Georgia, 2019 September

GEMC

Georgia Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle MAGAZINE

U-pick farms
page 38
Growing figs
page 50
SEPTEMBER 2019

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AGRICULT
Georgia Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle Issue MAGAZINE e Agricult

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Georgia Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle
Georgia Grown BabMyABGaArZnI N E
page 18
Businesses in bloom
page 22

www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia's citrus industry
page 26

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Contents SEPTEMBER 2019 VOL. 75, NO. 9
22

THE

AGRICULT
Issue
e Agricult Issue

Th COURTESY THE FLOWER CHICKS

DAVID STEMBRIDGE

32
38
18 Oh, baby! Georgia Grown Baby Barn brings farming to life. By Pamela A. Keene
22 Businesses in bloom Local, sustainable flower farms are taking root in Georgia. By Amber Lanier Nagle
26 Georgia citrus on the rise Satsumas, specialty fruits make new crop inroads. By Jane F. Garvey
32 Blue is their favorite color Blueberries prove crucial to boys' recovery. By Anne Marie Kyzer
On the cover
Baby Barn ambassador Emma Rae Ward, of Summerville, feeds a calf born last year at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. Ambassadors care for calves and piglets at the Baby Barn and help facilitate visitors' interactions with the young animals. (Photo by Andy Harrison.)

BBIE KNOBLOCH COURTESY GEORGIA CITRUS ASSOCIATION

DE

26

4 MAILBOX
6 PICTURE THIS?
8 GEORGIA NEWS
10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
16 CURRENTS
30 GEORGIA'S ENERGY
OUTLOOK
36 MY GEORGIA
Lessons in a new cotton sack

38 AROUND GEORGIA
U-pick farms provide fresh produce, family fun
50 GEORGIA GARDENS
Growing figs
54 GEORGIA COOKS
Sharpen your culinary skills in a cooking class
58 HOMETOWN HERO
Ringgold man recycles for his favorite charity
www.georgiamagazine.org 3

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MailBOX Comments from our readers Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett

Co-op friends
I have been an electric membership cooperative (EMC) member for years--10 years with Jackson EMC and two years and counting with Rayle EMC. I thoroughly enjoyed your July 2019 issue [bit.ly/gm0719] and found a few places to visit!
--Sam Luke Martin, Lexington

I love Georgia Magazine. After I read it, I share it with one of my Marietta friends

who does not have Cobb EMC as her electric provider.

GEMC

Georgia Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle MAGAZINE

Chinese artist finds freedom in America page 20
Smithsonian exhibition comes to Georgia page 24
JULY 2019

THE
ARTS
Georgia I S S UCeElebrating the Georgia lifestyle
Arts THE ISMSUEA G A Z I N E

--Shelby Prather, Marietta
A nice read
Just a quick note to say that I sat down and read your magazine this morning over breakfast. Truly impressed. Well-done, informative and delightful. Thank you for all your work and time.

GEMC

GEMC

Georgia Celebrating the Georgia lifestyle

Arts



centers

unite

coMmAmG uA nZ iItNieEs

page 32

www.georgiamagazine.org
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Steffen Thomas Museum
of Art page 16
Youth theaters let kids
shine page 26
6/12/19 6:03 PM

--Frank Hachmuth, Thomasville
Just read my latest issue of Georgia Magazine and saw the Curious Georgia article by H.M. Cauley about the county names in Georgia. [See "What's in a (county) name?" July 2019, page 38; bit.ly/wian719.]
I was happy to see the mention of counties named

after outstanding Georgians, which included Dr. Crawford Long. I noted the postage

stamp of Gen. Pulaski featured in the article. Dr. Long was also honored with a 2-cent

postage stamp in 1940.

Thanks again. I always enjoy reading the latest issue!

--Vicki Starnes, director, Crawford Long Museum, Jefferson

TWITTER.COM / VEGGIEVANGELIST

[For Beechwood Inn's Fresh Blackberry Sorbet recipe and other frozen treat recipes, see "Cooling off," July 2019, page 42; bit.ly/sor719.]
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 Georgia Magazine September 2019

From THE EDITOR
In this issue we celebrate agriculture, Georgia's No. 1 industry. According to the University of Georgia's Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, agribusiness contributes more than $73 billion annually to Georgia's economy.
However, since the early 1900s much of Georgia's growth has occurred in urban areas, leaving fewer and fewer residents in touch with their state's agricultural heritage. That's where the Georgia Grown Baby Barn comes in.
This live-birthing center and nursery for baby farm animals opened last October at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Turn to page 18 to discover how this exhibit is helping visitors better appreciate the work of Georgia's farmers and their families.
Families are at the center of our next story, which focuses on three farms dedicated to growing a truly beautiful crop: fresh flowers. See "Businesses in bloom" on page 22 to understand why these farm-to-vase operations are using sustainable practices to develop a market for locally grown flowers while supporting their communities.
If you'd like to have a hands-on experience with Georgia agriculture, there's no better way to do so than by visiting one of our state's many U-pick farms. Read "Straight from the source" on page 38 to find out how these farms promise delicious fruit and other crops and a fun, family-friendly outdoor adventure.
Finally, we visit a family that has a personal relationship with one of Georgia's leading crops: blueberries. Brothers McCall and Sawyer Hydrick were diagnosed with a rare esophageal disease as toddlers and were unable to digest food normally.
Then their mother discovered Byne Blueberry Farms' organic blueberries, which turned out to be the only solid food the brothers could digest. Turn to page 32 to read about how the berries helped save the boys' lives and why "blue is their favorite color."
Enjoy!
Laurel George Editor

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AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its a liates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider o ers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.

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Picture this?

Guess where this is and you could win a $25 gift card!

In "Picture this?" the reader whose photo of a Georgia place is published wins a $25 Target gift card--as does the person who correctly guesses what the photo is and where it was taken. The winner's name (drawn at random from correct guesses) and the answer will appear in a future issue. The winning photo selected by our sta will be published in exchange for the gift card; Georgia EMC claims no right in and will ultimately destroy or delete all photos that are not selected.
If you're ready to guess or have taken a photo for us to consider, email picturethis@georgiaemc.com or mail to "Picture this?," P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Submissions should be 300-dpi photos of locations that are accessible to the public and easy to identify. Please send photos and guesses separately.
Guesses for the September contest must be received by Sept. 23, 2019. With all correspondence, please include your name, mailing address and phone number.

JULY 2019

Our winners from July 2019 are Kenneth LaBeaume, of Perry, who submitted the photo, and Carol Bryant, of Fort Valley, who correctly guessed that the shrubbery trimmed to say "EDIMGIAFAD" is in Warner Robins on the road to Robins Air Force Base. The acronym originally stood for "Every day in Middle Georgia is Air Force Appreciation Day" but has been expanded to "Every day in Middle Georgia is Armed Forces Appreciation Day." The original phrase--the o cial motto of Warner Robins--was coined by the late Dr. Dan Callahan, a World War II medic who became a doctor.

