Farm Bureau grants funds to LES school project

MAYO, Fla. — A grant from Florida Farm Bureau will support a special learning experience for a group of students at Lafayette Elementary School.  

The grant has been awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year under Farm Bureau’s state-wide, competitive “Ag in the Classroom Program.” 

Karen Callis, a teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, earned the funding by submitting a successful application for  a project that involves recycling food from the cafeteria and home to demonstrate the different phases of recycling. Materials such as coffee grounds and egg shells create composting material for garden and fertilization purposes.

Farm Bureau Mini-Grants are offered annually to certified classroom teachers who serve young people in kindergarten through 12th grade. The grants are intended to help promote a better understanding of contemporary agriculture among students and teachers. Many successful projects supported by the program include innovative interdisciplinary approaches to social studies, mathematics, language arts, physical science and natural resource management.

Florida Farm Bureau has awarded min-grants totaling more than $10,000 to teachers across the state for the 2017-2018 academic year.

For more information about the Florida Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom program, contact Michele Curts at michele.Curts@ffbic.com.

 

Georgia United Credit Union holds annual Wish Tree Program

DALTON, Ga. — Georgia United Credit Union held its 27th annual Wish Tree Program to collect new toys and clothing for foster children in the Dalton community from Nov. 15 through December 15. Individuals, schools and civic groups participated by dropping off a new toy or article of clothing at a local Dalton branch location by mid-December so deliveries could be made prior to Christmas. The Wish Tree Program is one of Georgia United’s longest-running community service projects and one of its most successful with a total of 23,081 gifts donated to multiple county Division of Family and Children Services offices and local charities during the program’s tenure. Georgia United thanks everyone who helped collect a record 1,978 items including high-tech tablets, bicycles and many more to donate to foster children in the Dalton community this year.

 

Bird Supper tickets on sale 

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Tickets are on sale for the 2018 Lowndes County Bird Supper, scheduled to begin 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the historic Georgia Railroad Depot, in Atlanta.  The traditional event, sponsored by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and the City of Valdosta, brings together hundreds of state officials and local business, professional and government personnel for a dinner of quail and meaningful conversations, according to a city-county press release. “Professionals from all areas affected by legislative decisions should participate in this event, such as those from the business, education, development and construction, health care, industry, agriculture and government, to name a few,” Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter said. “It is important to have events such as the bird supper that allow local leaders to meet with and become familiar with their legislators and state officials, as both sides benefit from understanding the needs and philosophies of the other and from listening, which ultimately leads to better-informed decision making.” The 2018 event is being held early in the legislative session to allow participants the opportunity of having an impact on issues affecting the community, region and state. Community members who want to stay informed on the legislative issues are encouraged to visitwww.legis.ga.gov.  “The bird supper is the one event where you have the opportunity to not only voice your concerns and opinions about legislation that affects you and your business to our local delegation but it also affords you the opportunity to get in front of other state leaders,” Valdosta Mayor John Gayle said. “The event provides the opportunity that participants may not have at other times of the year, and particularly during the time of year when the Georgia Legislature is in session with critical bills before our representatives and senators. As a businessman, I encourage our local community stakeholders to be the collective voice for our community at this event in Atlanta.” Tickets may be purchased for $50 each at the Lowndes County Judicial-Administrative Complex, 327 N. Ashley St., first floor-utility payment window, or at Valdosta City Hall, 216 E. Central Ave.  For more information, contact Paige Dukes, Lowndes County clerk and public information officer, (229) 671-2400; or City of Valdosta Public Information Officer Sementha Mathews, (229) 259-3548. Information is also posted at the Lowndes County Bird Supper Facebook page, and requests may also be sent to BirdSupper@lowndescounty.com.