April 2023 - 7

COVER STORY
Early this year, Watson was sworn in as a
Georgia state senator after serving as a state
representative since 2013. As declining population and
reapportionment eliminates rural voices, it's important
ag is represented.
" There are not a lot of people in ag here at the state
capitol, " Watson said. " ... As people are getting farther
removed from the farm, decisions are being made that
impact all of us.
" People a lot of times think we're in overalls in the
back of our trucks selling on the side of the road, "
he said. " They don't realize the money we handle,
the people we hire and the infrastructure we have to
purchase and maintain. "
Chill C Farms is named for the first letters of the
children of founders Watson, Will Grantham and Clay
Underwood: Cal, Henry, Isabella, Lily, Lucy, and Cade.
In 2007, the three high school friends planted their first
crop after learning Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable in
Norman Park, Georgia, where Watson worked, needed
yellow crookneck squash.
Grantham and Underwood grew cotton, peanuts
and row crops. They had land available and an unused
sprayer, while Watson brought produce sales and
logistics experience to the venture.
" Some people go fish, some play golf. We decided to
plant some squash, " Watson said.
At Southern Valley, which Watson left in 2012, he was
import-export manager, heading the company's Mexican
growing operations. Farming on the side helped Watson
keep busy during downtime.
For Watson, being a successful grower means always
looking ahead.
" A long time ago, we would jokingly say 'there's always
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Sam Watson, of Georgia's Chill C Farms, examines
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next year,' " he said. " We don't say that anymore. Every
year we plant a crop, it may be the last one, because it
costs so much. We're touching so much more money
than we touched five to 10 years ago. One mistake, one
bad crop, one bad market, that's it. "
Still, Watson enjoys the farming life.
" There's never a dull moment as there's always
something different. I enjoy planting the seed and
growing the crop, " he said. " It takes a special type of
person to do what we do. The scary part is there are
getting to be so few of us. "
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VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 7
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April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2023