Georgia Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia's 41 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 540,000
members welcome the magazine into their homes each month. Georgia's not-for-profit electric
cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to more than 73 percent of the
state's land area, serving 4.5 million residents. For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com.
EDITOR Laurel George MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Hewett, CCC PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Gayle Hartman
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kevin Braun, CCC ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amy Schneider ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jim Jess STAFF ASSISTANT Mae Coleman EDITORIAL INTERN Chaney Wynne
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 289-5700 Harold Chambliss, (678) 906-4050
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE American MainStreet Publications, (800) 626-1181
DESIGNERS Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis
Georgia Magazine (USPS-473120, ISSN 1061-5822) is published monthly by GEMC, P.O. Box 1707, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30085. Periodicals postage paid at Thomaston, GA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send changes to Georgia Magazine,
P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085.
Acceptance of advertising by Georgia Magazine does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Georgia's electric
membership corporations of the product or services advertised.
GEORGIA MAGAZINE'S LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN, OR OMISSIONS OF, ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO THE ADVERTISER'S BUSINESS, SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS OMIT-
TED OR IN WHICH THE ERROR OCCURRED.
Georgia Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Manuscripts, photographs and artwork must be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes to be returned. Georgia Magazine reserves the
right to edit any material published.
How to get in touch
Subscriptions: Contact your electric cooperative first; they may send the magazine by request. Or send check or money order for $10 (12 issues) or $16 (24 issues) to the address below. Allow 4-6
weeks for first issue.
Change of address: If you personally subscribe, mail your address change to the address below. If you receive the magazine through your electric
co-op, please contact that office directly.
Article submissions or story ideas are welcome for review; send to the address below. Guidelines are available by emailing magazine@georgiaemc.com.
2100 East Exchange Place, Suite 510, Tucker, GA 30084 (770) 270-6500; in Georgia, (800) 544-4362 Website: www.georgiamagazine.org Email: magazine@georgiaemc.com
Visit www.georgiamagazine.org for more of everything you love about Georgia!

6 Georgia Magazine September 2019
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To learn more about the cooperative difference, visit TouchstoneEnergy.com
YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.

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GEORGIA News Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett

Ironman returns to Augusta

Augusta promises a day of intense competition when the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 returns for the 10th consecutive year. Hailed as the "South's Biggest Race" and one of Augusta's most popular events, the race on Sept. 29 is expected to draw thousands of competitors and spectators.
"We estimate 3,600 athletes will participate," says Ironman Race Director Alyssa Updegrave.
Professional and amateur athletes will compete in the long-distance triathlon: a 1.2-mile swim in the Savannah River; a 56-mile bike ride through hilly terrain; and a 13.1-mile, two-loop run through downtown Augusta. Participants

Athletes enter the water for the 1.2-mile swim down the Savannah River.

C

AUGUSTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU AUGUSTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Spectators and volunteers cheer an Ironman triathlete as he crosses the finish line.

will cross the finish line on Broad Street adjacent to Augusta Common.
The "70.3" is a half-Ironman and refers to the number of miles covered in the race.
"It's an honor to have the largest half-Ironman in North America happening in Augusta," says Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau sales manager Iman Johnson, who formed her own Ironman relay team in 2011.
An Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of triathlons organized by the World Triathlon Corp. that culminates in a world championship competition. The 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta will award 30 qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race in Taupo, New Zealand, in November 2020.
To learn more, visit ironman.com/augusta70.3. --Victoria Scharf DeCastro

New elementary ag courses approved

I n June, the state Board of Education approved standards for an agricultural-education curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade, as recommended by state school Superintendent Richard Woods.
The standards were developed after the 2018 passing of Senate Bill 330, sponsored by Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. As a former FFA program manager and agricultural-education teacher, Wilkinson worked for two years to get a bill passed that would create a path for implementing ag-ed

courses in elementary schools. "Food doesn't come from the grocery store," Wilkinson
says. "[Being] four or five generations removed from the farm makes it hard for students to understand where their food really comes from. This new program will help kids understand the powerful impact of agriculture on the prosperity of our state."
The program will be piloted in 20 elementary schools in 18 school systems. To see participating schools, visit bit.ly/ agredlist.
--Lindsay Bridges

8 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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M
i S t b
d t H E w a t

Dickey named Georgia Farmer

Find it this month!

AUGUSTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

of the Year
C rawford County peach farmer Robert Dickey has been named the 2019 Georgia Farmer of the Year. A fourth-generation farmer, Dickey manages approximately 1,000

Want to win a $25 gift card?

acres of peaches and 3,000 acres of timberland

with the help of his 90-year-old father, Bob Dickey; his wife, Cynde Dickey; and their son and

Robert Dickey

daughter-in-law, Lee and Stacy Dickey.

"Dickey Farms exemplifies all that it means to be a steward of the land," says

Are you a resourceful reader? One lucky reader who nds and submits the correct answers to these trivia questions will win a $25 Target gift card.

Sarah Greer, the University of Georiga Cooperative Extension Agricultural and Natural

Resources agent in Crawford County,

`Dickey Farms exemplifies

who nominated him for the honor. "They are innovative and progressive. Not

all that it means to be a steward of the land.'
--Sarah Greer

only are they an amazing farm that has persisted over generations but they are outstanding community members."
In addition to tending the farm,

Dickey is serving his fourth term in the

Georgia House of Representatives for

District 140, which covers Crawford County and parts of Bibb, Houston, Monroe and

1) What is the core mission statement of 3 Porch Farm in Madison County?
2) What Georgia electric membership cooperative has enlisted sheep to maintain the grounds of its cooperative solar facility?
3) How many elementary schools will be involved in the pilot program for agricultural education courses?

Peach counties. He represents his fellow farmers on the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.
In October, Dickey will compete against farmers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia for

4) The Georgia National Fair's Georgia Grown Baby Barn is patterned after a similar program in what state?

the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. --Sharon Dowdy

5) Students in Chef Jake Rothschild's cooking school can

re-create a scene in his classes

-

from what classic movie?

rd -

Farm Service Agency honors longtime director, EMC pioneer

TARGET

ro

gift card

Monroe dairyman and Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 2015 inductee Thomas R. Breedlove Sr. was honored posthumously

$25

in April at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm

Service Agency's (FSA) office in Athens for his contributions to Georgia agriculture. His portrait and biography now hang at the FSA state office entrance.
Breedlove served as the first state executive director of the Agriculture Adjustment Administration, the precursor to the FSA, from 1939 to 1955.

How to enter:
Send an email to trivia@georgia emc.com with the answers to all
ve questions by Sept. 30, 2019. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. (If

COURTESY BREEDLOVE FAMILY

He was also the founding board president of Walton Electric Membership Corp. in Monroe in 1936 as well as one of 50 farmers who formed what eventually would be known as the Georgia Farm Bureau, the largest farm organization in the state.

more than one person answers all the questions correctly, we'll draw from among all correct answers to determine the $25 Target gift card winner.)

www.georgiamagazine.org 9

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EVENTS Calendar SEPTEMBER Compiled by Pamela A. Keene

3

Celebrating unity and diversity

R j

(

T he Harmony Jubilee festival will celebrate a legacy of unity and diversity at Paulk Park

I

DJ SPENCE

Campground in Fitzgerald Sept. 27-28. Activities

M

include a 5K run and hot-air balloon and helicopter

d

a

rides.

"The festival celebrates our history, especially

"

the elements of harmony and of bringing people

S

together," says Brandy Elrod, Fitzgerald's director of

H

tourism, arts and culture.

a

The Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Arts Council Artisan

9

Market will sell locally produced, handmade

C

goods. Other highlights include a pet fashion

A

show, wine and cheese tastings, kayaks on the

R

pond and music. The Kids' Zone features a bouncy

g

house, rock wall and bungee jump.

L

To learn more, visit harmonyjubilee.com or

S

call (229) 426-5033.

H

--Chaney Wynne

R

(

MARC ST. PIERRE

2

Event details and costs are subject to change; please verify before attending.

N

a

c

I Historic High Country

Apple Pickin' Jubilee, Sept. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22,

Art Festival at Rose Lawn, Sept. 21-22, Rose

(

28-29, Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay. U-pick apples, Lawn Museum, Cartersville. Fine arts, heritage

U-Pick Apples, Aug. 31, Sept 1-2, 7-8, 14-15,

apple tree maze, swimming pig races, cow

crafts, house tours. (770) 387-5162.

F

21-22, 28-29, Red Apple Barn, Ellijay. Pick apples, milking, wagon rides and giant slides.

bit.ly/roslmus.

