Statesboro Magazine Sept/Oct Edition by Statesboro Magazine

September October 2018

Priceless

Faith – Family – Food

920 Cattle & Company

We are honored to be a part of the history of this community. And as the area’s only locally owned and operated bank, we continue to find ways to personalize our service. Come visit any of our three branches today and see what has developed from our long history of community banking.

For 70 years, we have celebrated with you. And it has been

Wonderful!

www.FMBnk.com NMLS#498426 LDP-3302-18

Farmers & Merchants Bank Main Street • Brannen Street • Brooklet

912-489-2600

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to schedule your mammogram. EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 1499 Fair Road, Statesboro

STATESBORO IMAGING CENTER 8 Lester Road, Statesboro Saturday appointments available at this location.

912-764-5656

Is it time for you to have a mammogram? For women of average risk, the American College of Radiology recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, with no upper age limit as long as the woman is in good health.* A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages. Statesboro Imaging Center offers 3D mammography services, which provide clearer images and faster results.** Schedule your mammogram today.

*For American College of Radiology recommendations, visit www.acr.org. **Comparative data using 3D and 2D mammography to detect invasive cancer, BreastCancer.org, June 2016. Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. An order from a physician or qualified healthcare provider is not required, but the patient must provide a physician/provider name when an appointment is made. If the patient does not have a physician/provider, a list will be provided for selection. All mammogram reports will be sent to the physican/provider, and the patient is responsible for follow-up. *Check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for a screening mammogram. East Georgia Regional Medical Center is owned in part by physicians.

FROM THE EDITOR

Established March 1, 2000

Jenny Starling Foss Editor

Fall is such a great time of year! The weather cools just enough to get us up and outdoors to enjoy the football, festivals and special events held almost every week. In addition to five Eagle home football games during September and October, there’s the Brooklet Peanut Festival, the Portal Turpentine Festival, Ag Night Out and the Great Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair. What better time is there to focus on farming and tourism in our area? One festival we’ll have to keep an eye on is the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, September 14 – 16. Local chef Liz Morris will be entering Eagle Creek Brewery’s famous shrimp & grits recipe in the Georgia’s Best competition set for Saturday morning. Inside we take a look at Liz’s tips to help you create the very best shrimp & grits recipe. We hope she can bring home the bacon, and the $2,000 cash prize! We’re also profiling outstanding chef, farmer, baker and entrepreneur T. Chad Montgomery in this issue. Chad has an impressive list of businesses that he has grown from a small food truck since moving to the area five years ago. Read about his latest food-centered projects and the way he uses networking to build his edible empire. When you can get food right from the farm, then you know it’s the best. Local beef producers Jarrod and Becca Creasy of 920 Cattle & Company recognize that and are working hard to produce the area’s best quality beef. They have also grown their business from a small cattle enterprise to a multi-faceted cattle and farming operation built on separate pillars of business undertakings. Read how hard work and technology have allowed them to diversify and accomplish more, from cattle breeding to holiday specialty meats and Agritourism. Speaking of tourism, our local Convention & Visitors Bureau has been hard at work promoting the many great attractions and events in and around Statesboro and Bulloch County all year! They’ve done an award-winning job according to Georgia’s Deputy Commissioner of Tourism, Kevin Langston. Find out how they manage to always find new ways to make Statesboro shine! Be sure to check-out our special sections for even more great ideas for outdoor adventures - Fall Fun, From the Farm and the Pocket Book! I’m sure you’ll find something to do to get you going, enjoying this great weather. Have Some Fun!

Joe McGlamery Publisher

Hunter McCumber Art Director

Erica Sellers Advertising & Marketing Director

Frank Fortune Contributing Photographer Statesboro Magazine is proudly produced by:

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL: esellers@StatesboroMagazine.com FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL: editor@StatesboroMagazine.com MAILING ADDRESS: PHYSICAL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 1084 16 Simmons Statesboro, GA Shopping Center 30459 Statesboro, GA 30458 p: 912.489.2181 f: 912.489.8613

March/April 2016 • 45

Jenny Foss, Editor

4 • Statesboro Magazine

Proud publishers of Statesboro Magazine, Weddings by Statesboro Magazine, and GSU’s official football program – FLIGHT!

Featured Contributors Frank Fortune Frank is the national award winning freelance photographer who holds the distinction of shooting 19 years’ worth of covers for Statesboro Magazine. He retired from Georgia Southern after having been responsible for capturing the University’s history on film and video for 30 years. Throughout his career Frank’s enjoyed all aspects of photography, including sports, still-life, landscape, and architecture. He and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of teens, Jack and Cate.

TRUE Blue

Congratulations! To our own

Erica Sellers! Named One of

Georgia Southern University’s ’40 Under 40’ Class of 2018 BBA 2004 MBA 2012

From Eagle Nation is a column brought to you by Georgia Southern University, where we cherish our place in the larger Statesboro community. In each issue, we hope to bring interesting and informative stories to the readers of Statesboro Magazine. Doy Cave is the Marketing Content Manager in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University, and resides with his family in Statesboro.

SPIRITUAL PATHWAYS Bill Perry grew up in Live Oak, Florida, a small town just south of Valdosta, GA. After graduating from Stetson University, he earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2004, he retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Statesboro after serving that congregation for 22 years. He and his wife, Margaret, registrar of Statesboro High School before her retirement in 2005, have two daughters, five grandsons, and one granddaughter. Bill has been very much involved in community life in Statesboro. He is an avid reader and has been a runner since 1973.

THE VIEW FROM HERE Ric Mandes, a popular essayist, retired after 27 years as Director of Public Relations and Development for Georgia Southern. His memories about growing up and living in South Georgia inspire his writings. He’s a published author and former newspaper columnist for the AJC.

Circulation Statesboro Magazine is published bi-monthly (six issues a year) at a $20.00 annual subscription rate by Statesboro Publishing Company, Inc. Standard postage paid at Statesboro, GA. To subscribe, email Statesboro Magazine Editor, Jenny Foss at jfoss@StatesboroMagazine.com or call 912.489.2181. The cover and contents of Statesboro Magazine are fully protected by copyright laws of the United States and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Statesboro Magazine. We are not responsible for loss of unsolicited inquiries, manuscripts, photographs, transparencies or other materials. Such materials will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. Address letters and editorial contributions to Statesboro Magazine, P.O. Box 1084, Statesboro, GA 30459. Copyright © 2017/2018 by Statesboro Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

September/October 2018 • 5

Dance. Giggle. Live.

From inpatient care to specialty care, we have the team and technology to take great care of kids. We want you and your family to Live your healthy. Go to SavannahHealthy.com to take a health quiz, find a physician or connect to a nurse 24/7. 6 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

Memorial Health

About the Cover

THE CULTURE

The Need to Feed T. Chad Montgomery Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune ��

920 Cattle & Company Jarrod & Becca Creasy

Special Sections

36 Fall Fun �� 46 Pocket Book ��52 From the Farm ��

4 Calendar of Events �� 8 News & Notes �� 10 Look Around �� 64 Transitions �� 66 From the Editor ��

FEATURED COLUMNISTS

The Culture The Winning Recipe Liz Morris Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune ��

IN EVERY ISSUE

From the Farm Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune ��

Local entrepreneur T. Chad Montgomery, owner of 4 & 20 Bakers, sources some muscadines from Poor Robin’s Garden in Screven County. Montgomery trades farm labor for the taste of sunshine in his hand-squeezed lemonade. He sells the refreshing drink along with some tasty sweets from Statesboro’s first food truck at the Main Street Farmers Market and at Georgia Southern tailgates. Pictured in the vineyard by award-winning photographer Frank Fortune.

True Blue Written by Doy Cave ��

The Spiritual Pathway Written by Rev. Dr. H. William Perry ��

Showcasing the Experience Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photographs courtesy SCVB ��

The View from Here Written by Ric Mandes ��

September/October 2018 • 7

September Sunday

monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1 GS vs SCState 6 p.m. Paulson Stadium

Tanya Tucker in

F1rst Friday

GS vs UMass

Concert

Taste of Downtown

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Paulson Stadium

GS PAC

Downtown Statesboro

Addams Family

29th Annual

Musical

Peanut Festival

7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.)

10 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Emma Kelly Theater

Downtown Brooklet

Gold City Quartet

Ole Scarecrow

Farmers Market

6 p.m.

Medicine Show

Fall Opening Event!

First Baptist Church

9 a.m. (Thur. & Fri.)

