J. W. was born in Screven County and raised on the farm in nearby Jenkins County. He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1964 with a degree in Agriculture. He began his business career in Wayne County with the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service (ASCS) office. After two years the U.S. Army called and he served a two year hitch, then resumed his career in Jesup.

In 1970, he moved back to Jenkins County to manage a corporate dairy farm, where he honed his cattle management and artificial insemination skills. Several years later, after milking several cows, he decided to return to the ASCS office, first in Marion County, and finally ending up in Screven County, where he continued to advance until he was named District Director of the 17 coastal counties, a job he continues to hold today.

J. W. went in with his father Alton’s commercial herd in 1970 because “a farm is not a farm without cattle.” His first registered Hereford bull, a Domestic Mischief son, came from Winton Harris to go into this herd to produce black baldy. He began his registered herd with a bull and two heifers, of the Pawnee Mixer blood line, in 1972 from Robert Swearingen. He then added five heifers in 1974 from Pete Harris, in Gibson, Georgia. About this time his two sons, Barclay and Russ, became interested in showing cattle through 4-H. They showed heifers raised there on the farm and excelled in the show ring both locally and on the state level, while learning responsibility and management practices. Together, with their father, the boys built their herd, which became their college fund. Barclay is now an Assistant District Attorney for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, and Russ is a Captain in the U.S. Army.

J. W.’s herd now includes bloodlines from the Edgar Wynn herd of Portal and from Charles Smith of Wadley. His breeding program uses A.I. bulls, such as Wrangler, Thor, 212, Justa Banner, and Vindicator. He does his own insemination, and uses a son of Stars and Stripes as a clean-up bull. He pastures his cattle on 20 acres of Tift 9 bahia grass and hand feeds purchased hay, a commercial feed ration, and a protein supplement.

He married Kathy Hutchinson in 1991. Kathy works as the Office Manager for Southern States in Statesboro, Georgia, and helps at home with the cattle. Kathy and J. W. are active in the Screven County Livestock Association, he having served as president from 1978 to 1979, and continues to serve on the Board today.

J. W. and Kathy invite you to come visit them in beautiful Screven County, but be sure to call before you come. They are liable to be out walking in the cows or riding horses with their friends.