H

pumpkins and flowers, plus play games and

(706) 273-3838. hillcrestorchards.net.

f

have a picnic along the creek. (706) 635-5898.

33rd Annual McIntosh Reserve Fall Festival,

a

redapplebarn.com.

28th Annual Taste of Carrollton, Sept. 12,

Sept. 28-29, McIntosh Reserve Park, Whitesburg.

downtown, Carrollton. Sample foods from local Arts and crafts, Native American dance demon-

M

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile," Sept. 5-7, The

restaurants. (770) 832-6901. bit.ly/tstcaro.

strations, music. (770) 830-5879. bit.ly/macresf.

S

Ringgold Depot, Ringgold. Comedian Steve

g

Martin's play about a meeting between Albert

Waco Fall Festival, Sept. 14,

s

Einstein and Pablo Picasso. (706) 935-3061.

downtown, Waco. Parade with high

c

cityofringgoldga.gov.

school bands, bluegrass music

and dancers. (770) 537-3314.

N

Carrollton Half Marathon and Downtown

visitharalson.org.

S

Music Fest, Sept. 7, Carrollton GreenBelt and

s

The AMP, Carrollton. 13.1-mile course ends at

"Sylvia," Sept. 20-21, Carrollton

c

Adamson Square for music, food, craft beer.

Center for the Arts, Carrollton.

e

See runcarrollton.com to sign up for the race.

Romantic comedy about marriage

ALPINE HELEN / WHITE COUNTY CVB

(770) 832-6901. bit.ly/chalfmus.

and a dog, presented by Carroll

4

County Community Theatre.

C

Fire to Fork, Sept. 7, Pickett's Mill Battlefield

(770) 838-1083. carrolltonarts.org.

C

Historic Site, Dallas. Learn historic cooking skills

d

over an open fire, enjoy period music and

34th Annual Roopville Homecom-

(

games. (770) 443-7850. bit.ly/gsppikmb.

ing Festival, Sept. 21, downtown,

Roopville. Parade, entertainment,

"

Gold Rush Festival, Sept. 7, downtown, Villa

crafts, car show, kids' area. (404)

D

Rica. Parade, crafts, entertainment, food.

291-7549. heardchamber.com.

a

(678) 640-1160. bit.ly/dtvrc.

h

Haralson County Fried Pie

49th Annual Oktoberfest, Sept. 5-8, 12-15, 19-22,

River District Music Festival, Sept. 7, River

Festival, Sept. 21, downtown,

26-Oct. 27, Festhalle, Helen. German food, music,

1

District, Rome. Downtown Saturday event fea-

Buchanan. Arts and crafts, entertain- dancing, parade downtown Sept. 7. (706) 878-1908.

9

tures music and entertainment by local bands

ment, fried pies. (770) 546-7299.

helenchamber.com.

F

and performers. (706) 236-4520. bit.ly/dtromeg. bit.ly/fpfesthc.

f

10 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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DJ SPENCE

MARC ST. PIERRE

35th Annual Riverfest, Sept. 28-29, Etowah River Park, Canton. Works by more than 200 juried artists and craftspeople, entertainment. (770) 704-5991. bit.ly/rivrfest.
n Northeast Georgia Mountains

pottery. (706) 865-5356. bit.ly/whcoch.
32nd Annual Big Red Apple Festival, Sept. 28, downtown, Cornelia. Anything Apple Competition, arts and crafts, hayrides, entertainment. (706) 778-8585. discovercornelia.com.

Mountain Heritage Festival, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, downtown, Blairsville. Mountain-made products and crafts. (706) 745-5493. bit.ly/mtnher.
"Nash McCan: Some Kinda' Country Show," Sept. 6-7, 13-14, Savannah River Playhouse, Hartwell. Family musical featuring country, blues and rock 'n' roll. (706) 376-7397. bit.ly/savprod.
9 String Theory, Sept. 8, Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center, Sautee Nacoochee. Concert by Angelina Galashenkova-Reed, three-stringed Russian domra player, and John Huston, classical guitarist. (706) 878-3300. snca.org.
Landfest in the Mountains and on the Lake, Sept. 12-14, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee. Concerts by Dailey & Vincent, Oak Ridge Boys, Bellamy Brothers, Josh Turner. (706) 896-4191. bit.ly/gamtnfg.
27th Annual Snake Day, Sept. 14, Elachee Nature Science Center, Gainesville. Get up close and personal with creatures that slither and crawl, plus games, food trucks, crafts. (770) 535-1976. elachee.org.

Lavonia Fall Festival, Sept. 28, downtown, Lavonia. Arts and crafts, kids' amusements, food, pooch parade. (706) 356-8202. lavoniachamber.org.
n Atlanta Metro
33rd Annual Marietta Art in the Park, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Glover Park, Marietta. Fine arts, children's art alley, food trucks, entertainment. (404) 966-8497. artparkmarietta.com.
Reptile Encounters, Sept. 2, Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge. Learn about reptiles with up-close and hands-on encounters. (770) 389-7801. bit.ly/gsppnmt.
8th Annual NOVAS Exhibit, Sept. 5-26, Cultural Arts Center, Douglasville. National Open Visual Arts Show features artists from across the country. (770) 949-2787. artsdouglas.org.
Taste of Smyrna, Sept. 14, downtown, Smyrna. Entertainment, kids' activities and samples from more than 30 restaurants. (770) 434-6600. bit.ly/tosmyrna.

Farm Animal Fun Day, Sept. 14, Hardman Farm Historic Site, Sautee Nacoochee. Visit with furry friends at the farm and learn about American agriculture. (706) 878-1077. bit.ly/gsphrdmn.

"Space!," Sept. 17-Oct. 20, Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta. Blast off with an alien rock 'n' roll

Mountain Music Day Festival, Sept. 14, Vogel State Park, Blairsville. Appalachian, bluegrass and gospel music; arts and crafts, food and demonstrations of spinning, blacksmithing and bowl carving. (706) 745-2628. bit.ly/gspvogel.

Northeast Georgia Veterans Jamboree, Sept. 14, Cornelia Park, Cornelia. Vendors, car show, games, entertainment. Veterans and the community are all invited to this fun-filled, free event. (706) 778-4981. bit.ly/negavetj.

Regions are determined by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. See its online calendar at www.exploregeorgia. org for additional events.
band on a galactic journey. (404) 873-3391. puppet.org.
28th Annual Marietta StreetFest and Marietta Grassroots Music Festival, Sept. 21-22, Glover Park, Marietta. Art and crafts, car show, music, kids' activities. (770) 794-5710. mariettastreetfest.com.
33rd Annual JapanFest Atlanta, Sept. 21-22, Infinite Energy Center, Duluth. Japanese food, music, dance, anime village, vendors, children's play land, sword warriors. japanfest.org.
36th Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show, Sept. 27-29, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta. More than 300 exhibitors showcase homeimprovement products and services. (800) 395-1350. bit.ly/fatlhoms.
Dover Quartet and the Escher String Quartet, Sept. 29, Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow. Two ensembles perform Felix Mendelssohn's "Octet" and other selections. (678) 466-4200. clayton.edu/spiveyhall.
n Presidential Pathways

ALPHARETTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

48th Annual Georgia State Square Dancing Convention, Sept. 20-21, Gainesville Civic Center, Gainesville. Square dancing, line dancing, round dancing and contra dancing. (706) 491-0130. gssda.org.
"Frozen Jr.," Sept. 20-22, 27-29, Holly Theater, Dahlonega. Children's musical brings Elsa, Anna and the land of Arendelle to life. (706) 530-5162. hollytheater.com.
12th Annual Agri-Fest Country Market and 9th Annual Pottery Comes to Town, Sept. 28, Freedom Park, Cleveland. Locally made crafts, fresh produce, music, farm animals and regional

Alpharetta IronKids Triathlon, Sept. 14-15, Wills Park Pool, Alpharetta. Youngsters ages 6 to 15 compete in this swimming, cycling and running event. (504) 454-6561. alpharettaironkids.events.

