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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 9. 2023
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 9. 2023 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 7A
School officials say “Magnificent” agricultural fa
cility will greatly serve students, community
FFA Alumni President Greg Long in front of the new showring in the
$6.6 million ag facility at the PHS campus, paid for by sales tax funds.
By Kevin Rauda
Contributing Writer
Pickens school leaders say the
new state-of-the-art agricultural fa
cility will be transformative for the
district. The 43,000-square-foot
Barnes Family Agricultural Cultural
facility, located at Pickens High
School, will serve multiple purposes
such as livestock shows, meetings,
performances, auctions, and class
rooms.
Greg Long, local president of the
FFA Alumni, says the building will
be chiefly used by FFA and Agricul
tural students. “Pickens has the
largest livestock team in north Geor
gia and Pickens FFA is the largest
youth organization in the county.”
Livestock shows allow students
to demonstrate animals they have
taken care of throughout the year.
Students “come in and showcase
animals they’ve worked with every
single day.” Long says that the im
portance of educating students about
where their food comes from lays the
groundwork for their future success
in agriculture.
Tommy Gartrell, school board
chair, said agricultural and FFA have
been two of the most successful pro
grams here. While, over the years,
other school systems built structures
similar to this one, Pickens lagged
behind on facilities but still kept pace
academically.
“Facilities like this one are cru
cial,” he said. “I feel blessed to have
been a small part in bringing this fa
cility to our community and de
lighted that it is dedicated and named
after the Barnes family. Johnny, Jack,
and the late Jerry Barnes worked
selflessly and tirelessly promoting
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“Facilities like this one are crucial, ” says school board Chair Tommy Gartrell. The 43,000 square footfacility
will enhance Pickens agricultural programs which have sent many students to college on scholarships..
The new ag facility houses banquet space, a kitchen area, classrooms,
and other amenities that will make it multi-use for the entire community.
agricultural education. I cannot
imagine a more fitting name for this
beautiful building.”
With agriculture being the largest
industry in Georgia. Gartrell and
Long believe agriculture education
and FFA are invaluable resources.
“FFA alumni is an organization
designed to promote students’
knowledge in agriculture” aiding stu
dents to see potential career paths in
landscaping, soil and water conser
vation, wildlife management, and
many more said Long.
In addition, the FFA provides stu
dents with experience with public
speaking, farm business manage
ment, and livestock judging.
Gartrell points out that “dozens of
PHS graduates attended colleges all
over the country on scholarship for
agricultural studies.”
Long says the plan between the
agriculture teachers and their facili
ties in Union, Fannin, Gilmer, and
now Pickens County is for students
to travel less. This will reduce the
stress on the parents, students, and
their animals helping facilitate a
community amongst the schools in
the north of the state.
The Barnes Ag. facility will also
lessen costs for the school district,
reducing the need to rent conference
rooms from other facilities and help
ing to localize school affairs.
The facility will house a large
conference room, multiple office
areas, a kitchen area, and a conces
sion stand. The livestock show arena
will be able to hold 350 people.
Additionally, the livestock hold
ing area will hold 150 pens.
There is a ventilation system
which ensures odor and moisture
management. Animals will not be
permanently held in the facility al
lowing for clubs and extracurricular
events throughout the year.
The facility’s budget was $6.6
million. Gartrell said, “We have paid
just over $5.9 million and expect the
final cost to be significantly under
budget.” The facility was 100%
funded by the Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax, leaving the school
district with no outstanding bonds
and zero debt. “There’s an ongoing
dialogue about the potential incre
mental uses. It is a magnificent
building, so I hope our community
has numerous occasions to enjoy it,”
said Gartrell.
Upcoming Events
On the last weekend of March,
there will be an FFA Alumni equip
ment auction. Long says that “every
dime [raised] is spent back on our
kids.”
Over the summer and winter,
there will be various livestock shows
where belt buckles and prize money
will be awarded, all sponsored by the
Pickens County FFAAlumni.
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10:30AM
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
10-12PM Pickleball @ Pickens Rec Cen
ter
10:30AM Library’s Wednesday Familyl
Storytime @ Pickens Rec. Dept., Room|
#1
Noon - Rotary @ Chatt Tech
Noon Optimist Club of Jasper @61 r\
Main J
6-9PM Live music: Hunter Flanagan
@ Old Mulehouse
5:30PM Board of Commissioners @ Cty.
Admin. Bldg.
