MACON- Thomas County Farm Bureau member Julie Hardy and Harper Elementary School teacher William Sherrard received awards during the recent Georgia Farm Bureau 9th District Annual Meeting in Camilla.

Hardy received the 9th District Volunteer of the Year Award. Sherrard received the 9th District Outstanding Teacher Award.

Hardy serves on the TCFB Board of Directors, chairs the TCFB Women’s Leadership Committee and is a member of the GFB state Women’s Leadership Committee. She farms in partnership with her father, Bobby Hurst, and her brother, Bert Hurst, growing cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat, as well as keeping a small herd of beef cattle.

Hardy is a 2023 graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation Communications Boot Camp and has been accepted into the 2025-2026 class of Georgia Agri-Leaders.

Sherrard teaches STEM and robotics at for grades K-5 at Harper Elementary School in Thomasville. He has a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from Albany State University and master’s and specialist degrees from Thomas University.

Sherrard has led efforts to start a school garden at Harper, where students perform more than 90% of the work, from preparing the site to building raised beds, planting seeds and harvesting the crop. This year more beds and a compost bin were added.

Founded in 1937, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization with 158 county chapters. As a membership-driven, nongovernmental organization, GFB serves as the voice of Georgia farmers and rural Georgia by advocating for them on legislative issues and promoting Georgia commodities. Its volunteer members also actively participate in activities that promote agriculture awareness.

GFB membership is open to the public and offers a wide variety of benefits, including insurance and discounts for health services, travel and family entertainment. Enrollment in any of the member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership.