- — On the walls of The Valdosta Daily Times offices hangs a photograph of a laughing youngster, possibly tickled by the hat-wearing cow behind his shoulder.
The youngster is also holding a program for the annual Valdosta beef show. The program is for the 22nd annual show. It is dated 1963.
That’s the same beef show that returns today to the Lowndes County Civic Center.
This is the show’s 69th year, but its connection to our region’s history runs even deeper.
Lowndes County and South Georgia were agricultural hubs for decades. Agriculture was the driving force behind the region’s economy for generations. What has become shopping plazas and subdivisions in Lowndes County were once farmlands.
The Valdosta Area Beef Show and Sale should serve as a reminder that Lowndes County still has a stake in agriculture. The show features cattle raised by area students. Ten of the students are from Lowndes, five from Brooks County, and two are from Echols County.
Not only do these young cattle-raisers show their stuff locally. They travel the state sharing what they can do.
It is a tradition that we hope will continue for many years to come. A tradition we hope will not come to an end because of proposed budget cuts to agricultural programs like 4-H statewide.
In coming years, we would hope that people will see that photograph on The Times wall and not wonder what ever happened to the cattle show? We would hope they would notice the smiling youngster, the cow in a hat, and notice the date on the program: the show was held in mid-March in 1963, just like it is now and hopefully for years to come.
What We Think
What We Think: A tradition worth keeping
- What We Think
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Leaving NCLB behind
