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ABAC's ECONOMIC IMPACT $128.2M

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's economic impact in South Georgia has grown to $128.2 million, according to the University System of Georgia’s (USG) latest numbers.

For Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024), ABAC's $128.2 million contributed to the region’s economy represents a 7.7% increase from the previous year, according to the data.

The growth was the second largest among Georgia’s state colleges and the seventh-largest increase among the USG’s 26 institutions. The annual report was prepared by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.

ABAC’s President Dr. Tracy Brundage said the college is proud to be a key contributor to the region's economy while providing well-equipped graduates to lead into the future.

“The report reflects the vital role ABAC plays as an economic engine for this region,” Brundage said. “Our college has long been a driver of economic prosperity in South Georgia. We remain committed to strengthening local economies here and providing graduates who are prepared to become leaders in their local communities.”

The economic impact combines spending by the institution as well as students. With a multiplier value of 1.52, every dollar of initial spending generates an additional 52 cents for the economy in the region.

“The Stafford School of Business continues to serve as a catalyst for economic vitality through strategic partnerships and forward-thinking curricula,” said Dr. Franzelle Mathis-Pertilla, interim dean of ABAC’s Stafford School of Business.

“We are proud to be a driving force in South Georgia’s growth – preparing students to not only excel professionally, but also positively contribute to the communities they call home,” Mathis-Pertilla said.

Also, the report showed that ABAC had a labor income impact of $56.1 million, an increase from $48.8 million in the previous fiscal year. Also, ABAC contributed a total of 1,210 jobs last year, including 352 on-campus jobs and 858 off-campus jobs, an increase of 44 jobs from FY 2023.

As a whole, the University System of Georgia contributed $23.1 billion to Georgia in the past fiscal year, an increase of 5.4%, and 163,332 full- and part-time jobs.

In addition, the USG released a companion study indicating that bachelor-degree graduates from Georgia’s public colleges and universities will earn $1.4 million more during their lifetimes than they would without a degree.

“A degree from one of USG’s 26 public colleges and universities is a million-dollar deal for graduates and a billion-dollar boost for Georgia,” said USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “Students see real returns through higher earnings and better opportunities. Meanwhile, our institutions power Georgia’s economy and help local communities thrive"

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For ABAC’s 658 graduates who earned degrees in FY 24, it is projected that they will have $1.93 billion in work-life earnings, with $731.5 million (38%) of that total due to their college degree. 

More than 750 members of ABAC's Class of 2029 pose in front of the college's main Tifton campus Monday.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT RISES AT ABAC,

TIFTAREA ACADEMY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

When the academic year began Tuesday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, the enrollment of 4,071 is a 6.4% increase from last year and represents the highest enrollment in ABAC’s 117-year history, the college says.

It also marks the third consecutive year that ABAC has seen a rise in enrollment. On Monday, more than 750 freshmen attended the annual convocation ceremony at Gressette Gym, the largest group ever to participate, according to Trent Hester, ABAC’s director of residence life and housing.

The University of Georgia Tifton campus also began classes during the past week. UGA Tifton has a total of more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students.

In Chula, private school Tiftarea Academy is experiencing a 12-year enrollment high of 702 students, officials say.

Tift County public schools, which began its new year Aug. 1, has a current enrollment of 7,330, which is slightly down from last year's beginning enrollment number of approximately 7,600 students.

Gathering for the dedication Wednesday of Penny Houston Drive in Lenox are, from left, Cook County Probate Judge L. Chase Daughtrey, Lenox City Clerk Teresa Barber, Lenox City Council member Yolanda Boone, Penny Houston, Lenox Mayor Henry Baker, Lenox City Council member Caroline Sanders, Adel City Council member Celestine Hayes, and Addie Mitchell.

LENOX NAMES STREET

IN HONOR OF FORMER

REP. PENNY HOUSTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

There's a newly renamed street in Lenox.

Depot Street downtown in front of the U.S. Post Office in Lenox has been dedicated as Penny Houston Drive.

During a dedication ceremony Wednesday, local officials formally honored Houston, who served as a state representative from 1997-2024.

Houston decided to retire and not seek re-election last year.

She was well-known as a vocal advocate for the economic development and well-being of rural communities throughout Georgia.

Her Georgia House district encompassed portions of Tift, Berrien, and Cook counties.

RESIDENTS MAY JOIN POLLINATOR CENSUS THIS WEEKEND

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census is underway this weekend.

The census is a University of Georgia project open to residents in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. The annual community science event asks participants to count pollinators that land on a favorite plant; participants then upload the counts to a website.

Throughout the five states are events at Extension gardens, public gardens, colleges and universities, schools, community gardens, and project partners to count pollinators.

Individuals may also participant on their own.

The count is scheduled today (Friday) and Saturday – and Sunday, Aug. 24, has been added as counting date because of weather concerns.

Once again, Gaskins Forest Education Center in Alapaha is participating in the ninth

annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, and whole families are invited.

You don't have to be an insect expert. If you can count and know how to identify basic insect groups – like bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies – then you are qualified. Jennifer Whittington, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, will be on hand to explain everything.

