From the August, 2006 issue:
BARROW COUNTY
The Barrow County Farm Bureau (BCFB) Women’s and Young Farmer Committees sponsored a Farm Safety Day Camp June 14, at the National Guard Armory.

 Seventy-five students participated in the event.

Classes included first aid taught by National Guard representatives and gun safety taught by Extension Service personnel. Local fire department and EMS members taught fire safety and explained the Jaws of Life. Emory Life-Flight Helicopter personnel discussed their services. A local Farm Bureau member discussed horse safety. Georgia Power representatives taught electrical safety, and a local business taught tractor /atv safety. Apalachee FFA members assisted in all events.


CHEROKEE COUNTY

As part of its fruit promotion, Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) visited four local daycare centers and presented white sandwich bags to the children filled with a USDA 5-A-Day ruler, 5-A-Day brochure and an apple to teach the children about eating healthy.

The children decorated their bags with pictures of fruit and were asked to bring them back to school with at least one can of food to be presented to Must Ministries, a local organization that helps the needy. The children donated enough food to fill six large boxes that were presented to Must Ministries in April.


In June, CCFB sponsored a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Camp at Cagle’s Dairy. More than 35 children attended the camp where they participated in classes covering tractor and ATV safety, electrical safety, gun safety, animal safety, fire safety, water safety, first aid, healthy eating, and diversity awareness. Each camper received a t-shirt, gift bag with safety information and other fun things and a complimentary lunch.

The campers and camp volunteers are pictured during a break between classes.


COLQUITT COUNTY

Colquitt County Farm Bureau (CCFB) insurance agents and the CCFB Women’s Committee teamed up to sponsor a local baseball team.

The agents sponsored the team and the Women’s Committee hosted the end-of-the-season pizza party.

Pictured standing from left, with the team during the pizza party is agent Steve Tyus, Women’s Committee Chair Erline Cannon and Office Manager Charlotte Wingate.
CRAWFORD COUNTY

The Crawford County Farm Bureau co-sponsored a Primary Political Forum with the Roberta/Crawford County Chamber of Commerce on June 26, at the Crawford County Board of Education Auditorium.

Candidates for County Commissioner District 5, City Council, State House of Representatives District 136, U.S. House of Representatives District 2, and State Senate District 18 participated in the event.

GFB Legislative Assistant Director Jeffrey Harvey moderated the forum. Crawford County Extension Agent Jeff Cook was the event timekeeper.

The CCFB Women’s Committee provided refreshments for the candidates and local citizens attending the forum.

CCFB Women’s Committee Chairman Joyce Moncrief is pictured preparing the refreshments.


FRANKLIN COUNTY

Members of the Franklin County Farm Bureau (FCFB) celebrated the completion of their new office building with an open house on June 14.

The 5,200 square foot building has 10 offices, a boardroom, kitchen, supply room, file room and copy room.

FCFB began in 1941 with 75 members. Today the county’s membership has grown to about 2,700 members.

FCFB President Brannon Wilkinson, GFB President Wayne Dollar and FCFB board members are pictured cutting the ribbon during the open house ceremony.





HENRY COUNTY

The Henry County Farm Bureau (HCFB) Young Farmer Committee and Henry County Cattlemen’s Club sponsored a Farm Safety Program and cookout for Henry County farmers of all ages.

 The program was held at the farm of Jimmy and Kathy Carter, with representatives from John Deere, EMC, and others giving presentations.

HCFB Women’s Committee member Debby Bailey is pictured giving a presentation about the dangers ofloose clothing near PTOs.



HOUSTON COUNTY
The Houston County Farm Bureau (HCFB) dedicated its new office in Perry, June 1.

In recent years, the county has seen strong growth in population and in Farm Bureau membership. HCFB has about 2,600 members and that number is steadily increasing.

HCFB President Dick Weir says the new office will give their county Farm Bureau a fresh look and much needed space for the three agents, agency manager and the support staff.

Upstairs the new building is equipped with a large boardroom and a kitchen for special functions. The local board worked hard to build the new office.

Pictured left to right, cutting the ribbon at the new office, are HCFB President Dick Weir, Georgia Farm Bureau President Wayne Dollar and Perry Mayor James E. Worrall.


JASPER COUNTY

The Jasper County Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Women’s Committees hosted the 3rd Annual Farmer Appreciation Dinner on May 11.

More than 35 members of the Jasper County farming community attended the event. The Farmer Appreciation Dinner is an opportunity for the Farm Bureau to thank the farmers in Jasper County for all of their hard work and dedication. Thanks are also extended to those who support the farming committee throughout the year.

Ben Boyd, Screven County Farm Bureau Young Farmer chairman, was the guest speaker for the evening. Boyd served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee before being elected to the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Committee of which he served as chairman in 2005. Boyd is pictured entertaining the crowd with his remarks on how farming is done in Poor Robin, Georgia, and his adventures traveling around the U.S. with American Farm Bureau.

The Women’s Committee hosted a fruit-themed dessert contest. Winners were: First Place, Janice Lane with a punchbowl cake; Second Place, Ken McMichael with homemade strawberry ice cream and Third Place, Mrs. Louise Westbrook with a strawberry cake.


MCDUFFIE COUNTY

The McDuffie County Farm Bureau (MCFB) Women’s Committee and Young Farmer Committee co-sponsored a booth at the Dearing Mayfest.

The committees sold lemonade and promoted the GFB commodity of the year - fruit.

MCFB gave away gift bags containing pencils, peanuts, rulers, bookmarks and fruit recipes. MCFB sold tickets for a wooden swing and donated proceeds to the renovation of the old Dearing gymnasium.

Vice President Skeeter McCorkle served as the master of ceremonies for this annual community event.


TALIAFERRO COUNTY

Taliaferro County Farm Bureau (TCFB) held two “Greenhouse-in-a-Bag” classes for local school students: one for fifth grade Ag students and their mothers and one for preschoolers.

The older children met TCFB Office Manager Sandra Ingram at A.H. Stephens State Park. Ingram played trivia games with the ag students and discussed why fruit is a much better treat than sugar foods. Ingram is pictured reading to the preschool students she visited.

A Greenhouse-in-a-Bag is a sealable sandwich bag with three cotton balls stretched across the bottom of the bag. Add three seeds and water to moisten. Seal the bag and tape it to a south window. When the seeds sprout, unseal the bag but leave it on the window for the warmth of the sun. Keep it watered until the plants are large enough to transplant.

“The kids love this! It’s simple, fun, and it works,” Ingram says. “I’ve done this with pumpkin seeds. The plant is now quite large and doing very well in my own garden.”


TWIGGS COUNTY

 Members of the Twiggs County Farm Bureau (TCFB) celebrated their “Golden Past and Bright Future” during an open house on June 16, held to celebrate the remodeling of their office.

The TCFB purchased their building in 1978 and converted the former restaurant into an office building. As the county Farm Bureau membership grew, the need for more office space arose resulting in the latest remodeling project. Through the years, the TCFB has grown from a membership of about 240 to 2,700 members.

“With Warner Robins, Macon and Dublin growing, we’ve been growing as a result,” TCFB President Rocky Nobles said.

During the four months it took to add on new offices, a kitchen and expand the existing lobby, all five members of the TCFB staff worked in one small room giving the staff a special appreciation for their new offices.