Dr. Ron White, President of Emmanuel College More than 95 agriculture supporters gathered on Monday, May 9, 2016 at the Shaw Athletic Center to share in the excitement surrounding the announcement of Emmanuel College’s Diversified Agriculture program. The program is set to begin in Fall of 2016 pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The four-year degree program already has more than a dozen applications from students interested in the major.
Joined by keynote speaker State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Senator John Wilkinson, the group learned about the program’s goal to help provide students with a hands-on learning experience in its three areas of concentrations: ag business, ag missions, and ag science.
Joined by keynote speaker State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Senator John Wilkinson, the group learned about the program’s goal to help provide students with a hands-on learning experience in its three areas of concentrations: ag business, ag missions, and ag science.
State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black Commissioner Black challenged those in attendance to do three things--pray, prepare, and grow. He asked that we continue to pray for the Diversified Agriculture program, that it is approved and reaches students in our area and across the US. He then
asked God to send the resources to provide for the program and help it continue to grow.
“Lives will be changed because of this program,” Commissioner Black said. “I am excited about how this program will equip students with the hands-on experience they’ll need.”
The degree is a natural fit for Northeast Georgia with six of the top ten agriculture counties located within 50 miles of the college. More than 60,000 graduates are needed every year to fill skilled jobs within the Agriculture workforce, yet our nation’s colleges are only producing 35,000.
asked God to send the resources to provide for the program and help it continue to grow.
“Lives will be changed because of this program,” Commissioner Black said. “I am excited about how this program will equip students with the hands-on experience they’ll need.”
The degree is a natural fit for Northeast Georgia with six of the top ten agriculture counties located within 50 miles of the college. More than 60,000 graduates are needed every year to fill skilled jobs within the Agriculture workforce, yet our nation’s colleges are only producing 35,000.
Senator John Wilkinson Senator John Wilkinson said to the crowd that often times agriculture is taken for granted and that it shouldn’t be.
“Agriculture is a 74-billion-dollar business,” Wilkerson said. “1.26 million is made in the Tri-County area of Madison, Franklin, and Hart Counties.
Owen Thomason, Diversified Agriculture Program Chair shared with those in attendance why the timing is perfect to start an agriculture program at EC.
Thomason noted that one out of every seven jobs in the state of Georgia are in agriculture, with six of the top 10 Farm Gate Value counties located within a 50-mile radius of Emmanuel College’s campus. (#1 Madison County, #3 Franklin County, #5 Hart County, #8 Banks County, #9 Jackson County, # 10 Oglethorpe County).
“Agriculture is a 74-billion-dollar business,” Wilkerson said. “1.26 million is made in the Tri-County area of Madison, Franklin, and Hart Counties.
Owen Thomason, Diversified Agriculture Program Chair shared with those in attendance why the timing is perfect to start an agriculture program at EC.
Thomason noted that one out of every seven jobs in the state of Georgia are in agriculture, with six of the top 10 Farm Gate Value counties located within a 50-mile radius of Emmanuel College’s campus. (#1 Madison County, #3 Franklin County, #5 Hart County, #8 Banks County, #9 Jackson County, # 10 Oglethorpe County).
Owen Thomason, Diversified Agriculture Program Chair Currently, the program is halfway to its funding goal but is looking to raise $100,000 in the next 60 days. Interested in learning more about the Diversified Agriculture program and want to participate in helping this program reach is goal? Visit ec.edu/ag or contact Brian James, Emmanuel College Vice President of Advancement at bjames@ec.edu.
Brian James Vice President for Advancement at Emmanuel College