On a positive note, we received funding from the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation to support the development of the infrastructure at the John W. & Margaret Jones Langdale Forest. They have committed $1 million over five years ($200,000/year)! This will allow us to expedite the repair and construction of internal roads and bridges, which will allow us to have better access to the property for classes and harvesting. In addition, we can move forward with completing the technology needs for the classroom and necropsy lab. As I continually state, we are grateful for the commitment of ABAC administration, the University System of Georgia, and our donors for supporting the School’s needs due to our continued growth and the need for up-to-date teaching facilities.

Dr. David Ray will start in January as an Assistant Professor of Forestry to fill the vacancy due to the resignation of Dr. Andy Egan this past summer. Dr. Ray was most recently a Forest Biometrician with the New England Forestry Foundation. Before this, he was on faculty at the University of Maine, a Conservation Forester with the Nature Conservancy, and a Forestry Scientist with Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in Tallahassee. Dr. Ray received his PhD in Quantitative Silviculture from the University of Maine. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Ray to ABAC in 2024!

We have begun the search for a Mechanical Superintendent in the Department of Agriculture due to the resignation of Ray Lundy. Ray will work full-time in his business, Top Bait & Tackle, in Cuthbert.

Information on this position and application instructions can be found at https://link.abac.edu/CAREERS.

These are just a few thoughts and highlights as we end the fall semester and year. I know the Department Heads will expand on this and more in their newsletter sections. We look forward to a safe, healthy, and restful holiday break, along with looking forward to the New Year! I wish each of you and your families the same, too. Please do not hesitate to stop by and see us when you are in the area!



Sincerely,

Dr. Mark Kistler

Dean

Fall Graduation 2023 Highlights

Congratulations to our Fall 2023 Graduates! We are PROUD of you and EXCITED to see the impact each of you will have in the Agriculture and Natural Resources industry as your professional career progresses! Please stay in touch with us - join the ABAC Alumni Association and come back for a visit whenever you can!

We would love to have you participate in future SANR Classic Golf Tournaments, serve on the Alumni Council, and help support the current and prospective students in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources through networking, giving financially, and engaging with the School in various ways.

Before the graduation ceremony, each SANR graduate was presented with an ABAC SANR pin. We hope the pin will be a treasure for years and be worn proudly!

You can enjoy photos of our students before and after the ceremony. We love sharing pictures of our graduates celebrating with their families, friends, and faculty members. The smiles say it all! Additional images can be found on our Facebook page.

Alumni Spotlight: TYLER HARPER 

By Randi Hickman 

"There were several reasons I chose to start my college career at ABAC," says Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. "Growing up on the family farm and with my background and passion for agriculture, I knew I wanted to pursue a degree that would further my ag education, and ABAC was the obvious choice as one of the premier agriculture colleges in the state." 

When asked about his fondest memories at ABAC, he says, "There are too many great memories from my time at ABAC to count, but a few still stand out. First and foremost, the lifelong friends I made at ABAC and our times together are some of my favorites. While we've all taken different paths and made different career choices, we still keep up with each other, and it's exciting and rewarding to see how much we've all grown personally and professionally. I also fondly remember participating in many of the ABAC traditions: the rodeos, the truck tractor pull, and my favorite – the mud bog." 

Harper received his associate degree in agriculture from ABAC in 2008. He then completed his bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia. Taking an active role in his community, he has served on various boards committees and as a State Senator before being elected as the 17th Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia.  

In his time at ABAC, he recalls being a part of groups like Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Collegiate FFA, Baptist Student Union, and the Agricultural Engineering Technology Club (AET). He said he always knew he wanted to serve the public in some capacity but didn't know the opportunity would present itself so quickly after graduation. 

"In the spring of 2012, I vividly remember getting an early morning phone call from my State Representative – Jay Roberts – who was in Atlanta for the Legislative Session. Jay was a longtime friend and mentor, but it was rare for him to call that early in the morning, especially during the session. He said, "Tyler, Greg (our State Senator at the time) isn't running for re-election. You need to run for the State Senate, and I need an answer by lunch." 

"My first thought was that there is no way people will vote for a 25-year-old kid to represent them in the State Senate. After a long morning on the phone asking for advice from several folks in the Senate district and across the state, I put my apprehension aside and jumped in with both feet. We campaigned hard, and we won that race, and then we won four more after that. It was an honor to serve the people of the 7th Senate District, and I'm proud of our work to help make Georgia the best state in the nation to live, work, worship, and raise a family." 

