Mar. 02, 2007
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| George E. Baird, IV, AFM [right] goes over the long-term plan for B&B Farms with farm operator Jon Clawitter of Stuttgart, Ark. |
"Since the time I was very little, I knew that farming would play a role in my whole life plan, and it has," says George E. Baird, IV, AFM, co-founder of Baird and Brunson Land Management Group in Collierville, Tenn.
"As a professional farm manager, the most exciting part of my job is being able to work with people directly, especially when they realize the possibilities of their farm, and we can help them develop a plan that will meet their long-term goals and objectives."
It's this commitment to his profession, his clients and the land that has earned Baird the title "Professional Farm Manager of the Year," an award sponsored annually by Syngenta, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), and AgProfessional magazine.
Baird and his partner, Steve Brunson, currently manage approximately 40,000 acres in the Mississippi River Delta Region for more than 70 clients. In the last three years, their business, which they founded in 2001, has more than doubled.
A true leader
Baird was the Arkansas ASFMRA chapter president in 2000 and is currently the Tennessee chapter vice president.
Tony Windham, secretary of the Arkansas chapter and assistant director of the Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Arkansas, notes that Baird not only represents the farm management industry well, but also American agriculture as a whole. "His understanding of agricultural production and policy makes him a good ambassador for agriculture as he travels around the country," he says.
Brent Rockers, marketing manager for Syngenta, recognizes what Baird brings to his profession and the industry that they share. "George is a true leader among professional farm managers and an inspiration to all of us in the agriculture industry," he says. "He will continue to positively impact the lives of both current and future generations of Americans through his stewardship of our most precious asset
