University of Georgia agricultural engineer Jay Williams was honored with this year’s Valor award from Valent USA Corporation at the 2008 Southern Peanut Growers Conference.
Valent’s John Altom presented Jay with the award, recognizing his 42 years of service to peanut research and extension as part of UGA’s Peanut Team. “Looking at him, he must have started when he was two years old,” John quipped.
The award was a surprise for Jay, who said it was an honor to be recognized just for doing his job. Among his many contributions to the peanut industry is the hull/scrape method of determining peanut maturity.
The Valor award is given annually to someone in the peanut industry who exhibits the definition of Valor according to Webster’s dictionary – “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery.”