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thejenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, June 21, 2023- Page 11
Screven Cotton Gin processes
over 5 7k bales of cotton
By Tyler Busch, Podcast Director
& Staff Writer
for
The Times
The Screven Gin Company
had a record year last harvest
season, when it came to the
total amount of cotton that was
processed and pressed at the
gin. The total numbers for last
year’s harvest, 57,487 bales
of cotton were pressed. The
value of the cotton that was
processed during this most
previous harvest was between
$25-26 million dollars.
Farmers had been wanting
a full-scale cotton gin in the
Screven County area. The
Screven Gin company was
founded by Charles Reed and
has been in business since
1995. Before Screven Gin
Company, there was a much
smaller cotton gin in operation
at David W. Reed Company.
David Reed Company closed
down the smaller gin in order
to open Screven Gin. Charles
sold Screven Gin in 1996,
with the current leadership
having been in place since
1996. The owners of Screven
Gin are all farmers (they are
also the same farmers that
pushed for the opening of a
full-scale cotton gin in the
area). The Reed Company
was bought by Agrowstar, a
grain-processing company in
downtown Sylvania, several
years ago.
Today, Screven Gin
employs 11-12 full-time
employees. The general
manager is Duane Bargeron,
office manager is Peggy Clees,
and the gin manager is Jason
Connor.
Duane Bargeron has been
general manager of Screven
Gin since 2000. Duane is
from Burke County, went to
public K-12 school in Screven
County, and graduated
from Screven County High
School. He holds a degree
in Agriculture Business from
Georgia Southern University.
Although Duane is not a
farmer himself, he grew up
working on both grandparents’
farms in rural Burke County.
He has been involved with
agriculture all his life. As
general manager, Duane is
responsible for overseeing
the day-to-day operations
of Screven Gin like the
finances and other business
matters. He also is on the
board of Southeastern Cotton
Ginners as well as serves as
the Georgia delegate on the
National Cotton Council.
Screven Gin is located on
126 acres of former farmland
just outside Sylvania city
limits. It is the only cotton
gin in the Screven County
area. Cotton farmers from
Screven, Jenkins, Burke, and
other counties in the area
utilize the gin. The Screven
Gin Company is a current
Screven County Chamber of
Commerce member. Last year
Screven Gin built a new cotton
seed warehouse to expand
their capacity from 3000-
3500 tons of cotton seed to the
current capacity of 13,000 tons.
They also recently installed
an automatic baling machine.
The new seed warehouse
costs 1.5 million dollars. The
warehouse has a capacity of
storing up to 40,000 bales of
cotton. The various equipment
located in the gin warehouse
is computerized.
The cotton first arrives at
the gin by truck in modules.
The modules are weighed
before the cotton can be
ginned. The outgoing seed
trucks are also weighed.
Harvest season for cotton
begins in September/October
and runs through December/
January (depending on
weather). During harvest
season, the gin runs at full
capacity 24/7 until all the
cotton has been processed
and pressed into bales. Extra
help is brought in during this
time and shifts last 12 hours.
Cotton cannot be pressed dry,
so moisture must be added.
This helps press the cotton
easier to then be bagged into
500-pound, plastic-wrapped
bails. The ginned cotton is
marketed, sold, and taken to
ports to be shipped to places
like Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Very little cotton stays in the
U.S.
For any information about the
current price of cotton and other
cotton-related news, you can visit their
website atwww.screvengin.com
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A hidden gem in Georgia
I know I usually write about the Ogeechee, but this week
I wanted to focus on a lovely park that is just a short drive
away and actually not far from the Ogeechee River.
With gas at a higher price than normal, we have all been
looking for a place for the family to go within a short drive
and get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.
Now, I have the place for you. It is close by and offers
something for everyone in the family.
It's is, George L. Smith State Park in Twin City, Georgia.
With it's natural beauty, lakeside camping and cozy
cottages, this secluded park is the perfect Georgia retreat for
the entire family. It is best known for the refurbished Parrish Mill and Pond, a combination
gristmill, saw mill, covered bridge and dam built in 1880.
For history buffs, the mill itself is worth a visit to the park. The mill story began in 1879
when Alexander Hendricks needed a place to construct a mill and found suitable land in
the eastern part of the county. He joined forces with James M. Parrish, and together they
purchased the land. The dam and base of the mill were completed in a few months, and by
the end of the year, the millpond and house containing a gristmill, sawmill, and a cotton
gin were complete. The mill's first use was for lumber and served surrounding counties,
including Screven County. Cedar, pine, and oak were the most popular trees for use, and the
local community used the lumber for homes, bams, and furniture; the sawmill was one of
only a few that continued to thrive in the late 1800s.
The grist mill served the people of Emanuel, Bulloch, Candler and Screven Counties for
many years. It was used for com only and for many years ran 24 hours a day; the com meal
produced was sold in many states. When water was too low to power the turbine, a diesel
engine was used. The gristmill continued to grind com until 1973, then was dormant until
1998 when the mill was restored. The mill is in occasional operation to this date and can
grind as much as 200 pounds of com per hour.
A group shelter near the bridge is popular for family reunions and parties. Some campsites
sit right on the water’s edge, while cottages with gas fireplaces and screened porches are
nestled into the woods.
Georgie L. Smilth park mill pond beckons anglers and paddlers to explore thick stands
of cypress and tupelo trees draped with Spanish moss. Canoeists and kayakers can join the
Park Paddlers Club. While on the water, nature enthusiasts can look for beaver dams, blue
heron, white ibis and other wading birds. The park rents boats, and nearby outfitters offer
guided paddle trips. Hikers can stretch their legs on seven miles of trails while searching for
gopher tortoises, Georgia’s state reptile.
This supeb park is nestled on 1,634 Acres and offers a 412 Acre Lake, along with eight
Cottages, twenty four Tent, &Trailer & RV campsites, four primitive campsites, four really
nice picnic shelters, one group shelter, and offers a beautiful view of the historic covered
bridge and grist mill.
This historic park is located at 3 71 George L. Smith State Park Road in Twin City Georgia.
Any overnight guests pay daily ParkPass fee only once per vehicle during their stay,
regardless of duration. For family reservations, please call 1- 800-864-7275. Just tell them
that you read the article in The Jenkins County Times and Uncle Roger says hi!
Until next time,
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