9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Emma Kelly Theater

Charlie Olliff Square

29 GS vs ArkState TBA Paulson Stadium

8 • Statesboro Magazine

October Sunday

monday 1

Tuesday 2

Wednesday 3

Columbus Day

The Devon Allman

The Orestes

Project

7:30 p.m.

Whitaker Black Box

Emma Kelly Theater

Theater (thru Sunday)

The Platters

57th Annual Kiwanis

3 p.m.

Ogeechee Fair

GS PAC

Oct. 15 – 20

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

F1rst Friday

GS vs SouthAL

Ag Night Out

TBA

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Paulson Stadium

Downtown Statesboro

(Homecoming)

Fair Parade 5 p.m. Grand Opening 6 p.m.

Main Street Farmers Market Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Charlie Olliff Square Downtown Statesboro

Nosferatu & the

Halloween

GS vs AppState

Rocky Horror LIVE!

7:30 p.m.

Paulson Stadium

Emma Kelly Theater

Peacherine Orchestra 7:30 p.m. GS PAC

September/October 2018 • 9

News & Notes

Sponsored by:

The Johnson Firm, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors

Y O U H AV E A C H O I C E Attorney Francys Johnson

www.francysjohnson.com | 912.225.1600 | 51 East Main Street

Doing Justice, Loving Mercy, Walking Humbly. — Micah 6:8

Center for Sustainability Grows more than Produce, Flowers in Campus Community Garden

Artistic Take on Technology Coming to Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art’s Contemporary Gallery Digital and physical worlds will collide this fall when Sphere’s “Here be Dragons” art exhibit comes to the Contemporary Gallery at the Center for Art & Theatre on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus from September 24 - October 26, 2018. There will also be an artist talk with Sphere on Monday, October 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in room 2071 of the Arts Building. A reception will follow at the Center for Art & Theatre from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sphere is an artist collective made up of Chris Wille and Brian Patrick Franklin whose work often explores the relationship between virtual and tangible objects. “Here be Dragons” is made up of digital and mixed-media work and addresses security and privacy in our electronic era. The artwork approaches the role and function of the Tor network, an important tool for maintaining anonymity on the internet, from varying angles seeking to give a physical and emotional presence to the activity traveling through the network. Wille and Franklin both have Master of Fine Arts degrees and are professors at Eureka College and Illinois State University, respectively. Sphere’s work has been on display at prominent festivals, in traditional galleries and at conferences including The World Maker Faire in New York City, The Digital Games Research Association Annual Summit in Salt Lake City and at Northwestern University’s Dittmar Memorial Gallery in Evanston, Illinois.

Mums, sunflowers, kale, squash, carrots and cucumbers are just a few things that can be found growing in the Campus Community Garden on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus. Responsibility, food independence and education can also be found thriving in the Garden, which is situated across from the Williams Center by the Hollis Building. Students have a unique opportunity to get their hands dirty and grow their own food by reserving a plot in the Garden and attending bi-weekly workshops on topics like soil science, natural fertilizers and harvesting. Since the Garden’s inception in 2015, it’s estimated more than 150 students have worked to grow their own food, learn about gardening and learn sustainable food practices. Students can reserve a plot with friends or can sign up individually to be paired with other students. Classes can also participate in this activity. The Garden is funded by student sustainability fees. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/sustainability.

Brooklet Drug Moves to New Location Lindsay and Jordan Walker, along with the pharmacists and staff of Walker Pharmacy’s Brooklet Drug Store, joined Statesboro/Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce members and the public at a recent ribbon cutting and open house for the store’s new location at 102 Parker Avenue in Brooklet. A focal point of the downtown business community since the Walker’s purchased the store in 2002, Brooklet Drug features both a pharmacy and gift shop which features jewelry, accessories and home decor. The store is a part of the Walker’s family of pharmacies including Walker Pharmacy & Boutique and Little Doses, both located in the Market District of Statesboro, plus Walker Pharmacy and Walker Home Medical on Northside Drive West, Statesboro. Brooklet Drug’s pharmacists, Vic Voiselle and Kaitlin Brannen, are both from the Brooklet community and are available to serve area residents Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Visit them online at www.walkerrx.com/brooklet-drug and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brookletdrugrx/ 10 • Statesboro Magazine

Bulloch Academy Cornerstone Capital Campaign Launches Public Phase with 72% of Funds Already Raised On Friday, August 17, 2018, Bulloch Academy hosted a pep rally, barbecue dinner, and live music show, to celebrate the initial success of a five-year Cornerstone Capital Campaign which has already reached 72% of its goal through donor pledges and alumni investment. The campaign was created to finance a $5.6 million building expansion plan that will allow the private school to increase enrollment and provide greater service to current students. “The Cornerstone Campaign is a five-year fundraising endeavor to support new classrooms, open an additional gymnasium, create a multi-use cafetorium, and secure access to our students through one safe entry point,” stated Mike Anderson, BA alumnus, Chairman of the Bulloch Academy Board of Directors, and Chair of the Cornerstone Campaign. The expansion plans will allow the school to grow from a current enrollment of 580 to almost 900 students. The Naming Gift part of the fundraiser started in October 2017, when the Board of Directors approved the expansion plans and the “quiet phase” of the campaign began. So far over $4 million has been pledged or donated. The Cornerstone Campaign will wrap up in 2021 during BA’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

Morrell McCaskill Joins Queensborough Bank as Market President Queensborough National Bank & Trust recently announced the appointment of Morrell McCaskill as wealth planner and market president of Statesboro. McCaskill has over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry, ranging from personal and commercial deposits and loans, insurance, retirement planning and investment management. McCaskill specializes in assisting clients in constructing plans based on their financial goals, as well as developing long-term plans with clients for ongoing management as they navigate through life’s financial journey. Originally from Albany, Georgia, McCaskill received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Georgia Southern University. He and wife, Juli, are very active in the Statesboro community. They both enjoy spending time outdoors, attending Georgia Southern events, Braves baseball and Atlanta Falcons football.

Willingway’s Outpatient Programs Expand Jim Kress, LPC, CADC II was hired in 2017 to supervise Willingway’s Outpatient Treatment Program and in the past year has expanded the outreach with new staff, new programs, and new ideas, all while maintaining Willingway’s tried and true approach to treating alcoholism and addiction. Kress has introduced three new areas of Outpatient Treatment. Willingway now has an Adolescent Program where teens are served through individual, group and family counseling. A weekly group has been formed on Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus to offer support and education to at risk students. An Opiate Reduction Services (ORS) program has been formed to address the opiate crisis in addiction. ORS assists individuals in the reduction of opioid medications as they strive towards full abstinence-based recovery. It is a unique program that provides clinical services and alternative therapies for pain relief to those who have become addicted to or physically dependent on prescribed opioid medications. Lastly, Willingway now has a Community Intensive Outpatient Group in the evenings that is separate from the Lodge. This has been specifically designed for people in the local recovery community or those transitioning into it. To learn more about Willingway’s new Outpatient Programs visit them at www.Willingway. com. Or contact them at 888-979-2140 to start the road to recovery. September/October 2018 • 11

The fifTh annual

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12 • Statesboro Magazine

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14 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

he Need to Feed Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

T. Chad Montgomery started out as a pie person. He remembers well having birthday blueberry pie instead of birthday cake as a child growing up in Syracuse, N.Y. “My sweet tooth should have its own zip code,” said Montgomery. “I know sweet. I believe in dessert before dinner.” His first job was milking cows and then working in a small restaurant where he cleaned, bussed tables and was able to observe the full operation. He also fell in love with the peanut butter pie. “It was unbelievable,” he said. His taste for sweets pushed him to his own family’s kitchen, where before long, he was creating his own desserts. Cooking and baking were always hobbies that his mother, Carrie, and his “Gramma Chad” encouraged. By 8th grade he was cooking calamari for his friends after school. Even during his high school days at teen parties he was cooking for his friends instead of partying. “I just always wanted to be a chef,” Montgomery said.

