About Us

The Georgia Watermelon Association (GWA) was incorporated in May, 1968, under the name of the Georgia Watermelon Growers and Distributors Association. In 1977 the name was changed to the present form to better reflect the scope of the membership. The GWA is a chapter of the National Watermelon Association which is made up of 8 state chapters, with membership in 29 states and Canada.

The purpose of the association is to promote the best interest of the industry from production to consumption. The association is constantly seeking improvements in the growing, grading, handling, transportation, distribution, and sale of watermelons. GWA works to increase efficiency within the industry for better profits and to provide the consumer with a better product for greater sales.

Each year a Georgia Watermelon Brand Ambassador is selected at the annual convention of the association. During the summer months the queen tours the state for the promotion of the Watermelon Industry. During her tour of the state, nation and international, she visits supermarkets, Welcome Centers and festivals; she appears on television and radio, before sales groups, meets with local and state officials, and other points of interest promoting the Georgia watermelon Industry. The state Watermelon Ambassador has the choice to represent the GWA at the annual National Watermelon Convention where she competes for the title of the National Watermelon Queen.

Georgia Watermelon Ambassador Crowned 2026 National Watermelon Queen 

The Georgia Watermelon Association (GWA) is proud to announce that 2025 Georgia Watermelon Ambassador Katelyn Lindsay was crowned the 2026 National Watermelon Queen on February 21 during the National Watermelon Association (NWA) Convention in St. Pete Beach, Florida.  

Lindsay earned the title of GWA Brand Ambassador in January 2025, after competing in GWA’s annual scholarship competition. The competition takes place at the GWA Convention, where applicants are interviewed by industry members, and give a two-to-three-minute speech to a crowd of over 200.  After being named the GWA Ambassador, Lindsay served as a dedicated advocate for Georgia’s watermelon industry, completing nearly 60 promotional events throughout the southeast. She also traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators on behalf of the watermelon industry. From community events and school visits to retail promotions and industry outreach, she has represented Georgia growers with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for agriculture. 

To compete at the national level, the Georgia Ambassador spent the week in St. Pete Beach at the National Watermelon Convention along six other state title holders representing their respective state watermelon associations. The applicants competed in a three-part interview, answered an on-stage question, and addressed the entire 400+ person convention with a four-minute speech on why she believed she would be the best candidate for the job. 

As the newly crowned National Watermelon Queen, Lindsay will now represent the watermelon industry on a national and international level, traveling across the United States and Canada to promote watermelon and share the story of our hardworking farmers.  

“I am incredibly honored and excited to represent our industry on a national level and to advocate for the growers who make it all possible. Thank you to the Georgia Watermelon Association and its members for trusting me to represent you in 2025. Being crowned the 2026 National Watermelon Queen is more than a title — it reflects the heart, dedication, and hard work that fuel our entire industry. I can’t wait for the year ahead!” said Lindsay. 

The Georgia Watermelon Association celebrates this accomplishment and looks forward to supporting Lindsay as she steps into this prestigious role with the National Watermelon Association. “Congratulations to the 2025 Georgia Watermelon Ambassador, Katelyn Lindsay, on being crowned the 2026 National Watermelon Queen,” said Lee Wroten of Global Produce Sales and President of GWA. “We are so proud of her and are excited about getting to share her enthusiasm for watermelons and our industry with the rest of the country.” 

Her dedication over the past year has made Georgia proud, and her continued leadership will help elevate the watermelon industry nationwide. 

National Watermelon Queen, Katelyn Lindsay from Locust Grove, Georgia