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Past Bobby Walker Award Winner Biographies
2026 - Paul Johnson
Dr. Paul Johnson has spent the better part of his 45 year professional career working for and with dairy producers across the Southeast. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Troy University, Dr. Johnson earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University in 1980 and established his own dairy practice based in Enterprise, Alabama. Soon the practice expanded to working with dairy producers across the region.
For over two decades, Dr. Johnson worked alongside dairy producers both locally and in Japan and Australia. His practice focused extensively on disease prevention, herd health, and management practices that increased milk production by improving the overall health of the individual animals. By traveling to see dairies of various sizes, management styles, and geographies, and his participation in veterinary organizations like the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), Paul gained an understanding and appreciation of the little details that add up to make a successful dairy operation. In 1993, Johnson received the Excellence in Preventive Medicine Dairy Award from AABP.
In 2019, Dr. Johnson was elected Chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk, the entity tasked with allocating regional, state, and local checkoff funds. As Chairman of ACCM, Johnson worked with allied groups in promotion and industry to seek out marketing and promotional opportunities for dairy products processed in the Southeast that used local dairy farmers’ milk. In addition to his service on ACCM, Johnson also represented the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. on the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine’s Advisory Committee where he worked with other commodity representatives to promote additional access and educational opportunities for students seeking to work as veterinary technicians. Paul also served on the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Animal Care Issue Advisory Committee.
Outside of his volunteer work on dairy policy and promotion, Dr. Johnson has also had a profound impact on educational programming for dairy farmers across the Southeast. In 2019, Paul volunteered to serve as the Program Chairman of the Georgia Dairy Conference. His vision was to develop an agenda with industry-leading speakers covering every aspect of dairy management, research, and promotion that would attract dairy farmers and industry professionals from across the country. Partnering with Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. staff and the GMP Board of Directors, Dr. Johnson’s networking and relationship-building has helped grow the Georgia Dairy Conference’s profile and solidify its position as the Southeast’s largest dairy management conference. The educational programs Paul has organized in six years as GDC Program Chair have attracted dairy producers and dairy professionals from over thirty states and Canada.
2025 - Marvin Yoder and Irvin Yoder
Marvin Yoder
Marvin Yoder grew up on a dairy farm in Montezuma, Georgia. Dairy farming was in his blood from an early age, and eventually Marvin’s first job off the family farm was as a dairy manager in Fort Valley. Since then, he has tackled various professions off the farm, but dairy farming has been a constant in his life.
After leaving the farm in Fort Valley, Yoder began a career in construction and worked as a commercial roofer for 25 years. In 1991, Marvin decided to start his own dairy: Blossom Meadow Farm. Not only did he enjoy working with cows again, Marvin believed a dairy was the perfect setting on which to raise a family. For many years, he managed a construction business, a dairy farm, and raised a family alongside his wife.
Marvin Yoder soon became a leader in the Georgia dairy industry. For fifteen years, Yoder served on the Southeast Milk Inc., board of directors where he represented his friends and neighbors while helping to steer the cooperative. In the 2000s, Yoder was elected to the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. board of directors where he served for over 20 years including
multiple terms as a member of the organization's executive committee. Marvin was known to be a thoughtful leader who carefully considered the best interests of the Georgia dairy industry and his fellow dairymen on matters of marketing and policy. Always respectful and deliberate, Marvin often served as a sounding board and a source of advice to many of his peers in the industry.
Outside of the dairy, Yoder served on the board of Georgia Farm Services and as a volunteer fire chief in Macon County for eighteen years. He and his family also remained faithful members of the Montezuma Mennonite Church, a congregation he has called home since his teenage years.
Irvin Yoder
Irvin Yoder has been actively involved in the Georgia dairy industry for over 50 years. After managing several dairies in the area, Irvin took the bold step in 1977 of starting his own farm: Croaky Pond Farm. Irvin and his wife raised six children together while instilling a passion for dairying in the next generation and serving in the community.
