This honor is not given lightly. To be eligible, a general manager must maintain profitability for a minimum of five consecutive years. Recipients are also evaluated through a comprehensive performance formula.
Under Lynn’s guidance, Altha Farmers Cooperative generated more than $150,000 in local income, turned inventory four times and achieved a gross margin of 26.7 percent and a net margin of 9.9 percent. Sales have grown 20 percent since 2020, and over the past five years, his store produced $929,000 in net income.
“I’m most proud of our consistency. At the end of the year, we always tend to show a decent profit. It never varies much from year to year. But that is just a true reflection on our members. They are very loyal to us and we do our best to serve them,” said Lynn.
“I’ve always thought three things are important to have a successful Co-op: First and foremost, you have to have a loyal membership. Second, you have to have dedicated employees who show up to work and do their jobs to the best of their ability. Last, you have to have a Board of Directors that trusts you completely to take care of your store. I’m lucky to have all three,” said Lynn.
But beyond the numbers lies a story of steady commitment and quiet leadership.
Lynn began his career with AFC 23 years ago, working in the warehouse. What started as a decision to provide stability and a home for his young son grew into a lifelong calling. Learning the business from the ground up, he worked in multiple roles before being named General Manager in 2019.
Lynn’s leadership trademark is doing whatever it takes to get the job done. He can be found in his office doing paperwork or running the sales counter some days, and on others, loading and unloading stock in the warehouse or watering the Bonnie Plants on display.
“Six days a week you will find me somewhere at that Co-op, and sometimes on Sunday,” he added.
Lynn leads with humility, honesty, and sacrifice, qualities that cannot be measured on a balance sheet but are felt by employees and members and the community.
While he has given much to the Co-op, his family will tell you the Co-op has given back just as much. From purchasing his first acre of land to building a home for his family and eventually expanding to several acres they now call home, his journey reflects AFC’s broader mission of cultivating meaningful life on and off the farm.
“It means the world to me that I am part of the Co-op family. At one time Altha Farmers Co-op was one of AFC’s biggest member stores. We had three locations as well as a peanut mill. But in this area, the Blountstown location is all that remains. I am extremely proud of that,” Lynn said.
Despite having a small staff of two, counting himself, he knows the impact his store has on the changing community and wants to make those who came before him proud, specifically Bill Peacock and Frank Stone who Lynn calls “legends” back in its heyday, as well as Jackie Lee and Leon Williams that he worked with in Blountstown through the years.
Lynn also credits the store’s success to his longtime coworker, Eddie Green. Green has worked in the warehouse alongside Lynn for the entirety of his career at the Co-op. After 29 years, Green is set to retire in October and James made sure we mention that he will be sorely missed.
The E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year Award recognizes measurable success, but it also represents something deeper: faithfulness to the Co-op mission. Lynn’s career demonstrates that when leadership is grounded in integrity, relationships and service, strong performance follows.
