By GARETT VALCOURT
GARETT VALCOURT | The Advertiser
Two Holmes County farms were recognized for their implementation of environmental conservation practices at the Holmes County Farm Bureau Awards Dinner, held Thursday, March 13, at Holmes County High School. The event, hosted by Holmes County Farm Bureau Federation President Jeremy Rolling, honored Majors Farm and Barton Farms as the 2025 This Farm CARES recipients.
The CARES (County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship) program, created by the Florida Farm Bureau in 2001, identifies farmers and ranchers who voluntarily implement Best Management Practices (BMPs)—science-based, field-tested conservation methods that support resource conservation and agricultural efficiency.
Majors Farm, operated by Marty Majors, is located in Bonifay and produces corn, soybeans, and peanuts. Since 2018, Majors has implemented BMPs such as strip-till planting, soil sampling, and GPS tracking systems for equipment. Additional efforts include crop rotation diversification and the use of cover crops to reduce soil erosion and improve soil health.
Barton Farms, owned by Ken Barton and also located in Bonifay, specializes in growing peanuts, cotton, corn, wheat, oats, and hay. Barton has been implementing BMPs since 2016, incorporating practices such as strip-tillage and cover cropping to manage soil erosion and reduce nutrient runoff into nearby water bodies.
Hannah Collins 