12-8-05
Contact: Reginald S. Hall, (803) 936-4409

Senator Grooms Receives Farm Bureau Legislative Award

Myrtle Beach, SC - State Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Larry Grooms, of Bonneau, SC received South Carolina Farm Bureau’s (SCFB) Legislator of the Year Award during the non-profit agricultural advocate organization’s 62nd annual meeting recently in Myrtle Beach.

Grooms, whose district includes Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester Counties, was recognized for his service to South Carolina and for his statewide leadership in agriculture, especially for his work to craft a compromise that led to the passage of the State’s Essential Water Use bill in the Senate. That bill protects farmers’ rights to use water in times of severe and extreme drought. In the last days of the 2005 legislative session, Grooms also developed a tax credit bill for the state’s dairy farmers, a bill that will help keep many dairy farmers from closing their operations. The Senator was also recognized for his leadership and participation in the negotiation, sale, and relocation of the Columbia State Farmers Market.

This is the first year SCFB has presented Legislator of the Year Awards. SC House of Representatives Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee Chairman Billy Witherspoon, of Conway, also received the award.

SCFB President David Winkles presented each lawmaker with a unique 12-inch metal sculptured palmetto tree created by Belton, SC artist Ron King. The trees were each forged from discarded farm implements, which King hand cut and formed into the works of art. The sculptures were commissioned by SCFB as a symbol of the State’s official tree, which has become a sign of prestige, strength, resilience, commitment, and dedication.

Winkles said, “Senator Grooms is a fine example of the quality leadership serving South Carolina’s farmers. As one of the few remaining grassroots organizations, Farm Bureau appreciates lawmakers who understand the business of agriculture. Senator Grooms has certainly stood up for the rights of family farmers.”

SCFB is a membership organization that works to promote agriculture and rural lifestyles in South Carolina.

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Cut-line for attached photo – SC Farm Bureau President David Winkles presents the Farm Bureau 2005 Legislator of the Year award to Sen. Larry Grooms during Farm Bureau’s 62nd annual meeting in Myrtle Beach. The award is a commissioned palmetto tree sculpture crafted by Belton, SC artist Ron King. It was forged from old farm implements.