ABAC Alumna Charley Lollis has been crowned the 2023 Georgia Watermelon Queen. During her reign as queen, Charley will spend the year touring the country to help educate others about the nutritional and economic benefits of watermelon. She will make appearances at supermarkets, festivals, events (most recently NASCAR), as well as gain tv and radio exposure.
Charley will also get to meet with important government and business officials and leaders (most recently Governor Brian Kemp), as well as communicate with any other important point of interest to help promote the Georgia Watermelon Industry.
At the end of her term as queen, she will have a chance to compete for the title of National Watermelon Queen at the National Watermelon Association (NWA) Annual Meeting and Convention
Lollis is a Perry native who recently graduated from ABAC, earning her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communication and a minor in Agribusiness. During her time at ABAC, she exhibited leadership skills as she served as the President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Vice President of the ABAC Ambassadors, and Vice President of the Sigma Alpha Sorority (a professional agriculture sorority).
Networking with businesses in the community, Charley worked communication internships with Sunbelt Ag Expo, Georgia’s Rural Center, and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association
The newly crowned queen was also a prominent member of the school’s media center student staff, having written and produced stories for the Stallion Newspaper and Stallion TV. She even traveled to the United Kingdom along with ABAC staff to assist with the 2022 exhibit and documentary film, “Stone and Story.” Upon receiving a certification as a drone pilot, she traveled the trail and took many of the photos included in the exhibition.
Lollis was a recipient of the prestigious 2022 David and Kim Bridges Award. The award, named after former ABAC President David Bridges and his wife, is presented in recognition of the top 4-year graduating student who excelled in scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
She is currently employed as a Territory Sales Manager for AgBiome, a biotechnology company that develops innovative biological and trait products for crop protection.
The Georgia Watermelon Association (GWA) is a chapter of the NWA. Founded in 1968, the association aims to promote the best interest of the watermelon industry while improving aspects such as the growing, grading, handling, transportation, distribution, and sale of watermelons. Through education and promotion, the GWA hopes to educate Georgians about the popular, but expensive industry, helping producers and consumers maximize profit.
