep cotton strong in their community, active in managing his or her operation, active in business and civic affairs in his community, be respected by the ginning community as a whole, and supportive of the cotton industry in general. This year’s recipient embodies every one of those traits in a big way.

Ken Roberts of the Miller County Gin in Colquitt, Georgia already had a full career as an ag pilot and working for Georgia Pacific before taking the rains of the newly built gin in 1995. There have been a lot of changes in cotton and in the gin since 1995 and Ken has overseen all of them in his corner of Georgia.

Since being hired as manager, Ken has overseen many expansions in the gin with increases in capacity and in automation as well as becoming a certified ginner in 1996. He has been a leader within the industry as well serving many terms as a director to Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association as well as rolls in other cotton organizations.

Ken’s leadership extends beyond the gin with rolls as Deacon in his church, treasurer for his local camp with Gideon’s International and a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years where serves as Assistant Chief. Ken has also served on the Colquitt City Council and on the Executive Board of the Colquitt Chamber of Commerce.

We congratulate Ken on this very well deserved award!