Representatives from the Coastal Plain Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society and Monarchs Across Georgia will also be present.

The event at Gaskins Forest Education Center is free, but participants are asked to register through email to jennifer.ward2@dnr.ga.gov.

Gaskins Forest Education Center is located at 3359 Moore Sawmill Road in Alapaha. Participants are advised to be prepared with a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, drinks, and snacks.

Those who wish to collect data from pollinators in their own garden, can find details and data sheets by Clicking Here.

Brian Ponder, shown with his wife, Missy, has been named head of the state conservation districts association.

TIFT COUNTY FARMER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF GA ASSOCIATION

OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) elected Tift County farmer Brian Ponder as president at the association's annual meeting this week in Jekyll Island.

As president, Ponder will lead GACD as it works with federal and state partners of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and with all 40 Georgia soil and water conservation districts in the promotion of natural resources conservation.

A fourth-generation Tift County farmer, Ponder still lives on the original farm that his great-grandfather settled in 1884, which began as 96 acres. The farm has been in the family for 138 years, and the Ponders still find something to do every year to make it more productive. He and his family now have 3,000 acres of peanuts, cotton, corn, watermelons, pecans, and pine timber.

His farm embodies a "commitment to conservation" including water-usage reduction and erosion control through strip tillage, the GSCD said. Ponder's father promoted conservation in the 1970s and instilled those practices in Ponder and his brother Ken.

Their dad always said, "If you take care of this land, it will take care of you."

The two brothers still use that advice when making decisions for their farm.

Beyond his conservation measures on his farm, Ponder has been active in the conservation community. He has been a district supervisor for 23 years for the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District and has served as GACD Group 3 president.

He has been named Conservationist of the Year for Tift County, Tift County Farmer of the Year, ABAC Alumnus of the Year, and served on the Conservation Tillage Alliance.

In 2023, Ponder was awarded Conservationist of the Year by GACD as well as receiving the National Association of Conservation Districts Friend of Conservation Award. He most recently served as GACD vice president.

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At the recent check presentation are, from left, Chris Dorman, Southwell president/CEO; Peter Crowley, Synovus market president for Tifton; John Hamil, Synovus retail market manager; Jody Patton, Synovus division CEO; Claire Byrnes, Southwell senior vice president, ambulatory services; and Cara Goodwin, Southwell medical, surgical ,and critical care director.

SYNOVUS DONATES $25,0000 TO TRMC THROUGH GA HEART PROGRAM

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Southwell recently recognized Synovus Bank for its $25,000 donation to Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program.

The contribution will support TRMC’s ongoing mission to provide quality, accessible healthcare for residents in South Central Georgia.

The Georgia HEART program allows individuals, married couples, and businesses to contribute to qualified rural hospitals such as TRMC in Tifton and Southwell Medical in Adel. In return, donors receive a 100% state income tax credit for their contribution, supporting local healthcare while also receiving a tax benefit.

“Community partnerships like this one are vital to our ability to expand services, invest in new technology, and continue offering exceptional care close to home,” said Chris Dorman, Southwell president/CEO. “We are deeply grateful to Synovus Bank for their commitment to improving healthcare in our region.”

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, Aug. 24, is National Peach Pie Day as the harvest season for peaches winds down. While Georgia may be known as the "Peach State," California actually leads the nation in peach production, followed by South Carolina, and then Georgia. A medium peach typically contains 30 calories, 7 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, 140 mg of potassium, and 8% of the daily value for Vitamin C. A peach pie will take six to eight medium peaches. Ice cream is optional.

FRIDAY, AUG. 22

• Homeschool Hangout, 11 a.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton

• Q&A with Actor Maurice Johnson of CBS-TV's soap opera "Beyond the Gates;" free screening of Johnson's latest film, "Operation Aunties," 6:30 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

• Sylvester Swine Festival Concert, Ryan West Band, 7 p.m., The Depot, Sylvester

• Tift County High Blue Devils football vs. Gadsden County, Fla., Jaguars, 7:30 p.m., Brodie Field, Tifton

• Irwin County High Indians football @ Worth County Rams, 7:30 p.m., Worth County High School, Sylvester

• Cook County High Hornets football vs. Bainbridge High Bearcats, 7:30 p.m., Adel

• Berrien County High Rebels football vs. Lanier County Bulldogs, 7:30 p.m., Nashville

SATURDAY, AUG. 23

• Community Garden Volunteering, 8-10 a.m., 1415 Central Ave., Tifton

• NPC Night of the Gladiators, national qualifier bodybuilding competition,

health & wellness vendors, strongman show, 9 a.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton

• Sylvester Swine Festival, BBQ cook-off and judging, vendors, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Front Street, Sylvester

• Great Southeast Pollinator Census, free event, 10 a.m.-noon, Gaskins Forest Education Center, 3359 Moore Sawmill Road, Alapaha

• Up & Coming Artists Tour, 8 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

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"KaBoom" is an energetic young male pup ready to make a dramatic, impactful change in the life of the lucky people who take him home from the shelter. Come visit him and see other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor

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