DATE: 7/21/04
CONTACT: Bobby Batson (704) 788-7025
WRITER: Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876

Fort Lawn man named
S.C. Farmer of Year

CLEMSON – Talking turkey goes on a lot at the farming operation of Clifton Earl Thrailkill of Fort Lawn.

Thanks to a successful turkey operation and a national wild turkey management program, Thrailkill was selected by Clemson Extension as the 2004 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year for South Carolina.

Thrailkill joins seven other Southeastern farmers who have been chosen to represent their home states. One of the eight finalists will be named the Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year during the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition held in Moultrie, G.A. from October 19-21.
Thrailkill’s farming operation boosts a yearly turkey flock of 132,000. His wild turkey management program brought him national recognition in 2001.

“I have been truly blessed in life,” he said. “I have been able to live my dream of being an American farmer and making contributions to other people’s lives.”

Farming since 1968, Thrailkill has built a successful 1,100 acre operation with turkeys and cattle as the main focus. Besides the turkeys, the farm includes 230 brood cows, 200 calves, 250 stokers and 100 feeders. In addition, 200 acres produce five tons of hay annually and a pine timber operation sits on 300 acres.

“We have several definite goals for the future,” said Thrailkill. “We want to expand acreage, increase cattle numbers, develop and improve marketing techniques, and establish pine plantations on marginal land.”

Thrailkill was chosen as state winner during judging by the Clemson University Extension Service. He was nominated by Kip Beam, Clemson Extension agent in Lancaster County.

As the South Carolina winner, Thrailkill receives $2,500 from Swisher International and a trip to the Expo. He joins seven other finalists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

This is the 15th consecutive year of sponsorship by Swisher and the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. The regional winner will be announced Oct. 19, and will receive a $14,500 cash award from Swisher International and other prizes.

Recent S.C. Farmers of the Year include Harold Pitts of Newberry, 2003; Gill Rogers of Hartsville, 2002; W. R. Simpson of Manning, 2001 and Ray Galloway of Darlington, 2000.

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