Photo courtesy of McDuffie Co. Farm Bureau
On Feb. 27, Georgia Farm Bureau Dairy Advisory Committee Chairman Mark Rodgers, center, and his brother, Andy, who run their family’s four-generation dairy farm - Hillcrest Farms - hosted a tour for dairy science students from nine colleges attending the Southern Regional American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate event held by the UGA Dairy Science Club. Other tour stops included UGA, Harmony Grove Dairy, Birdsville Dairy and lunch courtesy of Southern Swiss Dairy.
Conservation camp offers scholarships, career jumpstart
More than $18,000 in college scholarships will be awarded to students attending the Natural Resources Conservation Workhop June 12-16 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton The camp is for rising 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students interested in learning about Georgia’s natural resources. Experts from universities and local, state, and federal natural resource agencies will provide students with lectures and hands-on activities to enhance their understanding of Georgia’s vital natural resources, including soil, water, air, plants, minerals, and animals. The camp includes back-to-nature field trips, and a true taste of college life. Tuition is $150 per student before May 2 and $175 afterward. The final deadline for all applications is June 1. Tuition is often provided to the students by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local businesses, or individuals. The workshop application and information is now available online at www.abac. edu/nrcw. 12 / April-May 2016
GFB presents grand champion prizes at state livestock show Article & Photos by Jennifer Whittaker _____________________________________ About 1,550 4-H and FFA members from across Georgia competed in the 2016 Georgia Junior National Livestock Show held Feb. 17-20 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. The exhibitors showed about 2,420 head of livestock at the show. Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) sponsored the six grand champion prizes for all species shown at the show. “It’s very important that Georgia Farm Bureau support this show because these 4-Hers and FFA students exhibiting animals will be our future leaders tomorrow. It’s great the response and thanks we get for supporting this show,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “It’s unbelievable the dedication and responsibility these young people have to show their animals. It [showing livestock] teaches them there’s no such thing as an eight to five job.” Long also applauded state leaders for building the state-of-the-art Georgia Agricenter where the show has been held since the early 1990s. “We have a facility here that’s as good as any in the nation,” Long said. “Georgia Farm Bureau worked with the late Rep. Henry Reeves to acquire the state funding to build this facility, and we’re still reaping the dividends of that investment.” Jackson County 4-Her Morgan McDaniel won the Grand Champion Breeding Heifer award of $2,500 with her Percent Simmental heifer. McDaniel, a 5th-grader at Gum Springs Elementary School, is the daughter of Wil and Nichole McDaniel of Jefferson. In January, McDaniel won Supreme Champion Heifer with her heifer at the GFB 2nd Dist. Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show. Bella Chandler of Jackson County won the Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Heifer at the Ga. Jr. National, and she also won Reserve Supreme Champion Heifer at the GFB 2nd Dist. Young Farmer Steer & Heifer Show. Perry High School FFA member Abby Moore took home the Grand Champion Market Barrow prize of $1,500. Moore, a junior, is the daughter of Scott and Christy Moore of Houston County.
When asked why she would encourage other kids to show, Moore answered, “I think they would learn what hard work really is and that it does pay off.” Colquitt County 4-Her Luke Mobley captured the $5,000 Grand Champion Market Steer award with his Chi, Charolais, Maine Anjou and Angus crossbred steer. A 4th-grader at R.B. Wright Elementary School, Mobley is the son of Mike and Torina Mobley of Moultrie. Mobley’s older brothers, Jonathan won the award in 2007 and Nicholas in 2011. When asked what his daily routine for working his steer was, Mobley answered, “You have to feed them, you have to wash them, and you have to take care of them, and most of all you have to love them.” Coweta County 4-Her Brent Bohannon won the $1,500 Grand Champion Commercial Dairy Heifer prize. He won with a Holstein bred and raised at Windy Hill Dairy, owned by the Butcher family, who are Coweta County Farm Bureau members. Bohannon, a 5th-grade student at Moreland Elementary, is the son of Kate Bohannon. When asked what he likes best about showing, Brent answered, “Getting to go places and meeting other people.” Toombs County 4-Her Britten Herndon took home the $1,500 Grand Champion Market Gilt award. Herndon, a 5th-grader at Toombs Central Elementary School, is the son of Jason and Elizabeth Herndon of Lyons. Both of Herndon’s older sisters showed, which inspired him to show. When asked what he liked about showing, he answered, “It’s pretty good to get trophies, but it’s all about family and the time we spend together.” Hart County 4-Her Jarrett Baldwin captured the $1,000 Grand Champion Breeding Ewe prize in his senior year. Baldwin, who has shown lambs for 15 years, encouraged young people to get involved in showing livestock saying, “I grew up in this program, and there’s nothing I’d rather have done than shown livestock.” Baldwin, who is a student at Shepherds Way Home School, is the son of Todd and Pam Baldwin of Hartwell. Georgia Farm Bureau News