.png)
Past Bobby Walker Award Winner Biographies
2026 - Paul Johnson
Dr. Paul Johnson has devoted more than 45 years to serving dairy producers across the Southeast and internationally. After earning his undergraduate degree from Troy University and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University in 1980, he established a dairy veterinary practice in Enterprise, Alabama, which soon expanded throughout the region. For more than two decades, he worked with producers locally and in Japan and Australia, focusing on disease prevention, herd health, and management practices that improved milk production through better animal health. His leadership in professional organizations, including the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, earned him the Excellence in Preventive Medicine Dairy Award in 1993. In 2019, he was elected Chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk, where he helped guide dairy promotion and marketing efforts across the Southeast and represented Georgia Milk Producers on the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee. As Program Chairman of the Georgia Dairy Conference since 2019, Dr. Johnson has expanded the event into the Southeast’s largest dairy management conference, drawing producers and industry professionals from more than thirty states and Canada.
2025 - Marvin Yoder and Irvin Yoder
Marvin Yoder
Marvin Yoder grew up on a dairy farm in Montezuma, Georgia, where his lifelong commitment to dairy farming first began. After working as a dairy manager in Fort Valley, he spent 25 years as a commercial roofer before founding Blossom Meadow Farm in 1991, believing a dairy was the ideal place to raise his family. For many years, Marvin successfully balanced managing his construction business, operating his dairy, and raising a family alongside his wife. He became a respected leader in the Georgia dairy industry, serving 15 years on the Southeast Milk Inc. board of directors and more than 20 years on the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. board, including multiple terms on its executive committee. Known for his thoughtful and deliberate leadership, Marvin was widely regarded as a trusted voice on marketing and policy matters affecting Georgia dairymen. Beyond the dairy, he served on the board of Georgia Farm Services, volunteered as Macon County’s fire chief for eighteen years, and remained a devoted member of the Montezuma Mennonite Church.
Irvin Yoder
Irvin Yoder has been actively involved in the Georgia dairy industry for more than 50 years, beginning with managing dairies in the area before founding Croaky Pond Farm in 1977. He and his wife raised six children while building their farm and instilling in the next generation a deep passion for dairying and community service. Known for his emphasis on genetics and careful breeding, Irvin developed one of the highest-producing herds in the region and earned a reputation as a top-tier dairyman among his peers. His dedication also benefited neighboring farmers, as he sold breeding bulls across the Southeast and generously shared advice to help others strengthen their herds. Beyond the farm, Irvin built a second career as a respected auctioneer with Walnut Grove Auction & Realty and Mid Georgia Livestock, becoming well known for his quick wit and signature encouragement at cattle sales. Throughout his life, he has served faithfully on agricultural boards and for 35 years as a pastor, reflecting a deep commitment to his faith, family, and farming community.
2024 - Edward Coble and Doyle Weltzbarker
Doyle Weltzbarker
Doyle Weltzbarker earned a degree in Animal Science from the University of Georgia before serving in the United States Air Force as a navigator, ultimately attaining the rank of Captain. After his military service, he relocated to Quitman, Georgia, and purchased West End Milling Co. in 1961, growing it into a full-service feed mill and buying point that served farmers across South Georgia for 55 years before selling the business in 2016. In 1992, he entered the dairy industry by founding Brooksco Farm and later partnered with Calvin Moody in 1998 to establish Brooksco Dairy. Alongside his business leadership, Weltzbarker dedicated 20 years to the Georgia Agribusiness Council Board of Directors and continues to serve as a Director Emeritus representing the dairy industry. He has also contributed to regional water policy since 2007 as a member of the Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Council. Locally, he serves as a Board Member Emeritus of Ameris Bank and remains active in First Baptist Church Quitman.
