PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — Agriculture is one of the fastest-growing industries in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
For Peach County High School, their FFA program is working to grow and diversify its students.
They were even ranked nationally as a three-star chapter, with over 160 students in their FFA program, and they're ready to 'herd' in some more!
Peach County High School's FFA program has been around since the 1960's, but for the past few years they've been focusing on growing crops and growing in student size.
Some Peach County FFA students wake up and tend to their animals as soon as they get to school.
They have a greenhouse with lots of plants and crops, and they have a barn filled with cows, chickens, pigs, and goats they raise and care for.
It's all part of getting to the root of what the future of farming looks like for these students and what they can do to be of service to their community.
Freshman Sophia Cervantes talks about what she does day to day as an agriculture student.
"I'm proud to be in FFA," Cervantes said. "We go to the greenhouse, the chicken coop, the barn, or the lab and we learn about how to use them and how to care for animals and plants properly."
After taking everything she's learned, both inside and outside of the classroom, Cervantes gets to showcase her animals and make connections with other FFA students.
"Just seeing the FFA, other people with a blue jacket, it's like 'Oh, that's me! That's someone a part of our group'," Cervantes said. "You can really see how people will come up to you and be like 'Oh this program helped me' or just a simple thank you."
But when it comes to who's behind the barn, agriculture educator and FFA advisor Luz Morales says she comes from a family of Mexican immigrants who came to America through agriculture.
In using her family's legacy, she's found a passion in teaching her students the steps to being a good farmer and the importance of agriculture.
"It's kind of inspiring to see what students don't know and then being able to show them about the agriculture industry," Morales said. "It's something that provides so much fruit, so much labor, so much hard work, and being able to see them not only learn about it but also take part in it."
With the growth of modern technology, Morales hopes to grow in her FFA program and for her students to gain interest in growing within the agriculture industry.
"We have had the opportunity to build new facilities and also have more interactions with the advancing technologies of agriculture," Morales said. "A lot of people have the perception that these new technologies are hurting farmers but we can still respect past practices and honor them while still moving forward because these technological advances are not to hurt farmers, they're to help them. I want students to get those first-hand experiences here within the community so they can then give back to the community we all grew up in."
According to the Georgia FFA Association, Georgia's FFA is the third-largest state association with more than 80,000 members. There are 391 chapters and nearly 600 agriculture education teachers in the state.
Also, Peach County High School is participating in 13WMAZ's Stuff the Truck event!
Because between all of us, we can bridge the gap around the holidays and help our neighbors.
Your donations will make it into the hands and stomachs of those who really need them.
You can also support the mission by donating money to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank online here, or by texting TRUCK to 478-752-1309.
We hope to see you at our locations and thank you for your in-person contribution.
They will be parked in front of the Walmart stores at the times listed below.
Milledgeville: 2592 N Columbia St on Nov. 14th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dublin: 2423 US-80 West on Nov. 15th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Macon: 5955 Zebulon Rd on Nov. 16th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Warner Robins: 2720 Watson Blvd on Nov. 16th from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MORE ABOUT THE MIDDLE GEORGIA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
- MGCFB's mission is to "help our neighbors thrive by providing equitable access to nutritious food with community partners.”
- MGCFB is a Feeding America food bank and a member of Feeding Georgia.
- MGCFB serves 24 counties in the region: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Wilkinson.
- 85,360 Middle Georgians are estimated to be food insecure.
- Of those, 27,040 are children.
- $1 is the equivalent of eight meals.
Here is a list of nonperishable foods (no glass jars):
- Canned vegetables (low sodium preferred)
- Canned fruits (no sugar added)
- Canned meats – tuna, chicken
- Soups, stews, chili
- Breakfast items – cereal, breakfast bars
- Rice, pasta
- Macaroni and cheese dinners
- Peanut butter