5:30PM Dual Enrollment Info night @
PHS PAC
5:30PM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Center
6PM Ladies Night at the Beauty Bar, Tate
7PM Talking Rock City Council
b-aHM Live music: Hunter Flanagan
@ Old Mulehouse 4,
6PM PHS Varsity Basketball Vs. V
White @ Home
6- 8PM Make a Monster Workshop @ Bad
Donkey, 75 N. Main (Hand sewing basics)
7PM Ghost Tours @ Old Jail (See Ad)
7- 8:30PM Swing Dance Lessons @ Pick
ens Rec. Center
7:30PM Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes @
Reinhardt's Falany Performing Arts Center
8PM Saints N Rebels @ Roccos
8AM Yoga with Karen @ Kec. center a
9AM PHS Wresting Regional @ 4J.
Gilmer
11AM Tai Chi @ Episcopal Church of the
Holy Family
2PM Kristin Tinsley @ Roccos
2-4PM Active Shooter/ Security Workshop
@ Living Word Church
6-9PM Live Music: Daisey Chain @ Old
Mulehouse
7PM Ghost Tours @ Old Jail (Sold out)
8PM T. James Band @ Roccos
12-3PM Live Music: The Dalis @ Old {Z
Mulehouse \J
2PM The Shuffle Junkies Blues Jam @
Roccos
8AM-1 PM Pinochle @ Pickens Sen- ps
ior Center (Daily) Q
4PM PHS Varsity Tennis @ Home
5PM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) @
Cool Springs Baptist Church
5:30PM Cardio Sculpt Class with Karen @
Rec. Center
8PM Narcotics Anonymous @ Jasper
United Methodist Church
10AM Dancercize @ Fellowship "y
Presbyterian Church (
10AM Yoga @ Episcopal Church of
the Holy Family
10AM-12PM Pickelball @ Rec. Center
4PM PHS Varsity Tennis @ Home
5:30PM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Center
6PM PHS Varsity Basketball @ Home
6:30PM Board of Elections Meeting @
Pickens Room/Cty. Admin.
10-12PM Pickleball @ Pickens Rec Q
Center Q
10:30AM Library’s Wednesday
-amily Storytime @ Pickens Rec. Dept.,
Room #1
Noon - Rotary @ Chatt Tech
10-12PM Pickleball @ Pickens
Rec Center U
10AM-12PM Quilting Guild @ ^
Pickens Rec. Center
4:30PM Board of Commissioners Work
Session @ Cty. Admin. Bldg.
6-9PM Conversational English Class @
Pickens Rec. Center (Free)
8-9:30 PM Comedy Night with Lace
Larrabee @ Old Mulehouse
6-9PM Live Music: Loose Shoes a **
@ Old Mulehouse "111
6- 8PM Special Valentine’s Event 1
@ Bad Donkey, 75 N. Main (Paint
ing, giveaways, chocolate & more)
7- 8:30PM Swing Dance Lessons @ Pick
ens Rec. Center
7:30PM Shades of Buble @ Reinhardt’s
Falany Performing Arts Center
7:30PM Love Letters @ Tater Patch The
atre
8PM One for the Road @ Roccos
8AM Yoga with Karen @ Rec.
Center
9AM PHS Varsity track @
Sawnee Mtn. Invitational
11AM Tai Chi @ Episcopal Church of the
Holy Family
2PM Stevie G @ Rocco’s
6-9PM Live Music: TNT @ Old Mulehouse
7:30PM Love Letters @ Tater Patch The
atre
8PM Shyanne @ Roccos
12
12-3PM Live music: Layne Denton @ Old
Mulehouse
2PM Dixie Tornadoes @ Roccos
2PM Love Letters @ Tater Patch Theatre
5PM TOPS (Take Off Pounds . ^
Sensibly) @ Cool Springs Baptist \ 4
Church 1 V
5PM PHS Baseball @ Home
5:30PM Cardio Sculpt Class with Karen @
Rec. Center
5:30 PM Talking Rock Council work ses
sion; Council meeting 7 p.m.
6PM Planning Commission Meeting @
Pickens Room/Cty. Admin. Bldg.
7PM Band Pre-LGPE Concert @ Perform
ing Arts Center
Valentine’s Day a a
7AM Chamber Breakfast @ Chatt \ lL
Tech 1 '
10AM Dancercize @ Fellowship
Presbyterian Church
10AM Yoga @ Episcopal Church of the
Holy Family
5:30PM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Center
5:30PM Library's Valentine’s Mini Art Date
Night @ Pickens Rec. Dept.
