Vidalia Onion Committee Honors Grower of the Year and Hall of Fame Recipient

Almost 250 people packed the Vidalia Community Center recently to kick up their heels in celebration of the pioneer of sweet onions at the country western-themed industry banquet. The highlight of the event was the announcement of the 2011 award recipient for Grower of the Year: Alan Sikes of Sikes Farms in Collins, Ga.; and its latest Hall of Fame inductee: L.G. “Bo” Herndon, Jr., of Herndon Farms, Lyons, Ga. [caption id="attachment_7932" align="alignright" width="291" caption="Alan Sikes with wife Tracy, family, friends and coworkers."][/caption]

John Shuman, president of Shuman Produce, Reidsville, Ga., says he believes that Sikes is among the best in quality and reputation in the Vidalia industry and has earned this distinction through his continued dedication to growing the highest quality and sweetest onions available in the Vidalia industry.

"We are so proud to partner with Alan Sikes and his family," says Shuman. "We have been committed to each other's businesses for more than 17 years, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to work together." The Grower of the Year award recognizes overall achievement and success as a Vidalia Onion producer with an emphasis on quality production and compliance with the Marketing Order. They must meet the following requirements:

[caption id="attachment_7931" align="alignleft" width="181" caption="Bo Herndon with his mother, left, and Carolyn Wilkes of Herndon Farms, right."][/caption] Hall of Fame inductee, L.G. “Bo” Herndon, Jr., was recognized for his commitment to and success with growing and packing Vidalia onion, as well as being long devoted to the VOC.  He has served the committee for most of the past 25 years and has been at the forefront of tackling industry obstacles. Jason Herndon, who works with his uncle, said becoming a “Hall of Famer” is a long process completed by building a reputation through honor, respect and integrity.  The Hall of Fame award is special, he says, "it is not about what you have done for yourself, but instead, what you have done for the industry.” The Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame award honors a person who has significantly and positively impacted the Vidalia Onion industry by: