AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

North Georgia Equine-n-Motion was selected as a recipient and used the funds to continue to support their existing program and assist in developing a small farmer's market for clients to participate in the marketing and retail aspect of selling their produce.  North Georgia Equine-n-Motion is a non-profit that works with special needs/exceptional children from ages 4-18 who face the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Anxiety, Depression, and other emotional health disorders. “We incorporate connecting with animals (horses) and farming, through planting seeds, gardening, and harvesting, to enhance their motor, sensory, and cognitive capacities, as well as their self-esteem, and connections with their peers, community, and parents through our program's activities,” states Amy Wallace, Occupational Therapist and Owner of North Georgia Equine-n-Motion.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

Turner Middle School was selected as a recipient and used the funds to purchase incubators, heat lamps, a protected chicken coop, and supplies for more raised garden beds, including soil, seeds, and plugs for their agriculture education classes.  “Our students get many opportunities in our agriculture classes to learn how food gets from the farm to the table. In the past year, we have incubated eggs to produce chickens and have grown produce in raised beds for the students. Our goal is to expand the small projects to benefit more of our students,” said Brook Hand, Turner Middle School Agriculture Education Teacher.  

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at https://www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

Vienna Fire Department was selected as a recipient and was awarded $5,000.  “On behalf of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, I would like to express our gratitude to AgGeorgia Farm Credit for the $5,000 grant.  Your generosity allowed us to purchase a new pump for our recently purchased fire knocker.  The fire knocker is used on many types of calls including brush fires.  The pump we purchased allows the fire knocker to pump water while the truck is moving, which makes it possible to better extinguish and control the spread of a brush fire,” stated Fire Chief Phillip Warren.  “The Vienna Fire Department responds to over 200 plus calls a year, and most of the fire calls are for farmers and agriculture industries within the county.  This type of investment in the community saves money, crops, and sometimes even the lives of farmers and residents of Vienna.”

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at https://www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 AgGeorgia Farmers Market grant program. Grants in the amount of $2,000 each were distributed to five local markets throughout the cooperative’s territory for use in advertising and promotional objectives. This is the fourth year of the program, with the cooperative so far awarding $34,500 to help support rural Georgia markets and their vendors.

“The importance of supporting American farmers can’t be overstated,” said Corey Cottle, AgGeorgia’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Particularly when it comes to young, beginning, small and veteran farmers, their first outlet for selling their crops is often the local Farmers Market. Markets offer an excellent way to keep dollars local and assure quality that imported crops often cannot match, and we’re proud to help these markets effectively spread that message.”

The 2024 AgGeorgia Farmers Market Grant recipients are: 
•    Comer Community Market
•    Dallas Farmers Market
•    LaFayette Farmers Market
•    Amicalola Regional Farmers Market
•    Nashville Farmers Market

AgGeorgia plans to continue the program in 2025 and encourages interested markets in the association’s seventy-nine county service area, particularly those who have applied and have not yet been selected, to apply next year.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School FFA was selected as a recipient and used the funds from the grant to purchase processing supplies and materials to stock and build a chicken coop.  The FFA Chapter plans to start a school-based enterprise raising chickens for the community.  The chapter will work with the Communities in Schools program to donate a portion of the meat to their students and families in need and sell the remaining to teachers and community members.  “The majority of our students are not exposed to how their meat is raised and processed.  This project will give them real-world experiences and skills in processing, production, and marketing, which will help serve as Supervised Agricultural Experience programs for multiple LFO agriculture students,” said Jordyn Cockburn, FTO Agriculture Teacher. “This dual-purpose project is going to have a positive impact on our community members and students.”

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

Crisp County Young Farmers was selected as a recipient and used the funds for a portable cattle chute.  This project will aid smaller cattle farmers in Crisp County while enhancing efficiency, animal welfare, and supporting sustainable agriculture.  “Smaller cattle farmers often lack resources for modern handling equipment.  We aim to provide access to a portable chute to aid in vaccinations and health checks, boosting overall farming efficiency and productivity.  Additionally, it will ensure proper cattle handling, reducing stress on animals and farmers alike, and enhancing animal welfare standards. Moreover, this project aligns with [AgGeorgia’s] commitment to sustainable agriculture,” said Jesse Kelly, Crisp County Young Farmer Advisor.  “By promoting best practices and offering affordable cattle-handling solutions, we contribute to the region's agricultural growth and preservation of natural resources. The direct beneficiaries are smaller cattle farmers, while the community will benefit indirectly from improved farm operations and sustainable practices.”

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the addition of Amanda Craig to the Accounting Department.  Mrs. Craig will be located in the Waynesboro Office.  Amanda is a native of Screven County and has over fourteen years of experience within the Farm Credit System.  Mrs. Craig began her career with a sister Farm Credit Association as a Secondary Mortgage Market processor and was promoted to Senior Closer.  She then transferred to their Accounting Department, working her way up to a Senior Centralized Loan Accounting position.  She served there for more than eleven years before accepting her position with AgGeorgia.  Amanda has been instrumental in the development of a new computer program utilized within the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank district, which covers multiple states.

Amanda is a huge music fan and a self-proclaimed theatre geek.  She and her husband, Sean and son, Lennon Harrison (named after two of the Beatles) reside in Statesboro.

Mrs. Craig’s technical knowledge and background will be tremendous assets to AgGeorgia and the members of the cooperative.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the hiring of Alicen Minyard as a Member Service Representative in the Waynesboro Office.  A resident of Burke County, Ms. Minyard received an associate’s degree in surgical technology and has over twenty years of administrative experience.  Alicen previously worked with Wimberly House Ministries (a non-profit organization in Waynesboro) for twenty years and with a financial institution for two years.  She lives in Burke County with her daughters Claire Elizabeth and Ava Grayce, ages twelve and seven, respectively.  In her spare time, Alicen enjoys cooking and traveling.

Ms. Minyard looks forward to applying her administrative and financial experience in serving the agricultural needs of the producers and rural residents in Burke and the surrounding counties.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

TJ Elder Middle School was selected as a recipient and is using the grant funds to purchase equipment for a joint project between the school’s agriculture and special needs departments.  “The purpose of this project is to educate students about raising poultry with the bonus of being able to offer fresh, local eggs to the community,” states Matthew Shelton, Agriculture Teacher for the school.  The TJ Elder agriculture program teaches students in plant science, animal science, forestry, natural resources, leadership, and agricultural mechanics. “The TJ Elder FFA chapter will use the funds in partnership with the school's special needs classes to develop a poultry science program where the special needs classes will assist the agriculture classes with caring for chickens as well as processing, marketing, and selling eggs. This will help to open training in entrepreneurship and poultry science to a wider range of students,” says Mr. Shelton.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit is pleased to announce the promotion of Brooke Dove to Consumer Loan Officer in the Royston Office.  Brooke has been with the association since 2017 as a Member Service Representative and Loan Processor.  Before joining AgGeorgia, she worked as a Loan Officer and Assistant Branch Manager at North Georgia Credit Union and has over ten years of lending experience.

Mrs. Dove grew up in Royston and resides there with her husband Brandon and their two children, Madison and Paisley.  In her new role, Brooke will utilize her Farm Credit knowledge and lending experience to meet the borrowing needs of farmers and rural landowners of Banks, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, and Stephens counties.