Crossroads: Change in Rural America, Aug. 24-Oct. 4, Thomaston-Upson Arts Council, Thomaston. Traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibition highlights the evolution of rural communities in the 20th century through photos, objects, film, audio and interactive technology. (706) 647-9686. tuacga.com.
Pirate Days, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Georgia Veterans State Park, Cordele. Have fun with pirates on Labor Day weekend. (800) 459-1230. bit.ly/gvpirate.
Last Pool Days of Summer, Sept. 1-2, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Pine Mountain. Swim in

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AUGUSTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

EVENTS Calendar

the Liberty Bell Pool before it closes for the season. (706) 663-4824. bit.ly/fdrspga.
Sons of Serendip, Sept. 10, Griffin Auditorium, Griffin. Finalists on "America's Got Talent" create a mix of expressive popular music through using harp, piano, cello and voice. (770) 228-3229. griffinconcerts.org.
Remembering WWII: Operation Market Garden, Sept. 14, Roosevelt's Little White House Historic Site, Warm Springs. Learn about the largest airborne operation up to that point with displays and presentations. (706) 655-5870. bit.ly/roosvwh.
17th Annual SlowExposures Photography Exhibition, Sept. 19-22, various locations in Pike County; main show at Strickland's Community Center, Main Street, Concord. Juried photography show celebrates the rural South. (770) 841-9268. slowexposures.org.

Henry Kramer Plays Rachmaninoff, Sept. 28, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus. Pianist Kramer joins the Columbus Symphony Orchestra to perform works by Rachmaninoff and others. (706) 256-3612. rivercenter.org.
River CleanupYour State Parks Day, Sept. 28, Florence Marina State Park, Omaha. Help clean up the park and the Chattahoochee River. (229) 838-4706. bit.ly/gspfmsp.
I Historic Heartland
Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational, Aug. 31-Sept. 15, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville. Southeastern pottery exhibit and market. (706) 769-4565. ocaf.com.
Middle Georgia Derby Demons, Sept. 7, Georgia National Fairgrounds, Perry. Flat-track roller derby match: Derby Demons vs. Jacksonville (Fla.) J-Villains. bit.ly/mgadd.
"Murdered to Death," Sept. 13-15, 20-22, Rose Theater, Forsyth. Comedy mash-up spoofs Agatha Christie's murder mysteries. (478) 994-0443. thebacklotplayers.org.
Portrait of a Plantation, Sept. 14, Jarrell Plantation, Juliette. Celebrate history and art with an exhibit by local artists and a plein air painting session. (478) 986-5172. bit.ly/gspjarp.

28th Annual Insect-ival!, Sept. 28, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens. Creepy, crawly family festival with puppet shows, roach and beetle races, plus discovery stations. (706) 542-1244. bit.ly/insectival.
The Gatlin Brothers, Sept. 28, Monroe County Fine Arts Center, Forsyth. Concert by the GRAMMY Award-winning country/gospel group. (478) 994-2031. monroefinearts.org.
LatinxFest 2019, Sept. 28, downtown, Athens. Celebrate the cultures of Central and South America with music, dancing, food. (706) 250-1677. bit.ly/latxfest.
Lockerly Under the Stars, Sept. 28, Lockerly Arboretum, Milledgeville. Music, silent auction, food. (478) 452-2112. lockerly.org.
I Classic South
"Cliffhanger," Sept. 6-7, 13-15, Mancin Auditorium, Bartow. Murder mystery about a college professor and a sinister witness leads to a surprise ending. (478) 364-3340. bit.ly/shplayrs.
Women on Paper, Sept. 12-Oct. 31, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, Augusta. Paintings, watercolors, pastels, collages and mixed media by female artists. (706) 826-4700. bit.ly/sacrdht.
Cruise-in on the Square, Sept. 14, downtown, Washington. Antique and classic cars, hot rods, tractors and motorcycles, plus food and oldies music. (706) 678-2013. washingtonwilkes.org.

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, Sept. 20-22, downtown, Augusta. Arts and crafts, music, dance performances, international food. (706) 826-4702. bit.ly/arthtaug.

John Crist Up Close, Sept. 19, Monroe County Fine Arts Center, Forsyth. Stand-up comic brings his routine to Middle Georgia. (478) 994-2031. monroefinearts.org.

"Chicago," Sept. 20-22, 26-29, Oct. 3-6, Springer Opera House, Columbus. Journey back to the Roaring '20s in this musical. (706) 327-3688. bit.ly/sprngop.
Community Showcase II, Sept. 26, President Theatre, Manchester. Variety show featuring local talents. (706) 441-0579. presidenttheatre.com.
"Peter and the Starcatcher," Sept. 27-29, Oct. 3-5, Riverside Theatre Complex, Columbus. A new twist to the Peter Pan story. (706) 507-8444. bit.ly/costuth.
23rd Annual Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 28, downtown, Plains. Parade, road race, demonstrations, arts and crafts, entertainment. (229) 824-5373. plainsgeorgia2.com.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 19-21, Museum of Aviation, Century of Flight Hangar, Warner Robins. Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, 24-hour Vigil Run, HERO's Banquet. (407) 448-1181. theridehome.com.
46th Annual Buggy Days, Sept. 20-22, downtown, Barnesville. Arts and crafts, parade, fireworks, concert, kids' park. (770) 358-5884. buggydays.org.
GABBAfest 2019, Sept. 20-22, Grand Opera House and Big House Museum, Macon. Concerts and reunion of Allman Brothers Band fans. (478) 301-5470. gabbafest.org.
Jazz at the Magnolia, Sept. 21, Magnolia Ballroom, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville. Concert by Melvin Jones Quartet. (478) 452-3950. bit.ly/jazatmag.

LexFest, Sept. 14, downtown, Lexington. Artisans, demonstrations, tours, food, evening concert. (706) 340-1049. lexingtonga.org.
Gary Allan, Sept. 19, Bell Auditorium, Augusta. Country musician performs. (706) 722-3521. bit.ly/augentc.
Pickin' on Clarks Hill Lake, Sept. 19-21, Elijah Clark State Park, Lincolnton. Homegrown bluegrass performances. (706) 359-3458. bit.ly/gspecsp.
Wildwood Revival Music Festival, Sept. 27-29, Historic Cloverleaf Farm, Arnoldsville. Country music, rock 'n' roll, jazz, blues, gospel, soul, hip-hop and more, plus food, craft beers and an artisan market. (866) 808-1483. wildwoodrevival.com.
Free Fishing Day, Sept. 28, George L. Smith State Park, Twin City. Fish for free; no license necessary. (478) 763-2759. bit.ly/gspgsmth.
IRONMAN 70.3, Sept. 29, Savannah River, Augusta. Event with 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike course and 13.1-mile run through downtown. (813) 868-5940. bit.ly/ironaug.
Continued on page 14

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in any of these public waters during Georgia Free Fishing Day. (478) 272-4002. bit.ly/dubfish.
n Georgia's Coast

Labor Day Commemoration, Sept. 2, Fort King George Historic Site, Darien. Craft demonstrations, soldiers' life activities. (912) 437-4770. bit.ly/gspftkg.

UNITED ARTISTS

Collin Raye, Sept. 28, Mars Theatre, Springfield. Country artist with 24 top 10 records and 16 No. 1 hits performs. (912) 754-1118. marstheatre.com.