Following the Dream After high school, Montgomery took a four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps serving in Okinawa and Southern California before being discharged in 1989. He remained in Southern California for a while, working as a body guard, until he moved back to New York and started event planning and working as an MC, a business he built for seven years and then sold. While running the event planning business, Montgomery managed to obtain a degree in Animal Science at Morrisville State University, where he also played as a 30-year-old linebacker for the football team. After selling the business, Montgomery worked at a variety of jobs, including a turn as a pastry chef for Hilton Hotels & Resorts near Albany, N.Y. When Hilton wanted to promote Montgomery and offered to move him to a new hotel, he opted instead to move to Sylvania, about five years ago, to work with his 90-year-old father, Joseph, a retired guidance counselor and engineer from N.Y., who moved south to Screven County and purchased a 140-acre farm more than 20 years ago. In addition to helping his dad, Montgomery purchased 43 acres to carve out a sustainable organic farm for himself, all while also working at Georgia Southern as a custodian. After being promoted to a supervisory position at GS, Montgomery was able to realize a dream of buying a food truck and starting a mobile bakery. September/October 2018 • 15

Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye, Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened The birds began to sing— Wasn’t that a dainty dish To set before the king? The king was in the counting-house Counting out his money, The queen was in the parlor Eating bread and honey, The maid was in the garden Hanging out the clothes. Along came a blackbird And snipped off her nose. 16 • Statesboro Magazine

Food Truck Operator In March 2016, Montgomery was able to purchase a trailer that had been used as a concession stand. He reoutfitted it to serve as Statesboro’s first official food truck under a name drawn from a nursery rhyme his father recited to him as a child – Sing a Song of Sixpence, a pocket full of rye. Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie…” In a new food truck purchased recently, 4&20 Bakers has become a Statesboro fixture at the Main Street Farmers Market on Saturdays, at F1rst Friday events downtown and at Georgia Southern tailgates on home game weekends. 4&20 offers Montgomery’s sweet bakery creations, and in a mutually beneficial agreement with Three Tree Coffee Roasters, he offers their fair trade coffee, and Three Tree features 4&20’s bakery goods in the coffee shop on South Main Street. Montgomery also sells specialty lemonades from the food truck flavored with the fruits of the seasons that are locally sourced. As a food truck operator, Montgomery recognizes the importance of cooperative relationships with other farmers at the Market, restaurants, like Three Tree, with Georgia Southern and student interns. He credits Jill Johns, business advisor for the Business Innovation Group at Georgia Southern, and Suzanne Hallman, with helping him grow his businesses. “It’s all about relationships,” Montgomery said. “I support the farmers at the Farmers Market by using their fresh

strawberries, peaches and muscadines in our lemonade. To help ameliorate costs, I work on the farms and help with the upkeep of the orchards and vineyards.”

Baker Montgomery is known for the vast array of interesting ingredients and flavors he imparts to the 4&20 cupcakes that are now his specialty. “I like to let my cravings lead me to experiment with different combinations,” he said. “Martha Stewart was an early idol of mine. My recipes started with her.” Decadent creations such as chocolate Guinness® (as in the beer) ganache with Irish crème icing, or pumpkin spice with salted caramel icing, or 14 karat carrot cake, illustrate Montgomery’s sophisticated palate. Everything is made from scratch with ingredients sourced from the local farmers who are his friends from the Market. He uses farm fresh eggs from Anthony’s Roots; grapes from Poor Robin’s Garden; peaches from Ogeechee Peaches; strawberries from Jacob’s produce; bacon from Hunter Cattle Company; cream from Southern Swiss Dairy, to name just some.

Caterer He started his bakery and catering in a kitchen on the farm, but he’s now using the commercial kitchen at Black Creek Scout Reservation in Screven County as a home base for his catering operations as part of an arrangement which September/October 2018 • 17

includes feeding 240 boy scouts three meals-a-day, Monday – Friday, during the summer months. It takes an army to serve that many scouts, bake the sweets, make the lemonade, man the food truck, work the gardens, and help with Montgomery’s latest enterprise – custom wedding cakes to be featured in cooperation with Travis Phillips aka “Shug, the Painted Chef” at Hames Hall, Shug’s event venue located near Claxton, Georgia. To man his many enterprises, Montgomery enlists the help of Georgia Southern interns from Dietetics in the Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences, and also works with students from the Center for Sustainability and the Hospitality Management program in the College of Business Administration. His wedding and special occasion cake baker team is headed by Andrea, who is training Katie and Melody in design techniques (see photos). In the catering kitchen, Montgomery enlists Logan Moss and Cody Stilwell in perfecting his latest venture – pizza!

Restauranteur This fall, Montgomery is hoping to open a restaurant and event venue in Sylvania with business partner Amanda Wynn. Montgomery met Wynn when she was a counselor at the Veterans Administration’s Business Outreach Center. There Montgomery has also sought guidance in the development of his various business concerns. A U.S. Air Force reservist, Wynn and Montgomery will be opening a pizza oven, bakery and tea garden named Sixpence in downtown Sylvania. The tea garden will be available to rent for parties, receptions, luncheons and other special events. “I’m excited about our latest venture,” Montgomery said. “It is amazing the connections that I have been able to make through the many people I’ve met since coming here. I love this area. There are good people here who really want to help. There’s a dynamic student population with plenty of knowledge and enthusiasm, and with hard work and a little help from friends, there’s still plenty of room to grow new ideas and explore all the food service possibilities.” S 18 • Statesboro Magazine

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22 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

Jarrod & Becca Creasy Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

Faith – Family – Food

They grew up as farm kids. Both are from families with a rich heritage of farming the land and operating businesses related to agriculture. They each participated in 4-H and FFA. They showed cows and helped with chores. When they went away to college, both majored in Ag related fields. It’s how they met at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She was an academic advisor and teacher of economics, he was a student. Three or four years later, she was in Texas for a conference and he, having graduated ABAC, was working out there, ranching. They met up again, and found that they shared the same values and the same love of the farm family life. In 2014, they married and soon after began a journey to establish their own family farm by forming 920 Cattle & Company. Jarrod and Becca Creasy are living their dream of continuing a generational quest – preserving the small family farm way of life, and being successful in an industry that, through technology, is changing the landscape of rural America. “We believe our passion and purpose in life is agriculture,” said Becca. “We are one small family farm with big dreams and tall goals.” Those dreams are rooted in a strong Christian faith, a love and dedication to family, and a commitment to feeding others through their own hard work and determination.

Cattle – Culture – Cuisine

“We breed registered Brangus and Angus cows,” said Jarrod. “With technology, we are able to use genetics for improving our herd, and selling our top bulls to help others improve their herds.” The USDA developed and patented the technology for sorting genetic factors in the late 1980s. “Around here genetics have only been a factor for the past five or ten years,” Jarrod said. “I think Mr. Phil Denmark had 100 – 150 Limousin cows which were AI-ed (artificially inseminated). But, there’s been a generation gap.” The Creasys not only breed the herd to produce top bulls, they breed them to control the birth weight, so cows can have September/October 2018 • 23

an easier delivery in the field. They breed to control weening age and growth rate. “There’s been a lot of progress in this area,” said Jarrod. “It’s bringing producers back to cattle.” In addition to selling top bulls and their genetic products, the Creasys are also able to sell meat from those bulls not used in the program. The top bulls go to market. The surplus are processed and sold to consumers as quality beef. 920 Cattle & Company offers the beef for consumers through their website 920meats.com. The beef is available for both commercial and household consumption. Restaurants and consumers are guaranteed consistent, high quality meats that are readily available, locally grown and humanely harvested. The beef is part of the Georgia Grown program and provides the ultimate “farm to table” experience for consumers who are able to “know their farmer, know their food.” Cuts are individually wrapped and cold packed for shipping. The beef is available in quarters, halves and wholes. When a purchase is made, the customer has the option of customizing the order. Pork is also available through 920 Meats. The Creasys source the pork through another local producer, who uses the same high quality standards in raising and harvesting the livestock. The Creasys have mapped out a plan for continued growth. “We just purchased a storefront in Millen from Bobby Fries,” Jarrod said. “He had been in business as Fries Frozen Foods since 1948 – for 70 years. We opened this summer and that has really increased the demand for our meat.” 920 Meats is also able to process and package hogs, pigs, sheep, lambs and deer for consumers. A new concept the Creasys are working on for 920 Meats is a delivery service that will bring the quality meat products directly to the consumer’s door each month, each quarter or semi-annually. Three different sized boxes will be available and orders may also be customized with beef and pork options. The Creasys would like to expand by the spring of 2019 to farmers markets throughout the area on a seasonal basis. They also have plans to offer Tailgate Packs of hamburger, sausages and bratwurst this fall. With the holidays approaching, special promotional packages will be available with Boston butts and smoked ham. They are able to offer these quality meat products because the cattle on the farm are raised through forage based feeding, a program that feeds them with grasses, hay and silage. The bull calves and heifers are provided supplements and vitamins as needed. The herd grazes, maintains good condition, reproduces efficiently and produces a top quality tender meat product. 24 • Statesboro Magazine

September/October 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 25

When the Creasys did the math on the economics of buying hay versus growing their own, it was more cost effective to grow their own. Planting and harvesting hay became one of the pillars of their farming and cattle operation. They have 4,200 cutting acres of hay used for their herds and also sold under contract. That business is also expanding rapidly through not only farming outlets, but other commercial consumers of hay such as the University of Georgia, Zoos, the Animal Kingdom and Disney. In fact, the Creasys were called on recently to provide hay bales for a Disney movie production which filmed segments on Highway 46 in Bulloch County. “We’re looking to grow our hay production through the expansion of our contract base,” said Jarrod. To contain all that hay and the herds, the Creasys found that sometimes it was necessary to install fencing. “We now install farm, residential and commercial fencing,” said Jarrod. “Fencing complements the foraging and cattle operations. Once you already have the equipment, it just makes sense to do it. Installing fencing also helps with cash flow management. Fencing is stable and consistent work and it has really helped us to diversify.” Currently, the Creasys have two more cuts of hay coming up and nine to ten fencing jobs lined up.

