Ag News
Discover Georgia agriculture with GFB Farm Passport
Posted on Mar 14, 2024 at 13:46 PM
Looking for more adventure in your life? Discovery is made simple with the 2024 Georgia Farm Bureau Farm Passport. All you need is an open road and a tank of gas to discover where your food comes from and the people who grow it. See towns not yet visited. Explore your next favorite trail. Stop at a new restaurant.
For the sixth year, Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) is offering its farm passport program. Chances are you’re within an hour of a GFB Certified Farm Market (CFM) and straight-from-the-farm goodness, whether it’s strawberries or peaches in the spring, fresh vegetables in the summer, apples in the fall or Christmas trees at year’s end.
The farm passport guides travelers across Georgia to farms that offer food items for virtually any taste. Travel with the passport to live out your love of discovering Georgia, supporting local farmers and experiencing fresh food. Passport holders will learn about Georgia’s agricultural diversity firsthand as they get their passport stamped at each farm visited.
“It was something we thoroughly enjoyed. It was an inspirational trip. We love the farmers. That’s the main thing. Their trials, tribulations, hope and faith they showed. They were all so willing to share their farm lives with us,” said Anne Gauthier, who traveled with her husband, Mark, to all 93 CFMs in 2023. Anne said they drove approximately 5,500 miles for the CFM visits. Last April, the Gauthiers visited seven CFMs in one day and 25 over a five-day span.
At Hillcrest Dairy in McDuffie County, they met Caitlin Rodgers, whose family owns and operates the dairy.
“We pulled up and there was no one else there,” Anne Gauthier said. “She came riding up on her tractor and she got off of her tractor to see if she could help us. She stopped everything. She was in the middle of delivering hay to the cattle. She stopped and she gave us a 35-45 minute tour. She told us all about it, how it worked. She demonstrated it. She was wonderful.”
The Gauthiers, of McDonough were one of 10 participant pairs who visited all 93 markets across the state, earning them elite Travelers Jackets. The others were Ken & Nicki Ross of Newnan, Robert & Mary Rockwood of McDonough, Mike & Gaby Martin of Phenix City, Alabama, and Marcia Benford & Linda Futch of Fitzgerald.
In 2023, farm passport travelers made more than 8,000 visits to GFB CFMs. That’s up from 2,400 farm visits in the program’s first year, 2019.
“One of our favorite memories we had was at Berry Good Farms,” said Mike Martin, noting that as he and Gaby interacted with farm owner Bob Welker, a big brown dog wet from the neck down approached, and Welker explained that the dog jumped into the farm pod when he got hot. “The dog came and greeted us and went about his day. It was a very homey experience for us and one of the reasons we do this every year.”
Farm Passport travelers have a total of 100 farm markets to visit this year, with 15 of these being new to the program.
Turn in your passport with stamps from five or more CFMs to get a limited-edition t-shirt. Passports stamped from 10 or more farms earn participants the t-shirt and assorted ag swag items like a cutting board and additional surprises. Get 20 or more stamps and receive a farm-to-table dinner and farm tour along with all the other prizes. Travelers who get stamps from 30 or more CFMs get all that plus their choice of selected CFM products.
The Georgia Farm Passport is available at county Farm Bureau offices and at the 100 farms that are GFB CFMs. To find participating farms, visit www.gfb.ag/farmpassport. The deadline to submit your passport for prizes is Jan. 6, 2025.
The GFB Farm Passport is a collection of GFB Certified Farm Markets. These markets sell directly on the farm or offer farm tours and a majority of goods sold are grown on their farm. Each farm is unique. Some farms offer a pick-your-own option, corn mazes, farm games, educational opportunities or host special events as specified in the farm passport.
One passport allowed per person. One stamp allowed per person per farm. Must be present to get your passport stamped. As you visit, share your journey on social media with #farmpassport #gafarmbureau. Please be kind and make a purchase since these farms are their owners’ livelihoods. For potential travel routes, optimized to help you discover Georgia, visit www.gfb.ag/passport or email cfm@gfb.org for questions.
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