Now, as Ag Commissioner, his priorities reside in telling the story of Georgia agriculture, investing in the next generation through education and technology, and building on the success of the Georgia Grown Program. He's already accomplished a great deal in just a few short months. Some of the things he's been able to cross off his list include restoring GDA's Law Enforcement Division, which had been disbanded in 2013, and passing the Farmland Conservation Fund that will play a critical role in helping farmers protect their operations for generations to come and delivering relief to Georgia peach producers after untimely freezes that took place in March causing significant damage to our peach crop.   

Along with this vital role, Harper is a farmer and small business owner. What started as a boy playing with toy tractors, hoping to drive the real thing, he said, "I remember how excited I was when my granddad taught me how to drive his Massey Ferguson 135 and immediately put me to work plowing the garden. I'm humbled and proud to be the 7th generation on my family farm." 

Some may be surprised that Commissioner Harper plays and sings at his church every Sunday morning when he is home. He began taking piano lessons when he was five and later taught himself how to play guitar. He says playing at church on Sundays is "a highlight of my week, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."  

A Lifetime member of the ABAC Alumni Association, Harper was recently voted on to the ABAC Board of Trustees and will serve a four-year term. 

In late September, Dr. Sergio Pichardo, along with students Jeremiah Jarrells, Joshua Castillo, and Jedidiah McQuay, attended the MANRRS regional clusters in Atlanta, GA, where they interacted with fellow MANRRS members from other colleges and universities and participated in mock interviews while networking with agricultural companies.

October saw many of our faculty, staff, and students engaged in various activities, from interacting with the Board of Regents to hosting another successful truck and tractor pull to volunteering at the Sunbelt Ag Expo to participating in fall-themed campus activities.

We were excited for our faculty, staff, and students to participate in various activities related to the Board of Regents visit in early October. Our horticulture students took the lead in preparing floral arrangements for the event, while students in our degree programs shared their ABAC journey and experiences.

The AET pulling truck finished 3rd out of 9 in points for its class in the Southern Pullers Association. Matthew McGlashan, an ABAC alum and current farm technician, drove the truck.

The AET Club and Agripreneurs volunteered at the Sunbelt Ag Expo while many faculty and staff helped with demonstrations and networked with industry professionals throughout the week.



Clubs and organizations brought a host of guest speakers to campus to share about their industries while providing insight into professional opportunities. Fundraising activities abounded this semester, with raffle tickets being offered for a variety of items, including a cowhide rug, several Yeti coolers, a pair of rocking chairs, and an Omaha Steak box! Opportunities to purchase Boston Butts, participate in corn-hole tournaments, attend Mr. ABAC, and take part in a community floral class were also available. Each of these activities helped foster the importance of planning a fundraising event while highlighting the necessity of financial management to fulfill club activities, both pertinent soft skills for future industry leaders.

After a five-year hiatus, the Mr. ABAC contest returned to campus on November 9th. The ABAC MANRRS chapter organized and sponsored Mr. ABAC 2023 to celebrate ABAC's young men's charisma, talent, and intellect. Mr. Colton Peacock, an Ag Education major, was selected as Mr. ABAC 2023. The judges included Mrs. Carolyn Ellis, who founded Carolyn Ellis School of Dance 50 years ago, and SANR alumni Mr. Youry Gonzalez, first ABAC MANRRS' President, and Ms. Charley Lollis, Territory Sales Manager at AgBiome and current Georgia Watermelon Queen. The event served as a fundraiser for the club and was a great success!

The past few months have been busy for our turf program. Students, faculty, and staff completed renovations on the educational turf plots and traveled to several industry meetings and events. In late October, almost 30 students, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to attend the 75th Southeastern Turfgrass Conference in Athens, GA. In mid-November, Mr. John Layton and Mr. Justin Exum accompanied four ABAC Turf students to compete in the Turf Bowl and network with industry professionals at the Carolina’s GCSA Conference and Trade Show in Myrtle Beach, SC.

The Environmental Horticulture degree program continues to produce outstanding young professionals thanks to the dedication of our faculty and staff. We look forward to its continued growth as the Horticulture Business Management track establishes roots.

Our Animal Science faculty planned, organized, and facilitated the first-ever Livestock Emergency Response Plan (LERP) held at ABAC. On November 17, 38 students participated in this four-hour training. Students received instruction from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia TIME Task Force experts about handling emergencies with livestock, including a complete incident evaluation of a recent accident in Hawkinsville, Georgia. In the afternoon, students had a hands-on activity in a semi-cattle-pot trailer, where they evaluated critical extraction points and discussed potential animal handling options during an emergency.

Now in its second year, the Women in Ag and Natural Resources (WANR) Initiative continues to build momentum. The Agronomy Club hosted the October meeting with Tonya McDaniel from Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc., addressing attendees with tips from her career in agriculture. The November meeting was hosted by the SANR Leaders, who invited Carol Dodson to share wisdom and inspiration. The Horsemen's Association hosted the semester's final meeting with guest speaker Jodie McBee, a Commodity Merchandiser with ADM. She shared her journey and offered advice to the attendees. If you are interested in joining our series as a guest speaker or in sponsoring one of the meetings, please let me know!