Life – Love - Laughter

How do they keep up with all of their enterprises? They hire the right people. “Our goal is to be a desirable employer,” said Becca. “We want to provide a place where people want to work. We want to offer personal development, taking our employees to trade shows and introducing them to new developments within the industry. We don’t want it to always be all work, either. We plan time for recreation, too – fishing trips and quail hunts. We understood early on that people can do anything in their lives, so it’s important to us that they have chosen to help us build our dream.” “I learned by working for others,” Jarrod said. “For the longest time, at the end of the year, I didn’t really feel appreciated. Here we want it to be understood that our people work with us, not for us. We appreciate each and every one of them and their commitment.” The Creasys take seriously their stewardship of the farm land, the animals, their businesses and their 16-monthold daughter, Finley. “She is just the light of our lives,” said Becca. “She is a real farm girl.” And that’s a legacy that both Becca and Jarrod are working hard to sustain. “When we first started out, we were told ‘you can’t do that!’ or ‘that will never work,’ but we have stepped out on faith and made a commitment to our community, our employees and our families. The farm lifestyle is worth sustaining. Through our hard work and willingness to take some risks, we have been able to build something together that we hope will carry on in the future for our children and their children.” S 26 • Statesboro Magazine

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28 • Statesboro Magazine

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The Winning Recipe Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography by Frank Fortune

Local chef Elizabeth Sterling “Liz” Morris has a passion for food. She’s been a part of the local culinary scene for ten plus years, honing her skills and experimenting with recipes to make them her very own. Her most recent obsession is perfecting a recipe for shrimp and grits. She hopes her dish will be the winner when she competes for the coveted title of “Georgia’s Best Shrimp & Grits” at the celebrated Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, presented by Southern Living, September 14 – 16, 2018. A native of Statesboro, Morris’ culinary career began in 2009 after graduating from Statesboro High School. She worked as head night baker at Georgia Southern’s Landrum Dining Commons. Her shift lasted from 3:30 p.m. – midnight, during which she was responsible for baking 2,000 chocolate chip cookies, in addition to cakes, pies and other treats. “I enjoyed working with the students and asking them what they wanted. It allowed me to try different things,” said Morris. She has continuously worked in food service since then. She completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in the Culinary Arts at Ogeechee Technical College in 2014. “I just love it,” Morris said. “I’ve always been a baker – pies and cheesecakes are my favorites.” Morris gained an appreciation for creative presentations and recipes by cooking with her family growing up - her parents, local art teachers Perri Ann Dean and Bunyan Morris, and her grandmother, Blanche Morris, who taught her how to make biscuits and cobbler. “I gained a great appreciation for my grandmother, watching how much food she could produce. She had a big family to cook for and managed to feed them all from a tiny kitchen in a small country house,” said Morris. While baking is her specialty, Morris is adept in any kitchen.

30 • Statesboro Magazine

September/October 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 31

Liz Morris’ Pimento Cheese Recipe: Hand grated white and regular cheddar cheeses Add chopped pimentos Mayonnaise Plain yogurt Dash of whiskey Pepper to taste

Liz Morris’ tips for great Shrimp & Grits: Cream based broth on grits Parmesan cheese Chicken Stock Lime zest for acidity Georgia Grown shrimp from Prosser’s Seafood in Brooklet Freeman’s Stone Ground Grits Andouille sausage Bacon crumbles Cook the grits for at least 30 minutes 7-10 minutes on the shrimp 32 • Statesboro Magazine

She has utilized her culinary skills at Sugar Magnolia Bakery, LongHorn Steakhouse® and Eagle Creek Brewery, where she currently works in the evenings on her recipes, while collaborating with owner Franklin Dismuke and his mother, Gail Dismuke. Morris has her recipe almost perfected and is enjoying working on other recipes that pair well with the many craft beers Eagle Creek produces. “Our brewmaster, Zach Brenner, likes to make new craft beers in small batches to test what works and what doesn’t work well. I would like to collaborate on that and use the beer in our food,” said Morris. “I can see Spot Tail Blond Ale in a great beer cheese sauce, chicken wings smoked with beer, or brisket and bratwurst.” While baking is an exact science, Morris can be a creative cook with other dishes, using what’s on hand and incorporating fresh local ingredients as much as possible. Not one to measure precisely when not baking, Morris relies more on taste when seasoning and combining flavors. “I toss in ingredients at home,” she said. “I just go to the

pantry and see what we have. Last week I found roasted red peppers, garlic and red onion. I melted some butter and simmered those ingredients into a great sauce.” Morris also likes to test the limits of what she can do. She will practice and repeat until the recipe is perfected. And, she is keen to make sure the food looks as good as it smells. “People eat with their eyes, so I enjoy making pretty presentations with my food,” she said. At the Shrimp & Grits Festival, Morris, representing Eagle Creek Brewery, will be competing against defending champion West Egg Café of Atlanta. Other competing restaurants include The Local Kitchen & Bar of Tifton, Aubri Lane’s of Milledgeville, Southern Soul Barbeque of St. Simons Island, Sweet Potato Café of Stone Mountain, and another local favorite, Honey Café of Millen and Statesboro. If Morris wins, she already has plans for the $2,000 cash prize. “I’m going to put the winnings down on my student loans and probably save for my next culinary adventure,” she said. S September/October 2018 • 33

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FROM the FARM

• Georgia has 10.1 million acres of farm land

• This land covers 28 percent of the state from the coast to the mountains • 2/3 of Georgia’s counties are AG producers • 1 in 7 Georgians is employed in agriculture, forestry or related fields • 87% of Georgia farms are family owned • Georgia has a $13 billion farm gate value including top commodities • Georgia is the leading producer of both broilers and chicken eggs • Poultry and eggs contribute over $5.4 billon to Georgia’s farm gate value • More than 2/3 of Georgia’s counties are involved in poultry production or processing Georgia ranks second nationally in acreage and production of cotton • There are more than 14,000 peanut farmers in the state • Those farmers produce 42% of the U.S.’s peanuts

36 • Statesboro Magazine

Thank you for placing an ad with Statesboro Magazine. Below is your proof. Please check it closely and let us know right away if there are any changes needed. * A watermark will appear over the ad when printing. *

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40 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

Showcasing the Experience Award Winning Local Visitors Center Leads the Way in Promoting Statesboro & Bulloch County Written by Jenny Starling Foss Photography Supplied by Visit Statesboro! If you’ve ever floated on an inner tube on the Lazy River at Splash in the Boro or spent the night in the barn loft listening to the lowing of the cows at Hunter Cattle Company, then you know a little something about the great experiences that await visitors to Statesboro and Bulloch County. When looking for another creative way to market the area’s attractions, Becky Davis, Executive Director of the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) thought what better way than to invite the State of Georgia’s Visitor Information Center specialists to Statesboro for their 10th Annual Convention. Davis’ plan included treating those who directly influence Georgia’s tourists on a daily basis to a taste of Statesboro’s fun side. “Hosting a conference of this magnitude was a daunting task but it was important to me for so many reasons. I know that it’s much more impactful for Statesboro’s tourism story to be told by people who have truly experienced it,” said Davis. “It’s the difference between reading about Splash in the Boro and really surfing on the Flow Rider or seeing a photo of Steve Hein during a flight show versus actually feeling the breeze from a bird of prey skimming just above your head.” Creating those experiences for the RVIC convention attendees was part of two year planning process. “We began the extensive bid process in 2016 by submitting detailed agendas and budgets that included FAM Tours, training sessions, entertainment, meals/lodging, conference space and transportation for attendees. We hosted the selection committee on numerous site visits and were thrilled to be awarded the conference in the late summer of 2017. With the help of our community partners and sponsors, we were able to showcase Statesboro to over 100 tourism professionals from all over Georgia as well as the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) without using money from the SCVB operating budget,” stated Davis. The annual RVIC Conference is critical to the success of the Visitor Information Centers and provides the opportunity for staff members to discuss strategy and share pertinent information that is vital to the tourism industry. The annual RVIC Conference consists of presentations, panel discussions, tours and social events designed to maximize participation and interaction among the 60 RVICs and 12 state Visitor Information Centers in Georgia. September/October 2018 • 41

