March 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brandon Charochak
Phone: 717.315.9850
Email: Brandon.Charochak@myscmc.org
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC) today named Collum’s Lumber Products the 2026 Agribusiness of the Year, recognizing the company’s long-standing leadership in South Carolina’s forestry industry.
“Collum’s Lumber Products could not be a more deserving winner. For nearly a century – starting in the 1930s – Collum’s has grown alongside South Carolina, thriving as the state has thrived and building a company its team can be truly proud of,” said SCMC President and CEO Sara Hazzard. “SCMC is grateful for the impact Collum’s continues to have on South Carolina, and we are excited for what their future holds.”
A fourth-generation, family-owned business located in Allendale, Collum’s has grown from a small planer mill founded in the 1930s in Batesburg into one of the Southeast’s leading producers of Southern Yellow Pine lumber. Today, the company operates one of the most modern sawmills and planer operations in the Southeast, capable of producing up to 200 million board feet annually, including dimension lumber, poles, in-woods chips, biomass, and remanufactured components.
Collum’s is dedicated to sustainable forestry practices and is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®. This certification helps ensure that the wholesale products delivered to customers are harvested using Best Management Practices so that South Carolina’s forests remain healthy and productive for future generations.
“We are a fourth-generation company, and we have become who we are today by reinvesting in ourselves,” said Collum Lumber Products’ Jake Scott. “We all understand how vital companies like this are to rural South Carolina, and we thank SCMC for this recognition.”
Collum’s was honored during SCMC’s Spotlight on Agriculture & Forestry event, which highlighted the essential contributions of South Carolina’s agribusiness, agriculture, and forestry sectors. In partnership with industry leaders, this annual event celebrates the industry’s impact, showcases innovation, and brings together stakeholders dedicated to supporting the long-term growth of agribusiness in the Palmetto State.
The Agribusiness of the Year Award, established in 2025, recognizes a company, individual, or organization that has significantly contributed to the success and excellence within the agricultural industry. It highlights leadership, innovation, and the positive impact that the agribusiness sector has on the state’s economy. The inaugural recipient was Super-Sod, a division of Patten Seed Company.
South Carolina’s agribusiness industry has an annual economic impact of $51.8 billion, supporting more than 259,000 jobs and generating $12.3 billion in labor income.
A photo of Collum’s Jake Scott accepting the award from SCMC’s President and CEO Sara Hazzard can be found here.
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