Abbey Road 50th Anniversary, Sept. 6, Post Theater, Tybee Island. Abbey Road LIVE! tribute band plays the famous Beatles album start to finish. (912) 472-4790. tybeeposttheater.org.
Beach Combing on Cumberland Island, Sept. 7, Crooked River State Park, St. Marys. Boat ride to Cumberland Island and ranger-led stroll to identify shells, sea life and birds, plus photograph the island's wild horses. (912) 882-5256. bit.ly/gspcrkr.

Continued from page 12
n Plantation Trace
THOM Collective Exhibition, through Sept. 27, Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomasville. Juried works by regional artists in various media, styles and themes. (229) 226-0588. thomasvillearts.com.
Figure Forward, through Oct. 12, Albany Museum of Art, Albany. Works by photographer Jill Frank, sculptor Jaime Bull and painter William Downs. (229) 439-8400. albanymuseum.com.
Sunset Snapshot Paddle, Sept. 6, 13, 21, 27, Seminole State Park, Donalsonville. Naturalistguided kayak and photography tour at sunset. (229) 861-3137. bit.ly/gspsem.
Rhythm & Roots, Sept. 12, Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomasville. Learn the stories behind the songs in the singer-songwriter series. (229) 226-0588. thomasvillearts.com.
16th Annual Omega Pepper Festival, Sept. 13-14, Ponder Park, Omega. Parade, entertainment, arts and crafts, food. (229) 848-3647. bit.ly/omegapf.
Travis Tritt, Sept. 19, UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton. Concert by the Georgia country singer. (877) 725-8849. bit.ly/tritugatif.
Sutton Foster, Sept. 26, Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomasville. Two-time Tony Awardwinning actress performs Broadway and pop music. (229) 226-7404. tefconcerts.com.
Water, Wings and Wildlife, Sept. 27-28, Flint RiverQuarium, Albany. Learn all about wildlife, plus birds of prey show. (229) 639-2650. bit.ly/frivaqv.

10th Berrien County Harvest Festival, Sept. 28, downtown, Nashville. Crafts, food, quilt show, tractor parade, agricultural exhibits. (229) 686-5123. berrienchamber.com.
n Magnolia Midlands
Lumber City Farm Day 5K/1-Mile Run, Sept. 7, Lumber City United Methodist Church, Lumber City. Annual community run and breakfast. (912) 363-4643. bit.ly/lctyfrm.
Lovebug Festival, Sept. 14, General Coffee State Park, Nicholls. Explore the world of insects, including edible bugs and pollinators, plus crafts for kids. (912) 384-7082. bit.ly/gspgencof.
Lonestar, Sept. 20, Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center, Statesboro. Platinum-selling country band performs its hits. (912) 478-7999. bit.ly/gsupac1819.
Appling County Canoe & Kayak Paddle, Sept. 21, Town's Bluff Landing, Baxley. Paddle 12 miles on the Altamaha River to Deen's Landing. (912) 367-7731. bit.ly/mcankyk.
Crazy for Patsy Cline, Sept. 22, Averitt Center for the Arts, Statesboro. Katie Deal performs Cline's greatest hits. (912) 212-2787. bit.ly/avrtctr.
16th Annual Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Sept. 28, Theatre Dublin, Dublin. Enjoy musical arrangements from the movies, Broadway and popular tunes. (478) 246-7861. bit.ly/dubartsc.
Free Fishing Day, Sept. 28, Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area, Adrian; River Bend Wildlife Management Area, East Dublin; and Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area, Dublin. Fish for free

"Evening with the Stars," Sept. 13-14, 20-22, St. Marys Little Theater, St. Marys. Sonny and Cher characters host a night of popular music. (912) 729-1103. bit.ly/stmthe.
Music in the Park, Sept. 14, Waterfront Park, St. Marys. Performance by The Smokestacks. (912) 882-4000. visitstmarys.com.
Triple Threat: Bernstein, Gershwin and Mussorgsky, Sept. 14, Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah. The Savannah Philharmonic performs works by the three composers. (912) 232-6002. bit.ly/savphil.
14th Annual Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, Sept. 20-22, Historic District, Jekyll Island. Artist market, music, craft brews, classic car show, food, shrimp and grits. (912) 635-3636. jekyllisland.com.
16th Annual Blues, Brews & BBQ, Sept. 21, downtown, Hinesville. The Wildshiners, Brendan Roberts Band and more perform, plus beer and barbecue. (912) 368-4445. bit.ly/blubrbbq.
Savannah Jazz Festival, Sept. 22-28, various locations, Savannah. More than 25 concerts, including performances by Huntertones, Gino Castillo and the Cuban Cowboys, Vanessa Rubin and Anita Cohen. (912) 228-3158. savannahjazzfest.com.
Art Under the Oaks, Sept. 28-29, Postell Park, St. Simons. Arts and crafts, children's activities and food. (912) 638-8770. glynnvisualarts.org.
Events for the December 2019 issue are due by Sept. 15. Email calendar@georgiaemc.com. See more event listings at georgiamagazine.org.

14 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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Currents

News from Georgia's electric co-ops Compiled by Amy Schneider

BYRON MCCOMBS COURTESY SNAPPING SHOALS EMC

EMC linemen take top spots in statewide rodeo

E lectric membership cooperative (EMC) line crews were in top form at the 2019 Georgia Lineman's Rodeo on May 4 at the FFA Camp John Hope in Perry. Professional journeyman teams and apprentices with EMCs statewide competed against teams and apprentices from municipal electric systems in Georgia.
EMC journeymen took the top five spots in overall competition in the journeyman division, and EMC apprentices took the top five spots in their overall competition.
The top five journeyman teams were: Tony Brown, Sam Albright and Matt Williams of GreyStone
Power Corp. (Douglasville), first place; Ben Campbell, Jerry Minish and Brandon Carter, Jackson
EMC (Jefferson), second place; Greg Angel, Dwayne Dickerson and Jason Bond, Jackson
EMC, third place; Brad Knowles, John Mastin and Greg Hill, Flint Energies
(Reynolds), fourth place; and Jeff Sutton, Kaleb Chapman and Jeremy Adams, Jackson EMC,
fifth place. The top apprentices were:
Austin Cunningham, Cobb EMC (Marietta), first place; Dakota Conner, Snapping Shoals EMC (Covington), second
place; Collin Ward, Jackson EMC, third place; Dillon Wellborn, Jackson EMC, fourth place; and Jon Frazier, GreyStone Power Corp., fifth place.
Now in its 25th year, the Georgia Lineman's Rodeo has become popular with utility workers and the public. The family-

At the annual Georgia Lineman's Rodeo, linemen demonstrate the skills needed to do their challenging job safely.
friendly event gives linemen an opportunity to showcase their unique skills and talent before family and friends.
This year, 76 EMC apprentices and 29 EMC journeyman teams competed. The other EMCs participating in this year's event were Blue Ridge Mountain EMC in Young Harris, Carroll EMC in Carrollton, Central Georgia EMC in Jackson, Habersham EMC in Clarkesville, Okefenoke Rural EMC in Nahunta, Walton EMC in Monroe and Washington EMC in Sandersville.
An awards banquet was held to recognize winners in each division as well as overall team winners.
--Terri Statham

Cooperatives' donation helps future lineworkers
LaGrange-based Diverse Power and Moultrie-based Colquitt Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) teamed up to provide a pole trailer to the electrical lineworker program at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) in Americus. Colquitt EMC donated the pole trailer, which was refurbished and painted by Diverse Power before it was given to the school, where it will be used in training future lineworkers to earn Class B commercial driver's licenses. Standing beside the donated pole trailer at right are, from left, Wally Summers, vice president of economic development at SGTC; Bubba Allen, general foreman at Diverse Power; Tyler Flowers, a former SGTC student in the lineworker program who now works for Diverse Power; and Dewey Turner, SGTC lineworker instructor.
16 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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COURTESY SNAPPING SHOALS EMC