Edward Coble
Edward Coble began milking cows in 1956 while attending high school in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and later sold his 17-cow herd to enroll at Clemson University, where he majored in Dairy Science. After graduating in 1964, he returned home to rent a small dairy and married Lana Turner in 1968, beginning a partnership that would shape their family’s future. Starting with a dream of milking 250 cows, Edward and Lana built their first facility in 1973, raised four children, and steadily expanded their operation. In 1998, the family moved to Burke County, Georgia, where their sons James and Joel joined the business and helped establish Harmony Grove Dairy in 2005. Nearly two decades later, Edward remains active in daily management as the farm has grown beyond his original goal and now operates under three generations of Cobles. In addition to his work on the farm, he served 15 years on the Georgia Milk Producers Board of Directors, continues to mentor young dairymen, and remains active at First Baptist Church of Waynesboro.
2023 - Gary Black
Gary Black served as Georgia's 16th Commissioner of Agriculture from 2011 until 2023. Under Black's leadership, the Georgia Department of Agriculture's divisions of animal health, food safety, emergency management, and information technology garnered national acclaim. Black also overhauled the state's agricultural marketing program, Georgia Grown, assisting thousands of small businesses find new markets and expanding consumer outreach via the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen and the Georgia Grown Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair. Black also led the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Farm Recovery programs following Hurricane Michael and ensured disaster relief was made available to producers of a wide array of commodities. Before serving in elected office, he spent 21 years as the President of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.
.jpg)
2022 - Jack Spruill
Jack is a native of Alpharetta, Georgia, where he was active in Future Farmers of America and served as state vice president before earning a degree in Animal Science from the University of Georgia in 1974. In 1975, he married Adabeth Pirkle and spent the next 19 years operating a diversified farm in Hoschton, Georgia, that included dairy, hogs, and row crops. During the mid-1980s, he began installing dairy equipment and later became a regional manager for DeLaval Inc., eventually moving into the company’s marketing division serving the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2011, Jack joined the Georgia Department of Agriculture as Director of the Marketing Division, where he played a key role in expanding the Georgia Grown brand and launching the Georgia Grown Baby Barn at the 2018 Georgia National Fair. Known for his agricultural expertise and practical wisdom, he retired from the department in 2020 after a distinguished career of service. Today, Jack and his wife are members of First Baptist Church in Moultrie, and he enjoys spending time with his three children, eleven grandchildren, and managing hay production and a commercial beef herd in Colquitt County.
2021 - Steve Smith and Barry Dye
Steve Smith
Steve Smith has served the Northeast Georgia Dairy Industry for over 30 years as a milk hauler and longtime friend. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma (GMB) Brain Cancer. He has gone through surgeries, intense radiation, and countless MRI’s and chemotherapy treatments. He is a strong man and continues to fight a courageous battle against this disease. Steve's farmers say that he is the type of hauler that you want to have on the farm. He does the job right, keeps tankers clean, and always maintains equipment without asking for help. His friendly face and stories always brighten their days.
In a world of uncertainty and challenges, Steve has been a beacon of happiness and humor to his dairy friends. We continue to pray for his healing and comfort.
Barry Dye
Barry E. Dye - The Georgia Dairy Industry unexpectedly lost a precious friend and mentor in April of 2020. A native of Elberton, Barry grew up on a dairy farm and was the son of Dell Dye and the late Eugene Roscoe Dye. He started his career in the dairy industry for Purina Mills and worked with them for 34 years.
Barry was passionate about his dairy customers and developed strong personal relationships with them. He celebrated their successes and worried about them when times weren't great. He prayed for them often and strived to help them in business and life. He enjoyed spending time in God’s creation as a hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed cooking for his church family and he loved being with his wife Joyce and daughters, Ansley and Sydney. Barry was an active member, teacher and Deacon at Dewy Rose Baptist Church. He was also a member of The Gideons for 28 years. Barry is dearly missed but his legacy will be remembered for generations.
2020 - Dave Clark
Dave Clark grew up working on his grandparents’ farm before launching his own operation in 1979 with just 40 cows and no property. Through persistence and a commitment to improvement, he expanded the farm to 1,000 cows, building one of the most respected dairy herds in Georgia. His focus on caring for both his animals and employees earned Godfrey Dairy Farm repeated recognition through the Georgia Cream of the Crop and Milk Quality awards. In 2000, he was elected to the Board of Directors of Georgia Milk Producers, Inc., where he represented fellow dairy farmers in his district for nineteen years. He also contributed his leadership to the Southeast DHIA and the American Dairy Association of Georgia. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Clark supported his community by organizing educational farm tours and providing dairy heifers to 4-H and FFA members, positively impacting many lives across the state of Georgia. Today, Godfrey Dairy Farm is operated by Dave’s two daughters and continues to be a respectable herd.
