DATE:    8/6/97
CONTACT: Russell Duncan, (803) 423-8285
WRITER:  Bill Baker,     (864) 656-3875

Mullins Man Named S.C. Farmer of the Year

      CLEMSON -- David W. Drew of Mullins has been named 
the 1997 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year for South 
Carolina. 
      Drew joins seven other outstanding southeastern farmers  
chosen to represent their home states. One of these eight winners
will be named the Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the
Year winner on Oct. 14 during the Willie B. Withers Luncheon at the
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. The Expo will be held in Moultrie,
Ga., Oct. 14-16.
     Drew, 32, grows tobacco, cotton, wheat and soybeans and also
raises 125 head of beef cattle. He farms a total of 2,300 acres. He
and his wife, Leslie, have a four-year-old daughter named Becca, 
and a seven-week-old son named Charlie.
     He was chosen as the state winner in judging conducted 
by the state's Cooperative Extension Service. He was nominated by 
County Agent Russell Duncan of Marion.
     Drew stresses that the farm is a partnership operated by
himself, his father, Charles Ray, and his brother, Robert. 
     "This is not my operation," he said. "It wouldn't be what it
is without the two of them. They're just as responsible for the
success as I am."
     Drew is a very innovative farmer, according to Duncan.
     "He's always looking at new things that are happening and
trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology."
     Still, Drew is prudent about new technology, and doesn't
immediately jump on a new idea, Duncan said. "He wants to find out
more about it and see if it would work on his farm."
     One area where Drew is using technology to benefit his farm is
the Internet.
     "He had problems with blue mold in tobacco over the last two
years," Duncan said. "He found the blue mold forecast from N.C.
State University on the Internet and he checks it to help him gauge
when and if he needs to spray with a protective fungicide."
     Drew is also looking at precision farming techniques, and is
considering a plan to map his fields using GIS satellite
technology.
     A trio of judges will visit the Drew farm as well as the farms
of the other seven state winners in early August to select the 1997
southeastern winner. The contest judges are: Rogers Reynolds of
Sumter, currently with Rural Development/USDA; Earl Manning, mid-
south regional editor of Progressive Farmer Magazine; and Dr. Jim
Butler, retired agricultural engineer and consultant, formerly with
the Agricultural Research Service of USDA.
     Swisher International, its Lancaster Premium Chewing Tobacco
brand, and the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition sponsor the
Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. 
     Each of the eight state winners receive a $1,500 award, and 
the Southeastern winner will receive $12,500. 
     Drew is joined by winners from the other Southeastern states:
Dan Miller of Greensboro, Ala.; Rex Clonts Jr. of Apopka, Fla.;
Thomas Coleman of Hartsfield, Ga.; Robert D. Miller of Greenwood,
Miss.; William F. Covington of Mebane, N.C.; Jimmy Gaylord of G&W
Farm in Sharon, Tenn.; and George H. Peery III of Ceres, Va.
     Recent South Carolina Farmer of the Year winners 
include: C.E. Thrailkill of Fort Lawn, 1990; Charles Snowden of
Hemingway, 1991; Robert E. Connelly Sr. of Ulmer, 1992; Henry
Elliott Sr. Andrews, 1993; Ron Stephenson of Chester, 1994; William
Greg Hyman of Conway, 1995; and Randy Lovett of Nichols, 1996.
Stephenson went on to be named Southeastern Farmer of the Year for
1994. 
                               END