Sheep give new meaning to solar `farm'
Sheep patrol the grounds at Snapping Shoals EMC's cooperative solar facility in Covington to keep the weeds under control and away from solar panels.
C ovington-based Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) is among the first utilities in Georgia to use a resident flock of sheep to maintain its 13-acre cooperative solar facility. The first sheep arrived this spring, just in time to start nibbling away the weeds beginning to emerge from underneath the solar arrays.
Sheep were chosen instead of other grazing livestock because they do not climb on the panels (like goats would) and don't damage the equipment by rubbing against it or chewing on wiring. Using sheep to control vegetation is a green alternative to using chemicals and mowing with internal combustion equipment.
Snapping Shoals' newest employees work around the clock to keep weeds at bay--weeds that could decrease the solar panels' performance and damage equipment. The goal is to have a flock of about 50 Katahdin ewes. The hardy breed doesn't require shearing and is well-suited to Georgia's climate. The sheep are cared for by students from the Newton County Career Academy in Covington and Snapping Shoals EMC employees.
--Scott Fuss

SHORTTakes

Top-notch with customers: GreyStone Power Corp. in Douglasville was the nation's top-rated electric cooperative in the J.D. Power 2019 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. The study is based on more than 103,000 interviews of residential customers of the 142 largest electric utilities nationwide. For information about the 2019 J.D. Power awards, go to jdpower. com/awards.
Stay in school: The Flint Energies Foundation in Reynolds recently donated $5,000 in Operation Round Up funds to the Georgia Southwestern State University Foundation in Americus for the university's O ce of FirstYear Experience, which works to help new students succeed and remain enrolled. The grant will be used to buy ve iPads for the o ce sta so that they can be more mobile and meet students where they are to address their needs. In Operation Round Up, members opt to round their electric bills to the nearest dollar, and the di erence goes into a fund for charitable causes in the community.
Tablet winner: Jaley Mize, a member of GreyStone Power Corp., was the winner of the 2019 Georgia Magazine Student Tablet Giveaway. She lives in Winston and attends Robert S. Alexander Comprehensive High School in Douglasville. The annual survey o ers a tablet computer to one student at a Georgia high school or college whose name is drawn from respondents.

COURTESY J.D. POWER COURTESY WASHINGTON EMC

Cooperative kids: Fifty youngsters ages 8 to 13 gathered at the Sandersville headquarters of Washington Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) on June 18 for the cooperative's annual Camp Co-op. The free camp teaches the children about the electric cooperative through fun activities such as bucket-truck rides, crafts, games, safety demonstrations and a tour. Above, campers cheer on teammates in the rubber glove nut-and-bolt relay.
Keeping their cool: Senior citizens in need were able to beat the heat with air-conditioning units provided through a $2,250 grant from the Americus-based Sumter EMC Foundation. The 11 units were distributed to seniors from Dougherty, Lee and Terrell counties on a rst-come, rst-served basis by the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging in Albany.
Business boom: Tucker-based Georgia EMC's Community and Economic Development team played a role in bringing several new development projects to the state. Swiss manufacturer Preci-Dip will build its rst U.S. production facility in Bryan County, while online retailer Wayfair will launch a customer-support facility in Athens-Clarke County. These projects, along with an Amazon ful llment center already under construction in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, will create 1,600 jobs.

A critical eye: Mark Bolton, vice president of marketing, communication and economic development at Coastal Electric Cooperative in Midway, served as one of three judges for the 2019 Arts on the Coast Magnum Opus Annual Exhibit. The exhibit is on display through Sept. 7 at Deep South PhotoPoint Gallery in Richmond Hill.

ANITRA ELLISON / GREYSTONE POWER CORP.

www.georgiamagazine.org 17

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ANDY HARRISON

Oh, B

`It's a marvelous process to watch an animal come into this world. The Baby Barn is a wonderful opportunity to educate people about what we do and why we do it.'
-- Lee Jones, veterinarian, Georgia Grown Baby Barn

Veterinarian Brad Heins, right, from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and a Baby Barn ambassador assist with the delivery of a calf.

V g w b
H s B
J w b b
p
a t

ANDY HARRISON

18 Georgia Magazine September 2019
18-21_Baby_Barn_B_0819.indd 18

A newborn calf is nuzzled by its mother shortly after birth.
8/14/19 11:11 AM

ISTOCK.COM / GLOBALP

h, BABY!

Georgia Grown Baby Barn brings farming to life
By Pamela A. Keene

V eterinarian Lee Jones knew this birth would be unusual, but he didn't expect twins. As the official veterinarian for the Geor-

gia National Fair's Georgia Grown Baby Barn, Jones

was poised to assist with the first delivery of the

brand-new program. He was in for some surprises.

ty of

Besides the delivery of two healthy, female

by

Holstein calves, Jones was amazed at the number of

f.

spectators and their response on opening day of the

Baby Barn last October.

"They spontaneously broke into applause,"

Jones says. "I've been at livestock births on farms

when the dairy farmer and I would trade high-fives,

but I've never heard applause at the birth of calves

before."

The Baby Barn is a project of the Georgia De-

partment of Agriculture's Georgia Grown program.

"The plan was to provide Georgia National Fair

attendees the opportunity of a lifetime with a chance

to witness a live birth of a calf once a day," says

ANDY HARRISON

ANDY HARRISON

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. "Through the hard and tireless work of our
team and partners, we were able to double and sometimes even triple that opportunity. The enthralled expressions on the faces of both children and adults as they stood there attentively was all the evidence we needed to know that the Baby Barn was a rousing success."
The Baby Barn will be open for its second year at the 30th annual Georgia National Fair Oct. 3-13 at
Above: Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black reacts with the crowd observing a calf birth at the Baby Barn last year. Left: Baby Barn ambassadors help take care of the calves and other animals during the fair.
www.georgiamagazine.org 19

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ANDY HARRISON KEVIN BRAUN

Above: Piglets typically weigh about 2 pounds at birth and can double their weight in the first week of life. Left: Youngsters meet newborn piglets with the help of Baby Barn ambassadors, who are members of FFA and 4-H programs in Georgia.

the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Last year, guests experienced the births of 20 calves during the fair, which was cut short by two days because of Hurricane Michael.
Bringing the farm to the people
Jack Spruill spent much of his youth milking cows on a family farm in Hoschton. Now, as director of marketing for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, he sees the Baby Barn as an opportunity to educate Georgians about their state's agrarian heritage. After all, agriculture is still the state's largest economic driver.
"Many Georgians are generations removed from the farm and don't have an agrarian background, so the Baby Barn and all that the fair offers provide a way to educate them about the most important industry in our state," Spruill says. "The Baby Barn is just one of the many ways we are helping people learn about agriculture and farm life."
The Baby Barn was several years in the making. Members of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, which oversees the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, researched similar animal programs at state fairs nationwide. Spruill says that the concept and operation of the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul had the most appeal.
"We saw that urbanites were fascinated by the birth center," Spruill says. "They would stand for hours with their kids waiting for the births of baby goats, lambs and piglets. However, we wanted to make the program our own, so we