Yoder became known for his focus on genetics and breeding a top-tier herd. Years of patience and planning yielded one of the highest-producing herds in the region. In addition to building a strong herd of his own, Irvin’s hard work benefited neighboring farmers. He sold many breeding bulls to producers from across the region, and he was known to share insights and swap ideas with other dairymen looking to improve their herds. Irvin Yoder was considered by his peers to be a top-notch dairyman.
While dairy farming may have been his first career, Yoder also worked as an auctioneer and became well known among the dairy community for his quick wit and sharp eye on the auction block. Working with Walnut Grove Auction & Realty and Mid Georgia Livestock,
numerous dairymen from Georgia and surrounding states purchased cattle at Irvin’s auctions over the years. Eventually Croaky Pond Farm began hosting many production sales, and Southeastern dairymen would hear Irvin encouraging the bidders and quipping “it’s just money, my friends.”
In addition to building a reputation as a farmer and businessman, Irvin Yoder has spent his life serving his friends, family, peers, and congregation. Irvin took on active roles serving on the boards of both the Georgia Holstein association and Mid-Georgia Farm Cooperative. He also answered his calling to minister, serving as a pastor for the past 35 years.
2024 - Edward Coble and Doyle Weltzbarker
Doyle Weltzbarker
Doyle Weltzbarker received a degree in Animal Science from the University of Georgia before entering the United States Air Force where he served as a navigator and ultimately attained the rank of Captain. Upon leaving the service, Weltzbarker relocated to Quitman, Georgia where he purchased West End Milling Co. in in 1961. Weltzbarker went grow West End into a full-service feed mill and buying point serving farmers across South Georgia and eventually sold the business in 2016 after 55 years of leadership. In 1992, Weltzbarker entered the dairy business and founded Brooksco Farm. After operating the farm and West End for nearly six years, Weltzbarker partnered with Calvin Moody to start Brooksco Dairy in 1998.
In addition to his responsibilities at his dairies and West End, Weltzbarker served in several leadership positions on a state and local level.
He served for 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Agribusiness Council and continues to serve as a Director Emeritus representing the needs of the dairy industry within one of Georgia’s largest agricultural advocacy organizations. Weltzbarker has also served on the Suwannee-Satilla Regional Water Council and has played a role in developing water policy for South Central Georgia since 2007. Locally, he is also a Board Member Emeritus of Ameris Bank (formerly Bank of Quitman) and is actively involved in First Baptist Church Quitman.
Edward Coble
Edward Coble began milking cows in 1956 while attending high school in Simpsonville, South Carolina. He sold his herd of 17 cows in order to enroll at Clemson University where he majored in Dairy Science. Upon graduating from Clemson in 1964, Coble returned to Simpsonville and began renting a small dairy.Coble married Lana Turner in 1968, and in 1973 the couple welcomed their first child and built their first facility together. Starting with a dream to one day milk 250 cows, Edward and Lana grew their farm while raising four children, each of whom are involved in the dairy industry as adults.
In 1998, the Cobles moved to Burke County Georgia in search of new opportunities to grow as their sons James and Joel joined the operation as partners. They built their new farm, Harmony Grove in 2005. Edward continues to play a vital role in the day-to-day management of the dairy 19 years later. Under his stewardship, the farm has grown to exceed his and Lana’s initial dream of a 250-cow herd as three generations of Cobles continue to operate Harmony Grove Dairy.
In addition to building his dairy farm over the years, Coble has been a dedicated family man, an active member in the local community, and a strong voice for Georgia dairy farmers. Coble served on the Georgia Milk Producers Board of Directors for 15 years before retiring from the board in 2022, and he still serves as an informal advisor to many younger dairy farmers who call him for advice. Coble also continues to serve at the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro.
2023 - Gary Black
Gary Black, Georgia's highly respected previous Commissioner of Agriculture, has been named the 2023 Bobby Walker Award recipient by Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. This is the highest honor awarded by Georgia's premier dairy farm organization to someone who has provided meritorious service to the dairy industry.
