Wittig named Ag Man of the Year
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

WITTIG

Pierce-born Ronnie Wittig, co-owner of Coastal Warehouse in Wharton, was named Ag Man of the Year Thursday night during the annual Agricultural Appreciation Banquet.

First to be introduced to the hundreds attending the Wharton County Youth Fair banquet was Jodie Socha, to whom this year's fair was dedicated.

"I started 31 years ago here in the mud," Socha said of his decades of work for the fair. "We had a bunch of good people (who) got this fair going and it's been an honor to work and participate in this great organization.

"As long as we think and realize we're doing this for the youth of Wharton County, we're going to have a good fair."

WCYF President Darrell Kutach presented the Ag Man of the Year award to Wittig, telling the audience about the honoree's long history in Wharton County agriculture.

"While he was in college, he took time off to come home and help run the farm after his dad suffered a stroke," Kutach said. Wittig graduated Texas A&M University, and though he'd always wanted to be a veterinarian, Kutach said plans changed.

"Ronnie always knew he wanted to come back to Wharton County," Kutach said. "He grew up around farming and agriculture, and it was a natural fit for him when he eventually went to work for Jay Anderson at Coastal Warehouse."

During high school, Wittig used to hitchhike from Pierce to Wharton in order to work at Coastal's mill.

"This is just another example of his determination, work ethic and resolve," Kutach said.

Wittig gave a short acceptance speech, thanking family and friends for his success, and praising the fair, at which he has volunteered for years.

"We've got a great deal going here, we need to keep it up," he said.

Wittig, a widower and father of three, was modest in accepting the award.

"This is a great honor, though there's a lot more out there who deserve it more than me," he said.

Rice Farmer of the Year

El Campo High graduate Chris Supak was named Rice Farmer of the Year, recognition of his success not only in traditional rice farming, but for his experiments growing organic rice and wheat.

Supak, who grew up on the farm, began working his own field while still in FFA and began farming on his own after graduating ECHS in 1979. He has farmed with Werner Pavlik all these years, and has his own acreage around New Taiton and Louise.

Row Crop Farmer of the Year

For the second year in a row, a Crescent native was named Row Crop Farmer of the Year. Larry Cerny made his way back to the farm after graduating from El Campo High and Wharton County Junior College, then working for Tide Products and Helena Chemical.

Cattleman of the Year

Cattleman of the Year Larry Viktorin actually started his ag career as a row crop farmer. The Wharton native, married and the father of two, began farming cotton, corn, milo, rice, wheat and soybeans in 1973, and in 1983, began turfgrass production.

It wasn't until 1989, when Viktorin bought a grass farm that came with 350 acres of pasture, that this year's winner entered the cattle business. His initial herd of 100 heifers and a few bulls has grown to about 700 heifers - mostly Brangus and Braford with a few Maine- Angus.