ISTOCK.COM / BAZILFOTO

decided to narrow the focus. Our research showed that public interest was highest for the birth of cows, so we decided to focus on dairy cows--partly because calves are born more like miniature adults than other farm animals. They're like a miniature of their mama right from the start."
Dairy farming and beef production are big business in Georgia. More than 500,000 calves are born each year in the state. And Spruill says that there are cows in every county in Georgia.
"Deciding to focus on cows was a slam-dunk and a perfect way to educate people about the importance of cows to the state," he says.
Predicting delivery dates for cows is fairly straightforward, Spruill says. "A delivery will typically take place between 282 and 283 days after insemination. And, as is the standard practice when raising cattle, the cows are artificially inseminated, so we know exactly when conception occurs."
Life begins anew
The cows who deliver at the Baby Barn make their yearround home at a nearby Middle Georgia dairy farm, where
they stay until the 281st day after conception.
"Then they're moved to the Baby Barn, where they will have the cleanest environment and the greatest care available when they deliver their calves," Spruill says. "Around a dairy farm, cows are the greatest asset, and they're treated like royalty. There is a direct relationship between the amount of milk produced and the comfort and well-being of the cow. Their babies will be the next generation of mothers and are cared for painstakingly to offer them successful transition into that role as they mature." Calf births are still the main focus this year, but Baby Barn organizers realized that guests would want

20 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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KEVIN BRAUN

to interact with the babies of other farm animals as well, so newborn piglets will also be on display.
"Piglets were the logical choice to add," Spruill says. "They are so cuddly and are large enough to manage being handled and petted. They appeal to all ages, plus visitors can see them [being nursed by] their mamas in the Baby Barn."
"It's a marvelous process to watch an animal come into this world," Jones says. "Watching a new calf struggle to get up and take its first few steps is so natural. The Baby Barn is a wonderful opportunity to educate people about what we do and why we do it."
Pamela A. Keene is a freelance writer living in Flowery Branch.
When you go
30th Annual Georgia National Fair, Oct. 3-13, Georgia National Fairgrounds, 401 Larry Walker Pkwy., Perry. Livestock and agricultural exhibits and competitions, Georgia Grown Barn and Baby Barn, kids' activities, petting zoo, sea lion show, concerts, carnival midway and nightly reworks. georgianationalfair.com. (478) 987-3247.

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30 10.03 9.47 10.34 9.57 13.98 11.97 58 32.95 23.46 53.35 39.31 96.94 70.31

35 10.64 9.92 11.67 11.08 14.70 13.42 59 35.42 24.45 58.19 42.48 106.61 76.52

40 12.48 11.00 13.81 13.59 21.71 18.38 60 38.22 25.58 63.70 46.08 117.60 83.57

41 12.94 11.26 14.43 14.02 22.98 19.30 61 40.75 28.72 71.20 51.77 130.36 91.49

42 13.33 11.44 15.13 14.51 24.41 20.35 62 43.61 32.27 79.70 58.22 144.81 100.47

43 13.87 11.80 16.01 15.11 26.18 21.64 63 47.15 36.66 90.21 66.18 162.67 111.56

44 14.32 12.16 16.92 15.74 28.03 23.00 64 50.86 40.98 101.21 74.52 181.38 123.17

45 14.86 12.52 17.95 16.46 30.13 24.53 65 55.07 44.93 113.71 84.00 202.63 136.37

46 15.30 12.88 19.14 17.34 32.35 26.34 66 60.36 48.79 123.80 93.97 222.11 153.78

47 15.93 13.33 20.48 18.34 34.85 28.39 67 66.35 53.19 135.24 105.27 244.18 173.51

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49 16.65 14.41 23.88 20.87 41.20 33.58 69 81.49 64.32 164.17 133.86 300.01 223.42

50 17.01 15.04 25.86 22.34 44.88 36.59 70 90.30 70.88 180.99 150.48 332.46 252.43

51 18.51 16.11 28.23 23.74 49.20 39.41 71 100.01 78.24 205.88 160.58 379.42 277.89

52 20.21 17.28 30.92 25.32 54.09 42.60 72 111.01 86.13 234.09 172.02 432.64 306.73

53 22.32 18.53 34.25 27.29 60.13 46.54 73 124.60 93.41 268.93 186.16 498.38 342.37

54 24.52 19.70 37.73 29.34 66.46 50.67 74 138.83 101.03 305.43 200.98 567.26 379.70

55 26.62 20.96 41.68 31.68 73.65 55.36 75 155.01 109.70 346.91 217.81 645.52 422.12

56 28.68 21.75 44.98 33.84 80.25 59.59 76 202.87 141.67 410.75 271.90 774.54 531.36

57 30.60 22.52 48.72 36.29 87.72 64.39 77 255.18 177.90 483.10 333.20 920.76 655.17
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Businesses in

TREWCCI TAYLOR

MARY GEN WILLIAMS

Local, sustainable ower farms taking root in Georgia
By Amber Lanier Nagle

ISTOCK.COM / URSAHOOGLE TREWCCI TAYLOR

D azzling zinnias. Sassy sunflowers. Magnificent marigolds. Captivating cosmos. Most weekends during the warm Georgia growing season, the Taylor sisters sell homegrown bouquets at the farmers market in downtown Dalton. They call themselves The Flower Chicks.
"We've always loved flowers, and in 2015, our mom talked our dad into giving up part of his hay pasture," says Breelie Taylor, the second-oldest daughter of Timothy and Connie Taylor of Catoosa County. "With that half-acre, we began growing the basics: zinnias, sunflowers, basil, mint, cosmos and celosia. We really didn't have a plan at that time. We just wanted to grow and sell flowers."
The Flower Chicks are part of a local, sustainable floriculture movement involving small-scale flower farmers who sell directly to customers or supply their products to nearby fresh markets. Many of these farm-to-vase operations are family affairs.
The Taylor sisters--Soucci, 21; Breelie, 20; Keelee, 19; Trewcci, 13; Avve, 9; and Vivvi, 7--have spent their lives on a 180-acre farm that has been in their family for six generations. While growing things is in their blood, the business side of a cut-flower operation was new to them. They followed their aunts and uncles to local farmers markets and learned the ropes.
"We've learned how to work with one another, and that has brought us closer as a family," Breelie Taylor says. "We've also learned how to interact with customers, how to create [business] systems, how to plan out work on a calendar and how businesses work--and don't work--in the real world."
They've encountered bumps along the way. She

Breelie Taylor and her five sisters operate their flower business, The Flower Chicks, on part of their parents' farm near Ringgold. It has been a learning process for the sisters, who expect the business to turn a profit this year.
reveals that they fell prey to a scam artist last year. "It was one of those live-and-learn moments of having a business."
The weather hasn't always cooperated, and the family's ponies and lambs have wandered into the garden a few times and eaten a feast of fresh flowers. The Flower Chicks didn't turn a profit in their first three years, but there's no quit in these young entrepreneurs.
"We are confident that we'll see a profit this year," Taylor says. "There was a learning curve, but now we know what works and what doesn't."

22 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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The Flower Chicks are part of a local, sustainable oriculture movement involving small-scale ower farmers who sell directly to customers or supply their products to nearby fresh markets.
Keelee Taylor picks zinnias at The Flower Chicks' farm.

TREWCCI TAYLOR

MARY GEN WILLIAMS

Rita and Mike Williams get their children involved in the family business, WilMor Farms, in Metter.

Connections
Another family-owned and -operated flower business flourishes in Candler County. Like the Taylor sisters, they describe the experience as a labor of love with a few surprises.
"I wasn't aware of the power that flowers have for some people," says Rita Williams, who runs WilMor Farms with husband, Mike, and the couple's four children: Mary Gen, 15; Josie, 13; Mason, 11; and Morgan, 9. "Just seeing our flowers triggers deep memories and conversations. I can't tell you how many times a customer has looked at our flowers and said, `Oh,

ISTOCK.COM / HARALDBIEBEL
MARY GEN WILLIAMS

WilMor Farms sells its fresh-cut flowers at farmers markets and a few local grocery stores.
www.georgiamagazine.org 23

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3 Porch Farm's core mission statement is "Principles before pro t," and concern for human rights, fair wages, clean water, clean air and nature guides decisions and activities.

