Julie Walker loves agriculture. Anyone who knows her knows of her devotion to agriculture, and more specifically to the dairy industry.

For more than four decades, she has worked diligently to speak out for agriculture and do all she can to help the farmers who are the foundation of the industry.

When the AgCentral Co-op board of directors decided to create the AgCentral Advocate for Agriculture award last year, they didn’t have to look far.

“She was the first person to come to mind,” says Brent Best, AgCentral Co-op chief executive officer. “She was the perfect recipient.”

The award was announced at AgCentral’s 80th Annual Meeting on November 6, 2025, and Julie was there supporting AgCentral and the Co-op membership. The award completely caught her by surprise.

“When they started announcing the award, John [Harrison] spoke about someone who grew up in the area, and the family moved out of the area due to the Tellico Dam project,” Julie told friends. “That let me know it was me.”

Julie and her family were displaced by the construction of the Tellico Dam and relocated to Cocke County in 1969. Her father, Jim, was a successful farmer and agricultural leader who served on the boards of Cocke Farmers Cooperative and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, including one term as chairman of the TFC board. His devotion to the vocation he cared about so deeply was passed down to Julie.

“She cares about the people in agriculture,” says AgCentral Co-op board member and dairyman John Harrison, who grew up a short distance from Julie and her family. “One of her strengths is her ability to remember people, their names, and their situations.”

John recalls that Julie’s work has been important to dairy farmers throughout the region. He specifically cites her efforts in the early 2000s when a group of farmers filed a class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing between milk processors. Julie stayed abreast of developments and sent updates via email to farmers during that period.

She has used social media to call attention to efforts to encourage consumers to look for local milk at the grocery store, sharing news about local farmers and events. And she has worked as a volunteer promoting the Appalachian Fair in Gray and the Tennessee State Fair, freely giving of her time and talent.

“She keeps me informed about issues going on in our area,” says Brent. “I would often get an email, saying, ‘Have you seen this yet?’”

Julie did some contract work with AgCentral and assisted John with marketing and events as he was starting his cheese-making venture at his Philadelphia dairy. But most of her work was done because of her passion and her love for agriculture,” says John.

“She really sees herself as a farmer,” he says.

Julie suffered a debilitating stroke on Feb. 1, 2025, that has seriously impacted her way of life. She has spent months in rehabilitation but has is now residing at Wood Village Senior Living in Sweetwater and is looking to what she describes as a “new normal.”

“It was good to see her with that microphone in her hand as she accepted the award [at the Annual Meeting],” says John. “So many of us in that room have benefited from her work for years.”

The AgCentral Co-op board is seeking nominations for the 2026 recipient of the award. Names should be submitted with a detailed description of how the nominee has impacted agriculture in the AgCentral trade area. Their efforts should have had a significant and lasting effect on the industry. Names should be submitted to AgFarmers Co-op at contactus@agcentral.coop, by August 1, 2026.

If you would like to send a note of congratulations to Julie Walker, please mail it to Wood Village Senior Living, Julie Walker, 520 Old Hwy. 68, Sweetwater, TN 37874.