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Our Impact We are leading the way in agricultural and environmental innovation in order to care for our global ecosystems, enrich our communities and equip the next generation of leaders. Leaders in Innovation
Improving Lives through Research Our research has improved the quality of life for Georgians and others worldwide for more than 100 years.
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UGA Extension UGA Cooperative Extension shares information on issues like water quality, profitability in agribusiness, family wellness and life skills with the public through county agents and specialists. UGA Extension
Our Expertise Delivered to You A variety of programs, services, workshops, classes, consultations, certifications, camps, and educator resources to help farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and families across Georgia and beyond.
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Amazing Alumni Our distinguished alumni have used their education to become leaders in science, education, business and public service. Check out their highlights on our new platform, Cultivate. Explore Cultivate
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Almanac & Cultivate Almanac, the college's annual publication, tells stories of science in service of humanity and the environment.

Cultivate, our visual storytelling site, features CAES community members working to feed the planet, protect the environment and innovate industry.

Visit both for a comprehensive glimpse into the work CAES is doing to improve our world.
Explore Almanac Explore Cultivate
News & Events Read the latest news from CAES and visit the media newswire for all CAES and UGA Extension news. For events, feel free to check out our calendar.
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Students
Schedule a Visit CAES welcomes potential students and parents to stop by. If you're interested in the college, make plans to schedule a visit with us soon. Visit a CAES Campus
Student Life at CAES Learn about becoming a CAES student and the programs and opportunities available for our current students.
  • Students Home
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate Programs
  • Career Resources & Job Board
  • Experiential Learning
  • Student Success Programs
  • Study Abroad
  • Scholarships
  • Tifton & Griffin
Departments & Offices
Academic Departments & Institutes Learn more about the academic departments and institutes housed within CAES.
  • Departments
  • Agricultural & Applied Economics
  • Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication
  • Animal & Dairy Science
  • Crop & Soil Sciences
  • Entomology
  • Food Science & Technology
  • Horticulture
  • Plant Pathology
  • Poultry Science
  • Institutes
  • Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics
Offices CAES is home to several offices serving students, faculty and alumni.
  • Departments & Offices Home
  • Development & Alumni Relations
  • Student Success
  • Dean and Director's Office
  • See All Offices
Research
Our Impact We are leading the way in agricultural and environmental innovation in order to care for our global ecosystems, enrich our communities and equip the next generation of leaders. Leaders in Innovation
Improving Lives through Research Our research has improved the quality of life for Georgians and others worldwide for more than 100 years.
  • Research Home
  • Areas of Exploration
  • Commercial Partnerships
  • People
  • Projects & Programs
  • Places
  • Our Impact
  • News
  • Places
  • Experiment Stations
  • Research and Education Centers
  • Centers, Institutes and Labs
  • Plant Growth Facilities
  • Global Initiatives Map
Extension & Outreach
UGA Extension UGA Cooperative Extension shares information on issues like water quality, profitability in agribusiness, family wellness and life skills with the public through county agents and specialists. UGA Extension
Our Expertise Delivered to You A variety of programs, services, workshops, classes, consultations, certifications, camps, and educator resources to help farmers, gardeners, landscapers, and families across Georgia and beyond.
  • Extension & Outreach Home
  • Commodity Teams
  • Economic Development
  • Urban Programs
  • Georgia 4-H
  • Women in Agriculture
Alumni & Giving
Amazing Alumni Our distinguished alumni have used their education to become leaders in science, education, business and public service. Check out their highlights on our new platform, Cultivate. Explore Cultivate
Alumni & Giving CAES enjoys the strong support of alumni, parents and friends like you. Learn how you can support our college.
  • Alumni & Giving Home
  • Get Connected
  • Get Involved
  • Giving
  • Awards
News & Events
Almanac & Cultivate Almanac, the college's annual publication, tells stories of science in service of humanity and the environment.

Cultivate, our visual storytelling site, features CAES community members working to feed the planet, protect the environment and innovate industry.

Visit both for a comprehensive glimpse into the work CAES is doing to improve our world.
Explore Almanac Explore Cultivate
News & Events Read the latest news from CAES and visit the media newswire for all CAES and UGA Extension news. For events, feel free to check out our calendar.
  • News & Events Home
  • CAES News
  • CAES Calendar
  • Conferences & Annual Events
Alumni & Giving
College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences / Alumni & Giving / Awards / Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame / Portrait Gallery / Bill Brim

Bill Brim

Date Honored: 10/04/2019
Portrait of Bill Brim

Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame

2019 Inductee

Bill Brim, a leader in the agricultural community and a voice for Georgia farmers everywhere, is a 2019 inductee into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Originally from Pelham, Georgia, Brim’s agricultural background was shaped by his participation in Future Farmers of America and other agriculture-related youth organizations.


Bill Brim established himself as an industry leader when he and business partner Ed Walker purchased Lewis Taylor Farms in 1985. Brim quickly realized that technology was forcing traditional bare-root transplant companies out of business. Over the next five years, Brim helped transform Lewis Taylor Farms into a diversified transplant and vegetable production farm operation.

When Brim became co-owner of Lewis Taylor Farms, it had only 87,000 square feet of greenhouse production space. It now boasts 81 greenhouses with more than 649,000 square feet of production space. Annually, the greenhouse operation produces approximately 375 million vegetable transplants and 81 million pine seedlings.

Along with the transplant operation, Brim manages more than 6,500 acres of vegetable production throughout the year, shipping to markets in the United States and Canada. With Brim’s expertise in vegetable production, he was a natural fit to collaborate with scientists from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) in various research projects with far-reaching implications.

“Bill Brim is obviously one of the best produce and agronomic producers in the world. He took me under his wing and helped me not only to identify, but learn how to grow and produce vegetables,” said Stanley Culpepper, UGA Cooperative Extension weed specialist. “As a scientist doing research in these vegetables, if you can’t grow and produce them like a grower, really, your research is irrelevant.”

Brim’s work at Lewis Taylor Farms has led to the development of additional companies. Bio-E-Crops is an energy company that produces miscanthus grass for U.S. and international markets. Spring Hill Produce is a state of the art packing and refrigeration facility that enhances the freshness of products such as broccoli, greens, cantaloupes and watermelons for consumers.

“Without a doubt, Bill Brim is the epitome of a 21st Century agriculturalist, a leader and the caliber of individual worthy of consideration for induction into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame,” said Fred Harrison, who nominated Brim for the honor.

Brim is passionate about agriculture and believes it is important for others, both children and adults, to experience the farm firsthand. He hosts educational tours throughout the year so people can experience why agriculture is important to everyone.

Brim’s most important attribute may be his willingness to stand up for farmers everywhere at the state and federal levels and not be afraid to speak his mind.

“Somebody’s got to speak up. I just happened to be the one that wasn’t scared to speak up and talk about what we needed down here,” Brim said.

Brim served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency State Committee, where he and fellow committee members reviewed and interpreted USDA policy and guidelines relating to Farm Bill programs and the implementation of on-the-farm applications for farmers and agricultural businesses across Georgia.

He has served on important boards and committees like the USDA National Advisory Fruit and Vegetable Committee, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, Georgia Department of Labor Advisory Committee, Dean’s Advisory Council for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and USA Farmers.

“I had a farmer come up to me recently and told me, ‘Bill, I just want to stop and thank you for what you do for all of us,’ ” Brim said. “I think that’s my legacy, to be supportive of all of our communities and all of our farmers.”


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