Blakely Atkinson, Watermelon Promotion Marketing Specialist
blatkinson@scda.sc.gov
803-734-0648
The South Carolina Watermelon Board is a farmer-led organization established to increase consumer awareness and consumption of watermelon while creating a positive economic impact for producers.
The South Carolina Watermelon Board consists of nine watermelon producers and a research scientist who serves as an adviser. The Board supports several different research projects each year and is involved in collecting watermelon assessments for the Checkoff Program. The growers pay an assessment for each pound of watermelons sold and the funds collected are used for educational and research programs.
Learn more at scwatermelon.org or watermelon.org
South Carolina Watermelon Board Members
District 1
Bennie K. Hughes
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
PO Box 235, Ehrhardt, SC 29081
Bamberg County
benniekistler@yahoo.com
(W&H) 803-267-6531, (C) 843-687-2936, (F) 803-267-2307
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Michael E. Sullivan – VICE CHAIRMAN
Sullivan Produce
1462 E. Maynard Street Extenstion, Pageland, SC 29728
Chesterfield County
chuckymac2100@yahoo.com
843-680-2733
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Rusty Kinard
3208 Halyard Road, Lodge, SC 29082
Colleton County
(H) 843-866-2634, (C) 843-599-2240
Term Exp: 12-31-2023
Mark Williams
Williams Farm PRT
7622 Ashton Rd. Islandton, SC 29929
Colleton County
williamsfarm@lowcountry.com
(W) 843-866-2740 x223, (C) 843-893-7126, (H) 803-245-5398
Term Exp: 12-31-2023
District 2
Hamilton Furman Dicks, III
F. H. Dicks Co.
PO Box 175, Barnwell, SC 29812
Barnwell County
(W) 803-259-3486, (H) 803-259-5933, (C) 803-671-1936, (F) 803-259-2674
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Bradley Joel O’Neal
Coosaw Farms
PO Box 646, Fairfax, SC 29827
Allendale County
bradley@coosawfarms.com
(W) 803-632-2021, (H) 803-632-3873, (C) 803-584-9030, (F) 803-632-3321
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Scotty Sandifer – CHAIRMAN
Sandifer Farms
1583 Mt. Zion Rd. Blackville, SC 29817
Barnwell County
scottsndfr@aol.com
(H) 803-793-7436 or 3842, (W) 803-284-5111, (C) 803-793-7436, (F) 803-284-5258 or 5140
Term Exp: 12-31-2023
Sidney “Sandy” Ansel Sanders
75 Watermelon Lane, Olar, SC 29843
Barnwell County
(C) 803-671-0448
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Steven Wilson “Will” Willis, Jr.
429 Black River Road, Barnwell, SC 29812
Barnwell County
willisproducesales@gmail.com
(W) 803-245-5007, (C) 803-707-9712, (F) 866-449-3430
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Advisory
Blakely Atkinson, Watermelon Promotion Marketing Specialist
SC Department of Agriculture, PO Box 11280, Columbia, SC 29211
blatkinson@scda.sc.gov
803-734-0648
Ex Officio
Frances Price, Chair, Agriculture Commission of SC
433 Peach Festival Rd., Gilbert, SC 29054
pricefm@pbtcomm.com
(W) 803-892-2457, (C) 803-260-9691