“Visitor Information Center Specialists disperse a tremendous amount of information to large numbers of people on a daily basis but now they can tell travelers, in their own words and from their own experiences, exactly why they should stop & stay in Statesboro,” said Davis. In addition to hosting the RVIC conference, in the past year the SCVB has also hosted Travel Writer Familiarization Tours (FAM Tours for short), and Visitor Information Center Specialists FAM Tours. The SCVB invested in other programs and innovations to promote tourism including implementing a successful retail program focusing on “Made in the Boro” products as well as featuring Statesboro souvenirs for visitors. They have launched a new Visit Statesboro! Website and produced new TV commercials for feeder markets. The SCVB also created tourism experiences through the Ogeechee International History Film Festival and the Amazing Blue Mile Challenge, a combination scavenger hunt/foot race designed for teams of competitors to compete for prizes. The SCVB operates with proceeds from the city’s and county’s hotel/motel tax. They do not have members or charge for any promotional services provided to community partners such as the Averitt Center for the Arts, Splash in the Boro, the Georgia Southern Wildlife Education Center and private attractions including businesses that offer an experience for visitors like Hunter Cattle Company. The SCVB markets and promotes everything that makes Statesboro/Bulloch County a great destination. That’s why being innovative in marketing the community and the area is so important and results in big dividends for residents and visitors. The SCVB’s success resulted in the Visitor Center being honored at this year’s RVIC conference. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s role as host of the 10th annual conference this year. Not only do I want to congratulate the Statesboro CVB for hosting a wildly successful event, but for also winning the highlycoveted Regional Visitors Information Center of the Year Award during the conference,” stated Kevin Langston, the GDEcD’s Deputy Commissioner of Tourism. “Georgia’s Tourism industry is only as successful as the efforts our partners, and our RVIC program and annual conference shines a spotlight on the tourism industry professionals who welcome millions of guests to the state each year.” The Statesboro CVB is the first RVIC to host the conference and win the award in the same year. Director of the Georgia Southern Museum and SCVB Board President Brent Tharp summed up the SCVB’s overall success when he stated, “Statesboro and Bulloch County are fortunate to have such a creative and dynamic staff at the SCVB. Becky and marketing manager Justin Samples have developed some especially innovative programs. They are not content to just do what others are doing, but rather they are always investigating new ideas and programs to best promote our area’s unique assets and overcome our specific challenges. They accomplish so much with a small staff in part because of their incredible energy, but also because of their commitment to working in partnership with community individuals and organizations in showcasing all the great things Statesboro and Bulloch County have to offer visitors and tourists.” S

42 • Statesboro Magazine

September/October 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 43

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September/October 2018 • 45

Fall Fun Now that our favorite season is here, we’ve compiled a section of fun fall activities that will ensure you and your family get the most out of the great weather and many special events planned in the area. ‘Tis the season for football, festivals and fairs. The Eagles, Blue Devils, Gators, Jackets, Dawgs and other fan favorites are back on the field and offer a great way to enjoy a Friday night or Saturday evening at the game. Scarecrows are popping up everywhere, while the pumpkins, apples and pears are ready for picking; the peanuts are boiling and the barbeque is smoking! Now is the time to plan on attending one of the great outdoor adventures featured here. Autumn flies by in a flash, so be sure to take advantage of the crisp weather, beautiful foliage and fun events!

46 • Statesboro Magazine

H ANNUA T L 11

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The 11th Annual Turkey Trot 5K is Saturday, November 17. It’s fun for you, the whole family or your team to walk or run. Register online at Active.com. More information, forms and sponsorship details are available at www. bullochschools.org/foundation. Start on Courthouse Square, enjoy the scenic route through downtown, and end your trek at the Main Street Farmers Market, the Averitt Center for the Arts or fuel up at one of our local Blue Mile restaurants. Registration is $20 for students or members of teams of five or more. Individual registration is $25 prior to Nov. 2, and $30 from Nov. 3 until race day. All proceeds provide innovation grants for Bulloch County Schools’ teachers and teachers of the year and provide REACH Georgia Scholarships to deserving youth.

Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair celebrates 57 years during Oct 15 - 20, 2018. Having formed new partnerships with area businesses, the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro is looking forward to entertaining 60,000 guests for six glorious days. Join us for a little food, a little heritage, a little education, a little competition and a whole lot of fun. There’s something old, something new and something full of surprises. Every dollar raised at the gate supports $200,000 in donations to area charities in Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Jenkins, Screven and Tattnall Counties. Come join in the family fun. Call: 912-682-7824. Oct 15 - 20, 2018 Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds http://www.kiwanisogeecheefair.org/ For up-to-date information and schedules.

statesboroturkeytrot@gmail.com http://www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/foundation Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot

September/October 2018 • 47

FALL PLANT SALE ALL SALES BENEFIT THE GARDEN

OCT 27-28

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at synovus main street, statesboro Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University The Garden features over 11 acres of gardens on the early twentieth century farmstead of Dan and Catharine Bland, and offers woodland trails, a landscape garden of coastal plain natives, a native azalea collection, an arboretum, a children’s garden, a complex of early 20th century farm buildings, the Rural Life Museum, the Whelchel Camellia Garden, heritage gardens, a bog and sandhill, and the Kennedy Outdoor Classroom. The Garden is a research and educational resource for faculty and students and provides undergraduate and graduate programs, projects, and internships as well as continuing education programs of interest to the community. Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale Saturday, October 26th (9:00-3:00) and Sunday, October 27th (1:00-4:00) Bring garden questions + photos of your yard. Consult the experts and shop the Plant Sale with their help. Annuals/Perennials/Shrubs/Trees--All chosen to succeed in our conditions. All sales benefit the garden! Thank you so much for your support. 912-478-1149 http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/garden/ 1503 Bland Avenue, Statesboro, GA

48 • Statesboro Magazine

Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market The Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market is an assembly of local growers, craftsmen and chefs coming together to provide fresh and locally produced products. The Fall Market Festival on September 22 celebrates the arrival of fall, the return of cool weather produce, and the beginning of the fall buying season for craft vendors. Shopping by Lantern Light on Tuesday November 20th, 6-8pm is the last market of the season. This event kicks off the holiday season and is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner needs and Christmas shopping. Main Street Farmers Market

http://statesborofarmersmarket.com/ Saturday Mornings, 9AM-12:30PM April to November 2 East Main St. (the Charlie Olliff Square at Sea Island Bank) Main Street, Statesboro, GA Market2Go

http://statesborofarmersmarket.com/market2go/ Thursdays 4:30-6:30PM Sugar Magnolia’s Bakery, 106 Savannah Ave C, Statesboro, GA Thursdays 5-6PM Victory Garden General Store, 124 West Telephone Street, Sylvania, GA

International Festival October 27, 2018 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mill Creek Regional Park

FREE ADMISSION Performances, Market, Food, Games & Global Village GeorgiaSouthern.edu/IntFest

Georgia Southern University International Festival

First Baptist Church Fall Festival

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2018 Annual International Festival! Elementary, middle and high schools, as well as home and charter schools, from various surrounding counties team with international students from the Georgia Southern’s Global Ambassadors Program to create educational country booths. These booths form the Global Village which will represent several countries chosen by each school. Factual information, arts & crafts, and other educational activities will be available at each booth. Come see what the students create! There is also free international arts & crafts for children including the calligraphy, henna hand print, face painting, creating Chinese Lanterns, Mexican Paper Flowers, Japanese Hanging Fish, Kabuki Warrior Mask, Global Village Search and much more! Purchase unique items from various international bazaar vendors and enjoy food from around the world in the International Food Court.