2019 - Lewis Harrison
Lewis Harrison co-founded Walnut Grove Auction & Realty alongside his brother-in-law Wendell Christopher in 1964. Raised on his family’s dairy farm near Roebuck, South Carolina, Lewis maintained his love and connection with the dairy industry through almost 60 years of working with dairymen across the southeastern United States. Under his guidance, Walnut Grove Auction & Realty became an essential part of the dairy industry helping producers buy and sell cattle and equipment. Lewis also became a trusted advisor to many Georgia dairymen who bought and sold cows through his sale barn.
2017 - Cheryl Hayn
Cheryl Hayn was presented with the 2017 Friend of the Dairy Industry Award on January 16 at the Georgia Dairy Conference in Savannah in recognition of her outstanding service to Georgia’s dairy farmers. She devoted more than 25 years to the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA), retiring after a decade as general manager and more than a quarter century as a leading voice for the Southeast’s dairymen. Hayn began her career at SUDIA in December 1988 as Director of Nutrition Communications and went on to serve in numerous roles, including issues and crisis management, member and industry relations, food publicity, nutrition education, and strategic planning. As a registered dietitian, she championed the importance of dairy nutrition and advocated for the implementation of RDNs within the organization. She also represented the Southeast nationally through service on Dairy Management Inc.’s Senior Leadership Team, Strategic Advisory Group, and Farmer Fluid Milk Advisory Group. The Friend of the Dairy Industry Award, presented by Georgia Milk Producers, honors individuals or companies who have been strong advocates for Georgia’s dairy industry, a distinction that reflects Hayn’s lasting impact.
2011 - Bobby Walker
Bobby Walker dedicated his life to advancing Georgia’s dairy industry through leadership, education, and service. He began his career as a Cooperative Extension Agent in Georgia, assisting farmers and mentoring young people in agriculture. After leaving extension, Bobby managed a crop and livestock farm before returning to his family’s dairy farm in Madison, Georgia. Bobby went on to become a field man for Carolina Virginia Milk Cooperative and Southeast Milk, Inc., where he combined formal education and practical experience to help producers achieve the highest milk quality and strengthen relationships between farmers and cooperative leadership. Bobby earned the reputation as a field man who prioritized working with his producers to solve problems during farm visits. Throughout his career and into retirement, he became a trusted advisor on both dairy and crop production issues. He continued supporting the industry by serving as a consultant with W Dairy in Madison, contributing to daily management, herd genetics, and overall farm excellence. Bobby also personally supported and volunteered for youth programs including 4-H, FFA, and GA Dairy Youth Foundation.
2007 - Zippy Duvall
As a third-generation farmer, Zippy managed his family's dairy farm in Greensboro, GA until they exited the business in 2007. In 2006, he was elected as the Georgia Farm Bureau president where he served in this role for nine years before being elected as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation in January of 2016. Zippy served in various leadership capacities across the state of Georgia and has continued to be a positive voice for Georgia agriculture on the national level as he serves the entire United States of America in advocating and promoting the agricultural industry.
2004 - Larry Guthrie
Larry Guthrie spent over 20 years with the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences as a Professor of Animal and Dairy Science and as the head of Extension Dairy Science. Prior to joining the faculty at UGA he also served as a field representative for Noba Cooperative and as an Extension Dairy Specialist at Auburn University. At UGA, Guthrie strongly advocated for youth in the dairy industry by integrating teaching, research, and outreach through UGA Cooperative Extension. He also founded the Commercial Dairy Heifer Show, which introduced more than 6,000 4-H and FFA members to dairy farming. Dr. Guthrie also started the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation, which plays an integral role in providing opportunities and exposure for students interested in the dairy industry. In recognition of his impact, the Department of Animal and Dairy Science established the Larry D. Guthrie Dairy Youth Leadership Award to encourage young people after his retirement.