Our faculty have been engaged outside the classroom as well. Dr. Gertrude Nakakeeto, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness, was recently named Chair of the Keep Tift Beautiful Board. She has actively participated in this organization since joining the ABAC community. She also leads efforts for the ABAC Agripreneurs “Adopt-a-Mile” on Zion Hope Road.



Dr. Olumide Aborisade recently represented the SANR at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in Phoenix, Arizona, where he served as a judge for poster and oral presentation sessions. He received a travel award to cover a portion of travel expenses.

The Department of Agriculture’s newest stallion arrived on November 28 as Jennifer Culpepper, SANR alum and Lecturer of Agribusiness, and her husband, Dylan, welcomed Wesley Mack Culpepper. All are doing well!

Finally, the Department of Agriculture is sad to say farewell to Ray Lundy, Mechanical Superintendent. Ray has been a mainstay and anchor of our ag engineering technology program for over 19 years. He has touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed. We wish him well in his new adventure!

As you pursue your passions daily in this fast-paced industry that never seems to sleep, make sure to pause and enjoy time with your friends and family this holiday season.

Until next year,

“Dr. ALM”



Audrey Luke-Morgan, Department Head

Our weather in Tifton is letting us know it is December! This is certainly a December to remember and as we tie our fall 2023 semester up in a bow. We reflect on how active and successful our students and faculty have been in 2023. Dr. Preston Byrd (Agricultural Education faculty member) has completed a full year and Dr. Sharon Wagner (Agricultural Communication) has completed her first semester with us in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. We are still thrilled to have Dr. Sallie McHugh coordinating our Agricultural Education program and Dr. Austin Moore coordinating our Agricultural Communication program. Each major has continued to grow over the calendar year, and both majors have goals and aspirations for a great 2024. 

Dr. Farish Mulkey and I team-taught an Experiential Learning course this fall. I believe our students would contend this was just what was needed to help them develop their skills as future agriculture teachers in a very pragmatic approach. We often take for granted all the little things and the knowledge that is developed over time that leads to seasoned agriculture teachers’ success. This course was re-developed and re-imagined, providing opportunities to our students from driving tractors and providing baby pig care to meat science and measuring deer antlers and aging deer jaw bones. Not even two days ago, I received a text from a CTAE director that stated: “Please don’t let your students graduate having not had the opportunity to drive a truck and back a cattle trailer.” I was able to reply, "Thanks to Dr. Mulkey and his wisdom, we can check that off our students' Christmas list." Simple things? Maybe. But life skills as a future agriculture teacher – absolutely! This course was also a larger success because of our partnership with our area teachers in the South Region Ag Ed offices that are on campus at ABAC. A special “thank you” to our area teachers and Mr. Stacey Beacham for their interest in helping our students become the best agriculture teachers on day one of their careers. 

Keegan NeSmith (Assessment and Certification Coordinator) has our Ag Ed students all pre-service certified earlier than ever, and we have our 2025 Cohort very organized. Thanks to her efforts, we continue to charge ahead. Our 2024 Cohort in Agricultural Education is the largest to date. Starting in January, we will have 40 students completing their student teaching and seven completing their Ag Studies Capstone internship.  Dean Kistler and I also team-taught a course this fall that was centered around nonformal and informal education settings. The course was a success, and it will serve a need across all SANR and as a specialized course for our Agriculture Studies students. 

Here is a preview of our Fall 2023 in the department:



In September, Agricultural Education students celebrated Teach Ag Day activities that involved the campus community and recruitment of high school students to become agriculture teachers.

In October, ABAC Agricultural Education students (50 in all), under the direction of Drs. Mulkey and McHugh created, organized, and ran the Youth Ag Challenge at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. This year was the largest participation at Expo and the smoothest run to date. Over 800 students and teachers dropped in to complete the assessments on the day of the event.

Also, at Sunbelt Ag Expo, agricultural communication students served as interns. During the summer months, the students wrote stories to be featured in the Sunbelt Ag Expo show program. During the week of the expo, the students created social media content, including post text, photographs, and stories; produced live-stream ads with expo vendors; and made new connections that may serve them well in their careers. 

 Later in October, Drs. Mulkey and McHugh took over 60 Agricultural Education students to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. While there, students worked the ABAC booth in the expo, assisted with the Nursery and Landscape CDE, Ag Mechanics CDE, and attended professional development sessions in consideration of their future careers as an Agriculture teachers. 