Celebrate the change in seasons with an evening of fun for the ENTIRE family! Everyone is welcome to this community event. We’ll have free food, inflatables, rides, and games. Open to all ages. October 24, 2018, 5:00-8:00 pm First Baptist Church 108 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA www.fbc-statesboro.org

October 27, 2018 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mill Creek Regional Park Free Admission! GeorgiaSouthern.edu/IntFest

September/October 2018 • 49

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When looking for the authentic Statesboro experience check-out the Pocket Book section - your guide to everything you’ll want to see and the places you’ll want to be while you’re exploring the area. Here you’ll find the area’s best attractions and entertainment in a handy reference section for planning your next adventure or outing. Whether you take a dip at Splash in the Boro, take in a performance at the Averitt Center for the Arts or play a round of golf at Georgia Southern’s 18-hole championship golf course, you’ll find your next adventure awaits here, in the Pocket Book!

Statesboro, Georgia Today, the only thing blue in Statesboro is the soft southern sky. A progressive “college” community, Statesboro offers Division-1 spectator sports and the arts culture associated with a regional university. Home to the only semi-pro soccer team in the state, the Tormenta FC, Statesboro is prosperous and always full of activity. Experience the quaint downtown on a walking tour of historical buildings. You’ll find excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment through-out the community. Statesboro and Bulloch County have the state’s top recreational facilities, plus attractions like Splash in the Boro waterpark and Hunter Cattle Company. Actors Danny McBride, Sutton Foster and Bubba Lewis are natives. Local products include Braswell’s jams & jellies, Kim’s Cheese Straws, B&G Honey, and CMG guitars. www.statesboroga.gov

50 East Main Street | Statesboro, GA 30458 912-764-5468

52 • Statesboro Magazine

Statesboro POCKETBOOK 2018 Averitt Center for the Arts The grand focal point of Statesboroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revitalized downtown. From the Main Gallery and the Emma Kelly theater in a renovated bank and movie theater, the ACA now operates five repurposed buildings in the business district, including the Center for Performing Arts, the Whitaker Black Box Theater, The Rosengart Gallery, and the Roxie Remley Center for Fine Arts. Through sponsorships and donors the ACA raises the standards for Arts education encouraging cultural and artistic development for area youth and adults. This ACA offers a performance series of renowned shows. Averitt STARs productions, youth dance and theater showcases, chorale, and chamber orchestra. Visit online to view the current schedule and purchase tickets.

www.averittcenterforthearts.org

33 East Main Street | Statesboro, GA 30458 912.212.2787

Visit Statesboro! Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau The Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomes you to Statesboro, Georgia, a unique city where the Eagles soar. Its foundation is based on traditions that celebrate the Southern lifestyle while embracing a new age energy derived from the local university and colleges. We have information on what to do, where to stay, play, and dine, group accommodations, and locations for your meeting or convention. Discover the culture, flavors, people, sights, sounds, and traditions found only in Statesboro. The fun begins here! www.visitstatesboroga.com

222 South Main Street, |Statesboro, GA 30458 800-568-3301

September/October 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ 53

Statesboro POCKETBOOK 2018

The Georgia Southern Golf Course at University Park Voted one of Golf Digest Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best New Courses of 2014, this 18-hole championship course is a beautiful addition to the Georgia Southern campus. Open to the public, the course features a full practice facility with driving range, practice greens and bunkers. Our staff of PGA Professionals provides instructional programs and clinics throughout the year, while our full-service Golf Shop offers club fitting and regripping, as well as a unique selection of Georgia Southern logoed merchandise and apparel. Our course is also an outstanding venue for your next fundraiser, business meeting or event. We offer on-site catering services and can accommodate a variety of set-ups. www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/golf

1031 Golf Club Road | 912. GSU.GOLF Facebook: GSGolfCourse Twitter: @GSGolfCourse

Splash in the boro Splash in the Boro is a family water park located just inside Mill Creek Park in Statesboro, GA. We have several features that appeal to all ages including our NEW wave pool! The park has the only double FlowRider in Georgia, a 5-lane Mat Racer, a large Spray Pad and slides for toddlers, 3 large tube slides, a lazy river, and more. Summer waterpark hours are mid-May until Labor Day. Splash in the Boro offers season tickets, birthday parties and discounted grou prates, as well as programs such as Water Aerobics Classes, Arthritis Therapy classes, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Driving Lessons, and Park rentals. Bring your family and friends for a fun day! www.splashintheboro.com

1388 Highway 24 East | Statesboro, GA 30461 912-489-3000

54 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

Statesboro POCKETBOOK 2018 Georgia Southern University Georgia’s “large-scale, small-feel” University, Georgia Southern has 20,673 full-time students and is the largest comprehensive center of higher education south of Atlanta. With a Division I , bowl-winning football team, GS is considered a powerhouse in the Sun Belt athletic conference with 17 different teams including men’s and women’s basketball and soccer as well as baseball and softball.Year round, there is always a season in play for the Eagles. Check out sports schedules at gseagles.com The campus also offers several venues open to the public for daily tours and special events: the Wildlife Education & Raptor Center, the Botanic Garden, the Planetarium, the Center for Art & Theatre, the Georgia Southern Museum, the Nessmith Lane Conference Center and the Performing Arts Center. Visit georgiasouthern.edu/campuslife. www.georgiasouthern.edu

1332 Southern Drive | Statesboro, GA 30458 912-478-4636

BULLOCH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL COMPLEX The Bulloch County Agricultural Complex is a multi-purpose complex that was built by local SPLOST monies. The Complex consists of a 54,000 sq-foot covered main area, a 38,500 sq-foot covered practice arena, a 218-stall livestock barn, and a 54-site RV lot with full utilities. While the complex may operate some of its own programs or shows, the facility will mainly be rented out to organizations. The Complex will open in late 2018/ early 2019. www.bullochag.com

44 Arena Boulevard | Statesboro, GA 30458 912-871-7265

September/October 2018 • 55

Check Out All of the Great Events From the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Class.Georgiasouthern.edu

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Discover the great outdoors at Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro Campus. Tour a wetland habitat and see a wildlife demonstration at our CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION AND LAMAR Q BALL, JR. RAPTOR CENTER. Then, learn about native coastal plants at our BOTANIC GARDEN. Find out what the landscape was like during the Civil War and the time of the dinosaurs at the MUSEUM. Plan your trip at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/visit. 58 • Statesboro Magazine

True Blue GS s Doy Cave

It’s Like Game of Thrones... but with Plants In his seminal work, Walden, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to see a war — tribal plant species fighting for survival, eradicating their enemies through violent and horrific means — kind of like ‘Mortal Kombat’ without the screams and blood, and with super slow-finishing moves.” Okay, so that isn’t really a quote from Walden, but according to John Van Stan, it should be. Van Stan is associate professor of geography at Georgia Southern and has a keen interest in the darker side of the plant world. To explore this topic, he created a YouTube channel entitled “plantBRUTALITY,” with videos that illustrate the ways plants exercise violence in their supposedly tranquil kingdom. “If you look at the forest the right way — in a comprehensive way — you see a Game of

Thrones-ian story that is unfolding before your eyes,” he said. “You’re kind of immune from it. You’re walking by a plant that is launching an attack that takes years to complete. So, you can see the bullet coming, but you can walk around it. “I think that should add even greater interest and mystery to the forest.” As the perfect example of the darkness of the plant world, Van Stan offers the hideous, the treacherous...mistletoe. Mistletoe? Seriously? Mistletoe is a beautiful plant we often associate with holiday romance, but Van Stan says it’s also one of the most sinister plants known to scientists. It’s a keystone parasite whose lovely white seeds are filled with super sticky goop that can pass through a bird’s digestive system almost completely intact and still attach to a tree, where it begins its gruesome mission.

