After being recognized as the top Farm Service Agency agent in the Southeast, one local friend of the farmer went on to become the first South Carolinian to receive a national U.S. Department of Agriculture honor.
William "Bill" Koger, Jr. recently became the first from the Palmetto State to earn the USDA National Distinguished Service Award for "outstanding service and dedication to FSA agriculture."
This service award is open to all of the roughly 8,000 employees of the FSA's National Association of County Office Employees (NASCOE), an organization founded in 1959. FSA employees administer all federal agricultural programs.
"When you go up against 8,000 people, it's becomes a big deal," said Koger. "I was very humbled by this. It was really an honor."
Koger was nominated by his staff for this award for several reasons, but primarily his work in establishing a local farmer's market in the county and in his outreach to the community.
"He is our number one outreach employee," said FSA District Director John Rogers. "He can deal with anyone - from farmers to governors and senators - and make them all feel comfortable."
Due to his efforts, Hampton County also became the epicenter for the new Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which helped struggling timber producers take advantage of scrap wood waste by selling it to energy producers. In Jasper and Beaufort counties wood chips that were once wasted are now burned to produce energy at two facilities.
To pilot this program Koger held tri-county meetings with landowners and local timber harvesters and mills. Under his leadership, Hampton County also became on of the top Forestry Incentives Program counties in the state.
Koger said that he could have done none of this without his staff - Nancy Meyer, Melanie Harriott, and Janet Mixson-Player - and the elected Hampton County FSA Committee, Jimmy Mole, Jimmy Griner, Bob Youmans, and Joe Buckner.
"I'm most appreciative of the job they do and the support I get," added Koger. .
Koger, a Round-O native, is a 1977 graduate of Georgia Southern University and began his career as an agricultural field reporter in Colleton County on March 1, 1978. In 1979 he became the County Executive Director (CED) in Hampton County and is now the CED of Jasper and Beaufort counties as well.
Koger has been a member of NASCOE since 1978 and is a Past Vice President and Past President of SCASCOE, and has served on the groups Legislative Committee, attending numerous Legislative Conferences in Washington, D.C.
Koger is also involved in other areas of the community. He is currently chairman of the Hampton Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Hampton County Watermelon Festival Committee since 1979, is a former member and Past President of the Hampton County Rotary Club (25 years of service), and is an active member of Hampton Methodist Church.
Koger and his wife, Caroline, live in Hampton and have two daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, both in college.
The top FSA agent received his award during the NASCOE National Convention, held Aug. 7 at the renowned Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. After picking up his plaque, Koger said that he and Caroline enjoyed a trip to Atlanta to see the Braves and a visit to Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn.

Did you know?
Did you know that according to FSA records there are currently 248 farms in Hampton County, operating on 128,000 acres. There are also 241,623 acres of forest land, and the county is currently ranked number five in the state for timber sales after being ranked number one in 2005.