He will be honored at the organization's Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, January 17th during the Georgia Dairy Conference, held in Savannah, Georgia.
Since his first election in 2011, the Georgia Department of Agriculture's divisions of information technology, animal health, homeland security, and food safety have garnered national acclaim.
"Over the past twelve years, Gary Black has been a tireless advocate for, and friend to, Georgia farmers," said Georgia Milk Producers President Matt Johnson. "His efforts to promote sound environmental policies, his support for youth livestock programs, his leadership of the Georgia Grown program, and his willingness to work directly with producers when we have a concern or a problem are qualities deserving of receiving the Bobby Walker award."
As Commissioner of Agriculture, Black has championed for marketing and promoting Georgia's agricultural commodities and overhauled the state's agricultural marketing program, Georgia Grown. Under the Georgia Grown banner, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has made significant investments in school nutrition, assisted thousands of small businesses find new markets, and expanded consumer outreach via the Georgia Grown Test Kitchen and the popular Georgia Grown Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair.
In addition to his promotion of Georgia dairy farmers, Gary Black has delivered policies that support Georgia farm families when they needed it most. "In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018, Commissioner Black worked overtime to make sure every sector in Georgia's agricultural economy was included in the recovery program," said Bryce Trotter, Executive Director of Georgia Milk Producers.
"Traditional disaster relief programs are very limited when it comes to animal agriculture, but Commissioner Black made sure that dairy farmers in South Georgia were included in USDA relief efforts. He has a vision and a heart for all of Georgia agriculture."
Prior to winning elected office, Black spent 21 years as President of the Georgia Agribusiness Council after a stint as Georgia Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Program Coordinator. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and is a past president of the of the college's alumni association.
Black is a Leadership Georgia Pattillo Award recipient and the 2017 Georgia Trend Magazine Georgian of the Year. He and his wife Lydia raise commercial beef cattle on their family farm in Commerce, GA, and serve together in various ministries at Maysville Baptist Church.
2022 - Jack Spruill
Jack is a native of Alpharetta, Georgia and was active in Future Farmers of America during high school, serving as state vice-president. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974 with a degree in Animal Science.
In 1975 he married Miss Adabeth Pirkle and then spent the next 19 years farming a diversified operation including dairy, hogs, and row crops in Hoschton, GA. In the mid-1980s Jack started installing dairy equipment and went on to become a regional manager for DeLaval Inc. Jack later moved to a position in the DeLaval Marketing division working the US, Canada, and Mexico and remained there for over 5years.
Jack was hired in 2011 by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to serve as the director of the marketing division. While in this role, he played a huge role in growing the Georgia Grown brand and was the key person on making the Georgia Grown Baby Barn come to life for the 2018 Georgia National Fair. Jack was the person that everyone came to for his wealth of agriculture and common sense knowledge on many things. He retired from that role in 2020.
Jack and his wife are members of First Baptist Church, Moultrie, GA. Jack has three children, and eleven grandchildren, and currently grows hay and has 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.
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 Monday, Jan. 16 at the Georgia Dairy Conference in Savannah.
Hayn has been a voice in the market for the Southeast's dairymen for over a quarter of a century. She recently retired from the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association with over 25 years of service and spent the last decade serving the dairy industry as SUDIA's general manager.
Hayn began working at SUDIA in December of 1988 as Director of Nutrition Communications. Since then, she has worked in a variety of jobs at SUDIA including issues and crisis management, member and industry relations, food publicity, nutrition education and strategic planning.
As a registered dietitian, Hayn acknowledged the significance of dairy nutrition and advocated for the implementation of RDNs at SUDIA. She also represented the Southeast nationally by serving on Dairy Management Inc.'s Senior Leadership Team, Strategic Advisory Group, and Farmer Fluid Milk Advisory Group.
Thank you Cheryl Hayn for the impact you have made in the Georgia dairy industry! Georgia Milk Producers awards the "Friend of the Dairy Industry" Award to an individual or company that has served as a strong advocate for Georgia's dairy industry during the previous year.