Once attached, the mistletoe penetrates the tree with its fang-like haustoria, structures which sink into the tree’s veins and feast on its nutrients. As the mistletoe grows and thrives, it keeps its host in state between life and death — alive enough to keep feeding itself without killing its victim in the process. “Mistletoe is a vampire,” said Van Stan. “Mistletoe is almost a zombie. Recent research has found that mistletoe can survive without a type of protein that’s fundamental to life in all other multicellular life forms. So mistletoe is a parasitic vampire zombie plant.” But mistletoe is only the beginning! There is the murderous strangler fig, whose seeds also pass through birds and land upon a tree. For years, it grows slowly, slowly, circling the tree with thin branches like latticework, growing downward until it reaches the ground. As it draws up nutrients and strength, the strangler fig earns its name by literally strangling the tree until it dies and rots away, leaving a beautiful, hollowed-out latticework, lording over the grave of its victim. There is the bladderwort, whose tiny vessels, armed with a literal hair trigger, sit in water and wait for a small insect or crustacean to get close enough to set off its trap. In mere milliseconds, and with up to 2,800 times the force of gravity, the bladderwort sucks its victim into its vessel and slowly digests what remains of it. There are cobra lilies and venus fly traps and other carnivorous plants. There are walnut trees who rain poison onto the ground to keep competitors from growing underneath them. There are trees which shade out their competitors, literally suffocating them to death. “It’s a brutal community oftentimes,” said Van Stan. Van Stan says his hope isn’t that people will burn down the forests to make trees pay for their plant-on-plant violence. Instead, he hopes that people will have a better understanding of the plant world around them. He says understanding both the positives and negatives of plants can give people a more “careful hand” in trying to conserve certain areas or regions, help people in developing sustainable agriculture, and even guide people as they shop for certain plants locally. But talking about the insidious side of plants is also fun for Van Stan, who admits he enjoys exposing this little-known side of the plant world. “I think we have this noble perception of plants that I’d like to tarnish a little bit,” he said. “Maybe that’s the troll in me.” September/October 2018 • 59

PROFESSIONAL EYE CARE A MEMBER OF

WELCOMES DR. MORROW!

Preparing Students for Success and Enhancing Community Value Read our 2017-18 Annual Report online

Dr. Erika Morrow, M.S., O.D. graduated magna cum laude at the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2012 and received her Doctorate of Optometry and Masters of Vision Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she graduated with honors in 2016. Dr. Morrow brings knowledge and passion about Dry Eye Syndrome and is adamant about treatment plans which offer relief from dry eye symptoms including redness, irritation, itching, and watering. She is an advocate for pediatric eye care and spreading awareness on the importance of early eye care for infants and children and is a provider for InfantSEE, a program providing one wellness eye exam for all 6-12 month old infants to ensure their eyes are healthy and not at risk for amblyopia (“lazy eye”). She and her husband, Brian Morrow, moved to Statesboro in July 2017, have three dogs and enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, & spending time with family and friends. She is looking forward to getting involved in the Statesboro community and building lasting relationships with her patients as she makes Statesboro her new home.

HORACE DEAL, O.D. / ERIKA MORROW, M.S., O.D.

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT 214 Savannah Avenue | Statesboro, GA 912.764.5609 | www.drdeal.net

60 • Statesboro Magazine

www.bullochschools.org 912.212.8500

The Spiritual Pathway s Rev. Dr. H. William Perry

Encourage Others with Appreciation William James, American teacher and writer of a century ago, thought by many to be the most influential philosopher the United States has ever produced, was asked what he had discovered that all people have in common. He said, “Each of us, young or old, rich or poor, famous or otherwise, has a desire to be appreciated.” I think he’s right. A man was telling his friend about a significant increase in salary he had just received. “My boss is a fine man and the raise he gave me came at a good time. He must like my work but I wish he had said so. I need the money, but I think I need a pat-on-the-back even more. I try to do the best I can, but sometimes I get pretty discouraged.” Praise is a wonderful vitamin that perks up the spirit. It sure is an encourager. I wonder how many hundreds of times I have remembered what our three-year-old son said to me just a couple of months before his death in a traffic accident. I had bought a pumpkin and brought it into the kitchen to fashion a Jack-O’-Lantern out of it. Jon Bill stood in a chair beside me, watching every move I made. When I finished the carving and put a candle in it, he looked over at me

with this strange look on his face and said, “Daddy, you can do anything!” That statement is one of the most precious possessions in my treasure chest. Sometimes appreciations come in unusual forms. Before James Michener became a best-selling author he worked as an editor for Macmillan. The company owned a handsome gray building on Fifth Avenue in New York City. There were two entrances to the building. The one in the front was an imposing large door, and only the upper echelon of employees was allowed to enter there. All the others entered by a small door on the side of the building. One day one of the most important editors said these precious words: “We’ve been watching you, Michener, and you seem to be one of us. From now on you can use the big door.” Mr. Michener rightly took that comment as a word of appreciation. I had gone down to the front of the church and sat down on the floor, waiting on the children to come down for their story. The first little girl sat next to me, looked up at my face and said, “Dr. Perry, you’re not bad looking for an old man.” Yes, I know that’s not the best kind of compliment, but I still think

of it as a word of appreciation. Some times our appreciation is for God and what He has done for us. Often I carry a little wooden cross in my pants pocket. Every time I feel it I am reminded of what Jesus did for me, and I pause to give thanks. Samuel Brengle was an early leader of the Salvation Army. After finishing college and seminary he joined up with this group and often preached in the squares of Boston. One day as he was delivering a powerful sermon a man threw a brick at Mr. Brengle, hitting him forcefully in the head. It took a year and a half to recover from his injury. But during that recuperation period Mr. Brengle wrote books and articles, and the Salvation Army leaders said he reached many, many more people through his writing than through his preaching. Later Samuel Brengle was heard to say, “If there had been no brick there would have been no books.” That was his way of giving thanks to God. Yes, we all need to feel appreciated. And there is a bunch of people around us who need to hear us say, “Thank You!” We all can be encouragers. September/October 2018 • 61

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The View From Here s Ric Mandes

Yesterday Revisited

“OKAY,” Ramsey offered? He had discovered my sixty-year-old Army combat boots. In a blink of an eye, there I was, a recruit running in the sands of Fort Bliss, Texas. Sixteen weeks of grueling reality of hell. And the cadre made no bones about it. “If any of you girls start to whimper, we know just how to stop the tears.” It was tough to the point of cruelty. Unrelenting they pushed and screamed and hollered, but what kept us going is our knowing they were trying to prepare us for war when shipped out to Korea. And those boots were my footwear for the tough terrain of West Texas or Korea Ramsey said quietly, “Mr. Ric, you still with me?” “You bet,” I replied softly, still filled with fumes of the hot sand when we were on a three mile run fully packed. His next discovery was a collection of black and white pictures of my tenth birthday. I’m holding a homemade chocolate cake with all my cousins and two buddies standing with me. We were in Granny’s backyard. The only common marks were the dirty faces of us all. One of my cousins, Eddie, had the responsibility each evening of calling Betsy and Belle, their two milk cows, out of the woods into the barn. They had bells around their necks, allowing those chimes to fill the bounteous Dock Junction pastures, letting Eddie know they were on their way. I stood in awe the first time I watched Eddie’s strong hands release that sweet liquid from the cow’s sack into an aluminum pail. Later Eddie would strain up and deliver it to his mama, Peggy, for the icebox. The first time I watched this beautiful nature activity I suddenly felt my face full of the warm liquid as Eddie aimed that udder right at me. Often I would hear the evening bells of Bessie and Belle headed for the barn and Eddie. And I would join them as Edie milked and chatted with me. I shared this story with my men of the bay during my two years of military service in Europe. It moved me as I sat at a sidewalk Café in Paris talking about Cousin Eddie and Bessie and Belle. The one person who sat through this Southern saga that I was always ready to recount was my buddy Wayne Hutchinson from Kansas City. I met Hutch when I was

assigned to the I G Farben Building located in Frankfurt, Germany, called the Little Pentagon. We lived in Gibbs Barracks in twelve men’s bays. From the very beginning Hutch and I became close buddies. In the 1950’s stenography was an art for transcribing dictation. Action in meetings, etc., Hutch was a master of stenographic activity, and in so being, was assigned to the General’s staff. In late December of ’53 we were transferred to Camp Deloges located on the edge Paris. The French were awful in their behavior toward G.I.’s. Often I would want to confront them with “Hey assholes, we freed your country by kicking the Germans all the way back to Berlin. Remember the infamous picture of Hitler standing on the sacred balcony of The Sacre Coeur watching Paris burn?” Hutch sat me down and said, “Calm your resentment. It is a waste on these bastards.” During our nearly two-year friendship, Hutch was the wise owl. In February 1955, we flew home to Westover Airbase. We

stood in the receiving area to say goodbye. Goodbye to the most endearing individual I had come to know during my twenty-four months of military duty. Without a word Hutch grabbed me in a tight hug and said, “Always listen for the music.” With that he turned and walked away, a forever amputation, knowing it was over. Complete. Never to see one another again. We were left to remember, keeping alive our once-upon-atime through storied memories. My first night home lying in bed waiting for the kind invasion of sleep, my eyes remained open; had I lived in Gibbs Barracks, had I sat at a Paris sidewalk café, had Hutch and I flown to Bastogne for my twenty-first birthday to see the white crosses running on forever; young men and women who died during that terrible Battle of the Bulge? What brought this on? Maybe the return of the cacophony of crickets and frogs. Or was it the fireflies doing there nocturnal dance as if I had never gone away? September/October 2018 • 63

LOOK AROUND Blind Willie McTell Blue Mile Art Installation Bronze Statue Dedication Friday, August 31, 2018 Statesboro Visitors Center South Main Street

64 â&#x20AC;˘ Statesboro Magazine

September/October 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ 65

TRANSITIONS

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” - Dr. Maya Angelou Ms. Vicktoria C. Adair

06.19.18

Mr. Ted Gallop

07.14.18

Mr. James Elmer “Jim” Owens, Jr.