7PM Valentine’s Dinner @ Music with Joe
Morgan @ Roccos
10-12PM Pickleball @ Pickens A H
Rec Center |
10:30AM Library’s Wednesday
-amily Storytime @ Pickens Rec. Dept.,
Room #1
Noon - Rotary @ Chatt Tech
12PM Beating the Odds: Heart Health for
Seniors (Guest Speaker: Sara Williams,
-NP, Piedmont Heart Institute) @ The
.odge at Stephens Lake
10AM-12PM Quilting Guild @ A p\
Pickens Rec. Center I Q
8:30AM Board of Tax Assessors
Meeting @ Cty. Admin Bldg.
3:30PM PHS Varsity Tennis @ Home
5:30PM Board of Commissioners @ Cty.
Admin. Bldg.
6PM Hill City PTO Family Folk Dance
6-9PM Conversational English Class @
Pickens Rec. Center (Free)
7:30PM PHS Baseball (Pickens Mtn. Clas
sic)
17
6- 9PM Live Music: Josie James
@ Old Mulehouse
7- 8:30PM Swing Dance Lessons @ Pick
ens Rec. Center
7:30PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt’s Falany
Performing Arts Center
7:30PM Love Letters @ Tater Patch The
atre
8PM Audio Vault @ Roccos
8AM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. A Q
Center | Q
11AM Tai Chi @ Episcopal Church
of the Holy Family
5:30PM PHS Baseball @ Home
6-9PM Live Music: Mitchell Phillips @ Old
Mulehouse
6:30PM Mardi Gras in the Mountains @
Chatt Tech
7:30PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt’s Falany
Performing Arts Center
7:30PM Love Letters @ Tater Patch Theatre
19
12-3PM Live music: Russ Still @ Old Mule
house
2PM David T. & Friends @ Roccos
3PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt’s Falany Per
forming Arts Center
3PM The University Winds @ Reinhardt’s
Falany Performing Arts Center (Free)
Winter Break (No School) Q A
8AM-1PM Pinochle @ Pickens £\J
Senior Center (Daily)
5PM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) @
Cool Springs Baptist Church
5:30PM Cardio Sculpt Class with Karen @
Rec. Center
6PM Water Authority Board Meeting @
Cty. Admin. Bldg.
Winter Break (No School) ^ a
10AM Dancercize @ Fellowship J T
Presbyterian Church ^
10AM Yoga @ Episcopal Church
of the Holy Family
10AM-12PM Pickelball @ Rec. Center
5:30PM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Center
Winter Break (No School) P\ P\
10AM PHS Varsity Baseball
Home (Pickens Mtn. Classic)
10:30AM Library's Backyard Birds &
Treats @ Pickens Rec. Dept Noon - Ro
tary @ Chatt Tech
Winter Break (No School) p\ e\
10-12PM Pickleball @ Pickens
Rec Center
10AM-12PM Quilting Guild @ Pickens
Rec. Center
6-9PM Conversational English Class @
Pickens Rec. Center (Free)
Winter Break (No School) r\ A
6- 9PM Live Music: Trailer Hippies /
@ Old Mulehouse
7PM Laser Tag for Teens sponsored by the
Pickens Library (Ages 12 & up)
7- 8:30PM Swing Dance Lessons @ Pick
ens Rec. Center
7:30PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt's Falany
Performing Arts Center
7:30PM Celtic Angels Ireland @ Rein
hardt’s Falany Performing Arts Center
8PM The Band Waleska @ Roccos
8AM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Q C
Center cJO
11AM Tai Chi @ Episcopal
Church of the Holy Family
2PM Curtis Jones @ Roccos
6-9PM Live Music: Jerry Sorn @ Old Mule
house
7:30PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt’s Falany
Performing Arts Center
8PM South of Nashville @ Roccos
26
12-3PM Live Music: Mason Parker @ Old
Mulehouse
3PM Pickens Library’s Themed Adult Book
Club @ Pendley Creek Brewing (This
month’s theme: “Keep It Short”. Bring
books under 200 pages
3PM Love/Sick @ Reinhardt’s Falany Per
forming Arts Center
8AM-1PM Pinochle @ Pickens2^
Senior Center (Daily)
5PM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) @
Cool Springs Baptist Church
5:30PM Cardio Sculpt Class with Karen @
Rec. Center
10AM Dancercize @ Fellowships q
Presbyterian Church J Q
10AM Yoga @ Episcopal Church
of the Holy Family
10AM-12PM Pickelball @ Rec. Center
5:30PM Yoga with Karen @ Rec. Center
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