McDonald Tennessee’s ‘Farmer of the Year’
(Submitted by University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture)
If you have eaten a watermelon from Kroger or purchased Chattanooga Whiskey, there is a good chance you have already experienced some of what one Tennessee farm, Catesa Farms, has to offer. George McDonald, owner and operator of that exceptional farm, has been named as the 2024 Tennessee Farmer of the Year.
Catesa Farms—which is located some 50 miles northeast of Nashville in the community of Riddleton, Tennessee—grows more than 9,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, hay, watermelons and strawberries.
The Tennessee Farmer of the Year is chosen after a detailed and rigorous application process coordinated by University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. Katie Martin, agriculture agent and director of UT Extension Smith County, was proud to nominate McDonald for the award. “George is a smart businessman, a passionate agriculturist, and an integral part of our community,” Martin says. “I do not know anyone who is a better spokesperson for agriculture, whether he is speaking with high schoolers or members of Congress, he is an outstanding advocate for our industry. I admire his commitment to efficiency, sustainability and diversification, but most of all I admire his commitment to his employees, who he treats like family.”
McDonald is no stranger to the Tennessee Farmer of the Year Contest, as he is a past recipient in 1996.
When asked about how he got his start farming, McDonald says that he always knew he wanted to continue the family legacy. Just three years from now, the McDonald family will celebrate a centennial of caring for and managing Catesa Farms. Still, McDonald was not always sure what the legacy would look like. He credits youth organizations like the FFA with broadening his horizons and focusing his energy and passion for agriculture. There have been challenges and growing pains along the way as McDonald found his place as the youngest generation on the farm; however, as he explains, “After my dad passed, the pressure was truly on me to do the things I had dreamed of and talked about for years. Over time, we have transitioned out of the dairy business, experimented with multiple commodities, and had many learning experiences along the way, which ultimately led us to where we are today.”
READ MORE IN THIS WEEK’S COURIER