07.21.18

T.Sgt. Ret. Robert R. “Bob” Aegan

07.06.18

Mrs. Nettie Sims Glisson

06.11.18

Mrs. Lottie Mae Baldwin Lanier Parker

07.08.18

Mr. Walter Mathews Aldred

06.15.18

Mr. Samuel Lawton “Sammy” Glisson

06.25.18

Mr. George E. “Buster” Pelote, Sr.

05.14.18

Mr. Thomas Durwood Anderson

07.04.18

Mrs. Diane Marie Onofrio Graham

07.12.18

Mr. James Perdue, Jr.

06.06.18

Rev. Joseph “Joe” Anderson, Sr.

07.23.18

Mr. Arthur Lee Hay, Jr.

07.27.18

Mr. Eugene Talmadge “Gene” Phillips

07.03.18

Mr. Richard C. Armstrong

05.27.18

Mr. Edward Lenox “Ed” Haymans

06.22.18

Mr. George W. Pollard

05.26.18

Mrs. Marie (Ree) Washburn Bailey

05.21.18

Mr. Frred R. Helmuth

06.10.18

Mrs. Sugar Pryor

05.13.18

Mrs. Hazel Brown Barber

06.10.18

Mr. Kerry Hendrix

06.17.18

Mrs. Jennie Louise Beall Pullen

05.30.18

Mrs. Kay Minkovitz Beynart

06.12.18

Mrs. Dorothy Liuise Rushing Iler

06.13.18

Mrs. Ruby Lee Reddick

05.21.18

Mr. James Carlton “Carl” Bishop

07.09.18

Ms. Ardrena Jackson

05.31.18

Mr. Larry Bruce Redman

06.17.18

Mr. Walter L. Blackwell

06.07.18

Mrs. Leslie Diana DeMarcus Jacobs

06.12.18

Mrs. Janice Gay Renz

07.08.18

Ms. Jennifer Rose Bolton

07.19.18

Mrs. Juanita Oglesby Jenkins

07.20.18

Mrs. Pauline Jones Rethmel

07.10.18

Mr. Jimmie Lamont Boyd

06.22.18

Mr. Tamashe’ Diquan Jones

06.01.18

Mr. Carmine Michael Riccio

05.13.18

Mrs. Lula Mae Boyd

06.05.18

Mr. John Wesley (J.W.) Key, Sr.

05.31.18

Mr. Sammy Rodriguez-Figueroa

05.12.18

Ms. Kim Sapp Phillips Boyles

05.29.18

Mrs. Eileen Koelln Brigdon King

05.25.18

Mr. Albert Julius “Ab” Roesel, Jr.

07.11.18

Mr. Joshua Heath Bradley

06.03.18

Mrs. Almanette V. Lampson

06.20.18

Mrs. Mary Kinchen Rucker

07.22.18

Mrs. Marie Martin Bragg

05.25.18

Mrs. Angela Goodwin “Angel” Lancaster 06.30.18

Mrs. Olive Hughes Schilling

05.02.18

Mrs. Alma Cribbs Bragg

06.03.18

Mrs. Ocelia Morris Lee

05.19.18

Mrs. Eula Mae Scott

05.22.18

Mrs. Eloise Tucker Brannen

05.31.18

Ms. Retha Mae Lester

07.27.18

Mrs. Brittie Elberta Scales Motes Simmons 05.31.18

Ms. Faye McClelland Brittingham

04.08.18

Mr. William Rountree “Billl”” Lewis, Jr.

06.17.18

Mr. Jimmy Wayne “Bubba” Smith

05.19.18

Mr. Manzy Vernon Brown

06.21.18

Mr. William O. “Billy” Lewis, Sr.

05.16.18

Mrs. Mary Etta Spaulding

06.11.18

Mrs. Mamie Sue Gerrald Burroughs

07.15.18

Mr. Tristin Lee Locklear

05.22.18

Mr. David Russel Spillman

07.24.18

Ms. Alise Bradley Campbell

06.04.18

Mr. Brandon Trey Lovely

07.03.18

Coach Jack Thomas Stallings

06.20.18

Mrs. Yvonne Hooks Chester

06.05.18

Mrs. Mary Michelle Rawls Lovett

07.03.18

Mrs. Joan Duncan Stringer

06.04.18

Mr. John Huey Chester

07.21.18

Mrs. RayNeta Lyons

06.14.18

Mr. Philip Lewis Taylor

06.17.18

Mr. Gary Paul Clifton

06.26.18

Mr. Craig Martin

05.28.18

Mrs. Sonja Etta Taylor

07.09.18

Mr. Troy Durell Clifton

05.20.18

Mr. Henry L McBride

07.09.18

Ms. Rhonda Fern Ennis Terry

07.25.18

Ms. Joy Lynn Brannen Cobb

06.06.18

Ms. Patricia Ann Millen

07.17.18

Mrs. Laura Burleson Teston

07.15.18

Mr. Albert Franklin “Al” Coleman, III

07.23.18

Mr. Eddie Dean “Coach” Mock

07.03.18

Mrs. Mary Kathleen Thornton

07.22.18

Mr. William Danny “Bill” Collins

07.04.18

Mrs. Mattie Theo Mock

07.24.18

Mr. Donald W. Tillery

07.04.18

Mr. Torey Baggett Colon

06.11.18

Mrs. Yvonne Moore-Tapley

07.06.18

Mrs. Mabel Oglesby Tucker

05.19.18

Mrs. Grace Hendrix Colson

06.26.18

Mr. Thaddeus James “T.J.” “Jim” Morris, III07.23.18

Mr. Darwin Gene Turner

06.22.18

Mr. Henry Beeman Cottle, Jr.

07.23.18

Mr. Alvoy “Big Al” Mosley, I

06.29.18

Mr. Matthew Turner

06.17.18

Mrs. Irene Rebecca Allen Davis

06.06.18

Mrs. Ellen Oglesby Murray

07.18.18

Mr. Joseph Byron Waters

06.02.18

Ms. Kathy Marie Lanier Davis

07.20.18

Mr. Joseph F. Neil

03.27.18

Mrs. Evelyn Washington Williams

07.04.18

Mr. James Mondell DeLoach, Sr.

07.03.18

Mr. Judson Ronnie “Pop” Nesmith

07.19.18

Mr. Calvin Wilson

06.05.18

Mrs. Freda Colson Driggers

06.13.18

Mr. Wayman Billy Newman

06.21.18

Mr. Leland Clifford Wise, Sr.

06.06.18

Mr. Walter Louis “Bo” Dyches

06.27.18

Mr. Ernest Franklin Nubern

05.21.18

Mr. Jasper J. Walker Wolfe

06.01.18

Dr. Bobbie Ruth ElLaissi

06.24.18

Deacon Quincy “Tony” Nunnally, Jr.

06.10.18

Mr. John G. Wolling

06.19.18

Mr. Joseph Jordan Fennell, Sr.

05.18.18

Dr. James Henry “Jim” Oliver, Jr.

07.18.18

Mrs. Emily Omega Garner Wood

05.18.18

Mrs. Lila Dell Brannen Freeman

07.16.18

Mr. Frank Aleck Olliff

06.20.18

Mr. John Albert Yarber

07.20.18

Mrs. Shelba Jean Lewis Olliff

07.23.18

66 • Statesboro Magazine

Best Suited to Meet All of Your Banking Needs

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Statesboro

Sandersville

425 Commerce Dr. 132 S. Harris St. Statesboro, GA 30461 Sandersville, GA 31082 (912) 871-2971 (478) 552-5116

Milledgeville

121 Executive Parkway Milledgeville, GA 31061 (478) 387-0124

Here. For you. At Synovus, we truly understand what matters to you; that’s why we’re doing all we can to help you grow. Not just a bank, we’re your neighbors and friends. People from here who understand here. And we’re here. For you. 912.489.8661 | synovus.com

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.