Newspaper Page Text
School News
The
Commerce News
APRIL 9,2008 • Page SB
5th Graders Observe Agriculture Week
Chad Clark and Amanda Murphy discussed with students from East Jackson Elementary
equine genetics and traits of their horses School.
Extension agent Mark Shirley and tractor School. This was a lesson in mathematics and
businessman Jeremy Hayes explain sprayer science,
calibration to students from Benton Elementary
Did you ever stop to think where
the cotton used to make your
favorite pair of blue jeans came
from? What about the vegetables
that you buy at the supermarket?
Like to treat yourself to a chicken
sandwich or hamburger at your
favorite fast food restaurant?
Chances are, you have a Georgia
farmer to thank for your jeans,
the chicken, beef and vegetables
you enjoy.
In recognition of the many con
tributions that farmers make to
the economy, the Jackson County
Farm Bureau, Cooperative
Extension, East Jackson FFA and
Jackson County Young Farmers
celebrated National Agriculture
Day March 21. National
Agriculture Week was observed
March 16-22.
To celebrate National
Agriculture Day, 206 fifth graders
from East Jackson, Benton and
Maysville elementary schools
participated in a planned event,
which included units of study
in natural resources, livestock,
equipment and agricultural his
tory. The units of study covered
over 31 standards in which the
curriculum is required to follow.
The event involved several vol
unteers. The Natural Resources
Conservation Service of the
USDA, the Georgia Forestry
Commission and the Bill Warnell
School of Forestry from the
University of Georgia instruct
ed the students on resources in
forests, bio-diversity of Georgia
forests, soil and water conserva
tion and land measurement tech
niques.
James Short Tractor and the
Cooperative Extension Service
presented equipment safety and
sprayer calibration activities. FFA
students discussed mathematics
and science through genetic stud
ies, and presented them in cre
ative ways like horseback, swine
and cattle breeding. In the history
unit, with fireside chats with vol
unteers, students learned about
the difficulties that past agricul
turalists faced. Furthermore, they
examined the diversity of the pio
neers of agriculture.
Agriculture plays an impor
tant role in Georgia’s economy.
Georgia’s food and fiber industry
accounts for about $29.5 billion
of the state’s $544 billion econ
omy and 17 percent of its total
manufacturing output, according
to John McKissick, coordinator of
the UGA Center for Agribusiness
and Economic Development.
Agriculture is the largest eco
nomic sector in one third of
Georgia’s 159 counties and is the
second largest economic sector
in another third of the counties,
according to a study compiled by
the Center for Agribusiness and
Economic Development. Jackson
County ranks number one in the
nation for numbers of farms in a
county. The agricultural farm gate
value for our county is more than
$258,000,000.
Georgia ranks first in the
nation in production of broil
er chickens, peanuts and
pecans according to the USDA
Agricultural Statistics Service.
Georgia ranks second nation
ally in cucumbers produced for
fresh markets, snap beans and
spring onions. Georgia ranks
third in the nation in produc
tion of peaches and sweet corn
and squash produced for fresh
markets. The state ranks fourth
nationally in production of cot
ton, bell peppers, cantaloupes,
rye and watermelons.
According to the USDA
Agricultural Statistics Service,
there are 49,000 farms in Georgia
with an average farm size of 218
acres. Almost 11 million acres in
Georgia are classified as farmland.
Not only do Georgia farmers pro
duce the raw materials for food
and clothes, but they also provide
the raw materials for hundreds of
products used in our everyday
lives that aren’t often associated
with agriculture — toothpaste,
shampoo, crayons, desks, base
ball bats, pharmaceuticals, film,
paper, paints, lumber and fuel.
More than 100 medicines used by
humans come from cattle. One
bushel of corn will sweeten more
than 400 cans of cola. Farmers
also protect the environment by
using improved production prac
tices such as conservation tillage
to reduce soil erosion and protect
water resources. Agriculture land
provides food and habitat for 75
percent of the nation’s wildlife.
Agricultural Awareness Week is
a celebration of the state and
nation’s farmers. It is a celebra
tion of a country with the most
abundant and safest food in the
world. Through this program, stu
dents were taught where their
food and fiber originate and the
value of agriculture in Georgia.
Gov. Sonny Perdue helped to
create the Governor’s Agriculture
Awareness Observance Award.
All participating classes in this
award will receive a certificate
from the governor and the win
ning class will receive a $300
prize, a plaque, a goodie bag
and a teaching kit. The winning
school will receive $700 from the
state to further its agriculture in
the classroom for the following
year.
— submitted by Ali Merk, Jackson
County Farm Bureau, and Todd
Shultz, Jackson County agriculture
teacher
Perfect Attendance Pays Off
Each month East Jackson Middle School gives away two
iPods to students who have perfect attendance. The win
ners of the March drawing among all students with perfect
attendance are JJ Daniels and Jaime Beauchamp. They are
pictured with attendance clerk, Jackie Bridges.
Tops In Attendance —Again
East Jackson Middle School led the Jackson County
School district in attendance for the second month in a row.
Pictured is attendance clerk, Jackie Bridges, who is respon
sible for entering student attendance records daily.
Children Helping Children
Thirty students in Fletcher Academy’s pre-K and pre-school
classes raised almost $800 recently for St. Jude’s Children’s
Research Hospital with a “trike-a-thon” at the school.
Students
observed cook
ing by campfire,
learned some
cattle trail his
tory, heard cow
boy stories and
learned about
draft horses
during a history
unit at Ag Day.
Pictured with
Sandy Ervin are
students from
East Jackson
Elementary
School.
Are yon a...Cancer Survivor?
Or, do yon...Know Someone Who Is?
II so• • • We Need You!!
On May 30, 2008, at 6:00 p.m...
Relay For Life Survivor Activities
will Kick Off!!!
The Jackson County Relay For Life presented by Wayne and Heather Abbs, Wavne-Neal Chevrolet will be held on
May 30 and 31 at Peach State Speedway. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the Survivor’s lap shortly
thereafter. Please meet at the track between 6:00-6:30 p.m. to receive your free T-shirt, pin, sash and other surprises,
as well as enjoy refreshments in your hospitality tent. The survivor’s lap is sponsored by The Pendergrass Flea
Market and the survivor’s hospitality tent is sponsored by The Jefferson Rotary Club. After your lap, you are invited
back to the hospitality tent for more refreshments; visit with other survivors and to enjoy the relay in comfort. Your
participation costs nothing...we are there to honor you! Help us show our community that people do survive Cancer.
You can make a difference. Your presence as a survivor will give others hope. Please join us and let us honor your
courage, strength and victory. Invite your family and friends. The Relay is open to the public,
Please complete the form and return to the address below so that we can have your correct T-shirt size.
Look forward to seeing you on Victory Lap. For more information, call Denise @ 706-367-5583.
Yes, I would like to participate in the survivor’s reception and survivor’s lap at the Relay For Life.
This is the name of a cancer survivor. (Please Contact)
Name
Address.
T-shirt size (please circle)
Y S M L XL XXL XXXL
City, State, Zip
Please complete and mail to or drop by:
Community Bank & Trust
Attn: Relay For Life, J.C.
71 Memorial Drive, Jefferson, GA 30549
Telephone
Survivor Lap sponsored by
The Pendergrass Flea Market
Survivor Hospitality Tent sponsored by:
Jefferson Rotary Club
Georgia-Carolina
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