ATSM is a technology-intense track and during the summer we were able to make great strides in obtaining the necessary equipment to meet the needs of the students in this program. A local weather network consisting of four iMetos 3.3 weather stations was installed, one at the new Green Agronomy Unit, one near the farm shop, one at Forest Lakes Golf Course, and one at the new teaching forest. The weather stations upload data to the cloud, which can be can see and used anywhere there is internet access. There are plans to display this information in the lobby of Ag Sciences. The weather stations monitor rain, temperature, humidity, wind (speed and direction), solar radiation, and soil moisture. The stations will be used to teach data management, as well as create ET and water balance models. Three Kubota RTV-X1140 utility vehicles were purchased and are being outfitted with GPS, monitors, and autosteer so these important concepts and systems can be taught to our students. SMS Software from Ag Leader, a complete farm data management package for field stewardship, planting, application, and harvest, has been purchased and its use will be taught in classes. Tractor GPS/CAN simulator, a software solution to simulate GPS and CAN messages (data transmitted between the Tractor and Implements primarily), has been obtained. It will be useful when teaching students about electronics on modern farm equipment. The simulator gives us the ability to teach about equipment that is beyond our reach currently (sprayers, grain harvesters, water management, etc.). A new variable rate pivot was added to the farm which will allow faculty and staff to teach and demonstrate this critical aspect of crop production.

As with the addition of a new family member that garners a lot of attention at the beginning, the addition of these new tracks might lead someone to believe that the older tracks are no longer important or valued, but nothing could be further from the truth. The BS in Agribusiness is still by far our largest major. The Crop Production, Crop and Soil Science, General and Livestock tracks of the BS in Agriculture tracks as well as the Turfgrass and Golf Course Management and Turfgrass Science tracks associated with the BS in Environmental Horticulture are still fully supported and continue to produce well-trained graduates.

We are excited about beginning a new school year with the best programs we have ever offered. Our students continue to exceed our expectations and our faculty consistently raise the bar of excellence.

Dr. Ray Smith, Department Head

The ABAC Agriculture Education program experienced phenomenal growth this fall. In only its second year the program has enrolled 205 AgEd majors. The ABAC AgEd program ranks among the largest agriculture teacher education programs in the United States. The 2019 cohort had 24 graduates, and the 2020 cohort will have approximately 34 graduates. In addition, the AgEd program had 76 new students enroll this Fall, of which 63 are recent 2019 high school graduates. Over the past 40 years, there has been an on-going shortage of qualified agricultural teachers to fill Georgia classrooms – as well as in most of the US. ABAC is rapidly fulfilling the need for additional agricultural teachers in Georgia.

 Dahlia Sutliff , Senior Agricultural Education major, was one of 18 selected from a national pool of applicants to attend the FAST Symposium (Future Agriscience Teacher) which will be held on September 19 at BASF Headquarters in Research Triangle Park, NC, as part of the National Teach Ag Day. The National Association of Agricultural Educators sponsors this event. Congratulations, Dahlia!

ABAC faculty hosted the Georgia Agriculture Teacher’s floral management workshop on campus July 15-16 with two full days of instruction. Instructors for the workshop included Dr. Frank Flanders, Associate Professor of AgEd, and Mr. Dean Pannell of Pannell Designs & Events, Bogart Georgia. Mr. Pannell is a Georgia Master Florist (GMS) and a Certified Professional Florist (CPF), as well as an ABAC graduate. We are very appreciative for Mr. Pannell’s volunteer work with his alma mater. Throughout the workshop, Dr. Flanders was assisted by student volunteers, Lexie Matson and Brittany Brady who are AgEd majors at ABAC.

The culmination of the workshop included, awards presented to the top designers. Maggie Reeves of Baconton Charter School was recognized as Designer of the year, i n second place was LaDonna Withrow of Bear Creek Middle School, and Anglia Webb-Crosby of Lowndes County High School received a third place certificate.

ABAC was well-represented at the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (GVATA) Summer Conference, July 7-10 at Lake Lanier Islands and Resort. Drs. Frank Flanders, Sallie McHugh, and Farish Mulkey attended and presented programs. Faculty met with the ABAC AgEd Advisory Committee, assisted with recruitment, and presented educational programs. The faculty presented a program on financial planning for teachers with the assistance of Mr. Daryl McMann, former agriculture teacher and now financial advisor. Dr. Flanders presented a workshop on floral management for thirty-three teachers. The faculty recognized twenty-two cooperating teachers for their work supervising ABAC student teachers. Each teacher was presented with a certificate and an ABAC shirt. In addition, the faculty was happy to welcome 21 recent ABAC graduates and now employed agriculture teachers, to the conference as colleagues!

ABAC Agricultural Education students, J essica Casaday and Morgan Sysskind, along with Dr. Frank Flanders , spent a recent Saturday volunteering with the Georgia FFA to prepare State AgriScience and Proficiency winners for national competition in October. The event was held at Camp John Hope near Fort Valley, August 17th. High school and middle school students presented their projects just as they will in National competition in Indianapolis. The ABAC volunteers questioned and scored the students in mock competition and provided constructive criticism and tips for a better performance. The all-day practice was a huge success and provided a good learning opportunity for the competitors. For the future agriculture teachers, Jessica and Morgan, the event provided an excellent engaged learning opportunity. Jessica is a member of the 2020 Cohort and Morgan is a member of the 2023 Cohort.

Everyone is excited to start the fall semester, where in addition to classes and labs, events such as the Georgia Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting, the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council annual meeting, the annual conference of The Wildlife Society, the National Convention of the Society of American Foresters, and the annual Jake’s Day await our students and faculty.

The SANR Annual Club PIcnic was held recently. The clubs and organizations that students can get involved with to enhance their educational experience and network with industry professionals were highlighted!

Our clubs include: Agribusiness Club & National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), Agricultural Engineering Technology Club (AET), Horsemen's Association, Young Farmers & Ranchers, Dairy Science Club, Beekeeper's Association, Agronomy Club, Cattlemen's Association, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), ABAC FFA, ABAC Collegiate 4-H, Horticulture Club, Turf Club, Wildlife Society, Forestry Club.

November 12, 2019

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ag Sciences Building

Join us at our 2019 Career Connections to meet and recruit future interns and employees in the fields of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Our students are earning bachelor’s degrees in Agribusiness, Agriculture, Agricultural Communication, Agricultural Education, Environmental Horticulture, and Natural Resource Management.

Click HERE for additional information and to register!

Suzanne Bentley, Academic & Career Coordinator

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