Christopher and Sally Kerce were recently named Georgia Young Farmers Association North Region Farm Family Winners. They operate Diamond K Farm,  which includes poultry, cattle and hay in Chattooga County.

They recently had their on the farm interview with a panel of judges. The three regional winners will be recognized, and a state winner will be named at the GYFA Convention in January at Jekyll Island.

“The Kerce family represents the heart of Georgia agriculture. Their dedication to building a successful and sustainable farm while also giving back to our community makes them role models for other young farm families, and we are proud to see their hard work recognized at the regional level”, Lauren Jarrett, Chattooga Young Farmer Advisor said.

Christopher Kerce is no stranger to farming. He graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in 2004 with an associate’s degree, followed by a Poultry Science degree from the University of Georgia in 2006. After college, he returned to Chattooga County and began working with Koch Foods as a service technician in the breeder department, all while starting his own cow-calf operation.

In 2011, he married his wife Sally. They have two sons Joseph and Callen.  They have built their own cattle herd and over the past 19 years that has grown to 75 mama cows by raising his own replacement heifers. Over the years, they have purchased additional land to expand and also build two pullet houses that were completed and operational in 2018.

Beyond the farm, the Kerces are involved in the local agricultural community. Christopher currently serves as President of the Chattooga County Young Farmers Chapter, a group he has been involved with since 2006. Christopher has served in multiple leadership roles, including as president in 2010, and has helped  with numerous initiatives such as Ag Awareness Day for local fifth graders, the chapter’s scholarship BBQ lunch, and educational exhibits at the Chattooga Agricultural Fair. He has also served as a voting delegate at GYFA Conventions.

Through the young farmers’ pig project, with their son Callen the family raised an additional pig that was processed and donated to Helping Hands Ending Hunger, contributing over 100 pounds of sausage to Leroy Massey Elementary School for distribution in food boxes to local families in need.

In addition to their work with GYFA, the Kerces serve on the Chattooga High School CTAE Advisory Committee and are members of the Chattooga County Farm Bureau, further supporting agricultural education and advocacy.

The Georgia Young Farmers Farm Family Recognition Program, sponsored by the Georgia Development Authority, highlights outstanding young farm families across the state. Eligibility requires participants to be aged 21 to 45, active members of a chartered GYFA chapter for at least three years, and to earn at least two-thirds of their income from farming. An outstanding family is selected from each of the three regions based on their level of success in meeting the program’s goals. These goals include promoting efficient management of land, labor, and capital in farming, developing leadership necessary to propel the agriculture industry forward, advancing the philosophy of community service and ensuring the applications of sound environmental practices.