This year, we were excited to utilize the new ABAC bus, which led to memorable teaching experiences for Drs. Mulkey and McHugh. On the trip, before leaving the state of Georgia, the bus had some engine issues. In true teaching fashion – this became a teachable moment for our students. In the end, everyone made it to Indy and back. Dalton State assisted and provided some support during the vehicle transitions, letting everyone know that we can count on our USG partner institutions for help in a time of need. 

Drs. Mulkey and McHugh took the Ag Ed Cohort overnight trip to Camp John Hope for their Gold Leadership Experience.

Agricultural Education students (7 in total) attended the National Association of Agricultural Educators conference in Phoenix, AZ, with me. While at the conference, the Agricultural Education and Communication Department was named the Outstanding Post Secondary Agricultural Education program.

We even made time to go see the Grand Canyon. We arrived fifteen minutes before sunset, and I got back to my Illinois roots as I got to drive through snow for an hour and half on the way back to the lower elevation. Just helped get us in the Christmas spirit!   

Five of the seven students participated in the Future Agriscience Teacher Program (FAST), one served as an intern (Gabby Zachary), and one was recognized for her lesson plan as a contest winner at NAAE (Kamren Yaughn).

Dr. Frank Flanders, Associate Professor Emeritus, was recognized as the Lifetime Achievement winner at NAAE. Dr. Flanders's dedication to school-based agricultural education for over 40 years in the state of Georgia has made a lasting impression on our students, and he is one of the founding faculty of Ag Ed and one of our Honorary members here at ABAC. 

 ABAC held state FFA CDEs and LDEs at the end of the semester, with over 20 of our students helping state staff and ABAC host events and welcome students to our campus. Our department hosted teacher appreciation rooms in two buildings to welcome our agriculture teachers and provided coffee, drinks, snacks, and donuts.   

Congratulations to our December graduates and a highlight of Emma Richwine! Emma was named the Dr. David and Kim Bridges Award winner. This award is given to ABAC’s top graduate. We are proud of all our new Agricultural Communication and Agricultural Education Alumni! 

January brings a new semester and a new year. Preparation for research presentations, student teaching, and news about student placements for summer internships and graduate assistantships! 

For now, we are ready for some Jingle Bell Rock, warm apple cider, some roasted Georgia peanuts, and time with family. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Dr. Andrew Thoron, Department Head

The forest's new classroom and lab facilities were used heavily this fall. We hosted our Forestry/Wildlife Advisory Committee in the classroom in October for its fall meeting. The advisory committee is composed of industry professionals who ensure that our program is teaching and training students with the most up-to-date information and skills currently being used in the forestry and wildlife industries.

The classroom also hosted several meetings of various Georgia Department of Natural Resources personnel. We must always maintain excellent working relationships with our industry partners.

In early November, Dr. Jason Scott, Dr. Vanessa Lane, and Dr. William Moore traveled with 16 students to Louisville, Kentucky, for the annual conference of The Wildlife Society. In addition to attending presentations on current wildlife management and research activities worldwide, the students could network with over 1,100 other students and wildlife professionals while at the conference. Five students also competed in the annual National Wildlife Quiz Bowl and represented ABAC exceptionally well in the competition.

Also in November, Dr. Jason Scott traveled to Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area in Bainbridge, Georgia, to assist Georgia Department of Natural Resources personnel with the annual quail covey call counts. Dr. Lane visited The Jones Center at Ichauway with several ABAC Wildlife Society students to participate in a deer cleaning and butchering workshop. Dr. Scott also traveled to Valdosta, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference, where two ABAC students, Sterling Brumbaugh and Jacob Owens, presented the results of their undergraduate research projects.

As we begin to wrap up the semester and things begin to slow, I find myself thinking of those who are missing loved ones this time of year. These thoughts turn to compassion as I think that we should be especially kind to everyone as we simply do not know what they have been through or what they are dealing with. This Christmas session, I encourage you to hug your loved ones and let them know just how special they are to you!

Fall has been extremely busy this year. With the Sunbelt Ag Expo a distant memory and Career Connections in the books, both events were great successes. We gave out information and temporary tattoos to kids at the Expo this year. We were able to connect with current students and alumni.

Career Connections saw record-breaking success. We had 89 companies registered, a 20% increase over last year. Additionally, we had just over 100 more students attend, with many saying they found jobs, graduate schools, and internships. We even had one student indicate that he was hired on the spot! A huge thank you goes out to the SANR Leader team, the 89 companies, professors, our dining staff, Sodexo, and our students because, without them, we simply could not have made this event happen.

Looking ahead, we have the return of our Senior Exclusive Series relaunching in the Spring. Additionally, the internship team and I will be considering revamping the presentation portion of our internship course. 

I hope you all have a great Christmas, and we will be looking forward to what next year will bring!

Corey Lovell, Academic & Career Coordinator