COURTESY 3 PORCH FARM

ISTOCK.COM / URSAHOOGLE

Steve and Mandy O'Shea pose with dahlias at 3 Porch Farm near Comer.

my grandmother grew this' or `This reminds me of my childhood.'"
Flowers not only awaken sleeping memories and decorate the world around us but also help us celebrate, lift our spirits and honor loved ones. "We've become close to many of our customers at the farmers markets," Williams says. "One lady shared with us that she lost her 13-year-old daughter. We see her often, and she usually buys one large bouquet of flowers and a second, smaller bouquet to place on her daughter's grave." The Williamses grow their flower crops in the same dirt Rita Williams' ancestors cultivated for seven generations. "My grandparents, Clifford and O'rita Morgan, raised their family here," she says. "Not only do we feel a strong connection to the land and a responsibility to be good stewards of it, but we are raising our kids here and teaching them how to work hard and create opportunity for themselves." The family learned about the locally grown flower movement after attending a Georgia Organics Conference in Athens and touring 3 Porch Farm.

"After the tour, Mike looked at me and said: `This is perfect for us, Rita. Our family can do this,'" Williams says.
They joined the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, a community of like-minded flower farmers willing to help them get started. They planted their first seeds in March 2015 and produced a beautiful crop of sunflowers, zinnias and celosia. The following year, the family hauled its flowers to the Saturday markets at Augusta's Riverwalk and across the state line to the farmers market in Bluffton, S.C. Today, they also offer their blooms at the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market and a few local grocery stores.
"The kids are involved in every aspect of the business-- operating the tractor, making bouquets, selling at the farmers markets and posting photos on social media," she says. "My mother-in-law [Renee Williams] is involved, too. It's hard work, but I love it, and I love being together as a family."
Principles
In September 2011, Steve and Mandy O'Shea began working the soil of their Madison County farm with a walk-behind tiller.
"The first few years, we tried to do and grow absolutely everything," says Steve O'Shea, co-owner of 3 Porch Farm. "But after an intense seven years filled with 90-hour workweeks,

24 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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COURTESY 3 PORCH FARM

Morton_GAMag_9.19.qxp_Layout 1 6/3/19 10:08 AM Page 1

we've pared down and become more efficient."
In springtime, the farm produces ranunculus, anemones, tulips, daffodils and peonies. Zinnias, cosmos, Rudbeckia, celosia and Lisianthus emerge in summer. Chrysanthemums, amaranth and dahlias delight customers in the fall. The O'Sheas sell seasonal flower bouquets at the Athens Farmers Market, the Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center in Atlanta and the Marietta Square Farmers Market. They also sell a selection of items online.
Their core mission statement is "Principles before profit," and their concern for human rights, fair wages, clean water, clean air and nature guides the O'Sheas' decisions and activities.
"Our goal is to be as close to carbonneutral as possible and to use the farm as an opportunity to put all of our best ethics into practice," O'Shea says. "I've installed four solar arrays as we've continued to grow, and I've converted three of our delivery vehicles to run on recycled vegetable oil in our efforts to be a carbonneutral business. And we employ good people who come from marginalized communities and might not have many other opportunities."
He says operating 3 Porch Farm is both unifying and uplifting.
"The overwhelmingly positive support we get from our customers and the community is incredibly amazing," he says. "And being outside on a gorgeous piece of land growing beautiful flowers together makes Mandy and me feel connected to each other and to everything past, present and future."
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer who lives in Adairsville.

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For more information
The Flower Chicks, Ringgold. (423) 315-1708. facebook.com/theflower chicks, instagram.com/flower_chicks9. 3 Porch Farm, Comer. (706) 340-4706. 3porchfarm.com, instagram.com/ 3porchfarm. WilMor Farms, Metter. (912) 687-2842. facebook.com/wilmorfarmsflowers, instagram.com/wilmorfarmsflowers.

ISTOCK.COM / VIDOK

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LINDY SAVELLE

Georgia citrus on the rise

LAUREN GRIFFETH

Satsumas, specialty fruits make new crop inroads
By Jane F. Garvey

I n November 2009, Statesboro farmer Joe B. Franklin took a little time off and was traveling around Louisiana when he happened upon a new taste experience: Satsuma oranges.

"It was the best citrus I had ever had," he recently told a

group traveling through South Georgia with Georgia Grown, a

promotional arm of the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Franklin resolved to try to grow the unusual Japanese

orange, notable for its little top nub and easy-to-peel character,

at his Bulloch County farm. He now has a little more

than 5,000 Satsuma trees planted, making him

the largest grower of the specialty fruit in the

state, according to Lindy Savelle, herself a

citrus farmer and executive director of the

Georgia Citrus Association.

Satsuma season is brief, running

from late October through December.

"The fruit needs cold weather,"

Franklin says, adding that without

that cold weather the oranges will not

ripen, develop proper flavor or even

color.

Meyer lemons

But Franklin's experimentation is not

limited to Satsumas. He also has planted

the Australian finger lime, a digit-shaped fruit

that grows to be 2 to 4 inches long and is loaded LINDY SAVELLE with juice-filled pearls.

He's got 20 Yuzu lemon trees planted, but it will be 2021

before they'll yield fruit. Chefs from Japan and Korea love this

26 Georgia Magazine September 2019

Satsuma oranges

Satsuma oranges are a Japanese variety that's recommended for Georgia citrus growers.

LINDY SAVELLE

fruit, which is used in ponzu sauce, vinegar, marmalade and tea. Yuzu is even reputed to be good for warding off colds when sliced and tossed into a warm bath.
Franklin says he'll have grapefruits this year. He also looks forward to offering `Gold Nugget,' a seedless, easy-to-peel mandarin orange with a season that starts in late January. Relatively hardy Meyer lemons, a Chinese hybrid that grows well in warm climates, will be ready in 2020, he says.
Reshaping agriculture in South Georgia
Citrus has the potential to change South Georgia agriculture substantially if it can overcome disease threats such as a

26-28_Citurs_C_0919.indd 26

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South Georgia's newest agricultural crop welcomes the morning light.

LAUREN GRIFFETH NDY SAVELLE ISABELLA DOMINGO

s ed
ers.

vector-spread condition called

"greening," which damages the

fruit and eventually kills the

tree. This pestilence has severely

damaged Florida citrus, but the

University of Florida has devel-

oped a variety called `Sugar Belle'

that seems to be resistant, says Jacob

LI

Price, University of Georgia Extension

coordinator for Lowndes County. Franklin

figures to have Sugar Belles ready to harvest

in 2020.

Planting trees grafted onto a proper rootstock also is critical to averting

disease pressures, enhancing cold-hardiness and ensuring good fruit qual-

ity and flavor. Trifoliate orange is the rootstock recommended by the UGA

Extension Service.

Despite the challenges, citrus could prove to be a lifesaver for some

South Georgia farmers whose pecan groves were devastated by Hurricane

Michael last year.

From Cordele south and along the Georgia coast, the state has a large

area of potential citrus territory, Savelle says. Depending on genetics,

pecan trees can take as much as a decade to produce marketable crops, but

citrus trees require about half that time.

"Grafted trees take less time [to produce fruit] than trees grown from

Above: Lindy Savelle displays a handful of Georgia grapefruits. Top left: Allyson Hester savors a bottle of Georgia orange juice. She works for the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences' Advancing Georgia's Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry program. Inset: Meyer lemon blossoms will soon transform into a distinctively fragrant lemon.
www.georgiamagazine.org 27

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LINDY SAVELLE

L

INDY SAVELLE

Although it may seem counterintuitive, using ice to protect citrus trees from extreme cold is a standard practice, as the Savelles do at their grove in Thomas County and test plot in Mitchell County.

seed," Savelle says.

two or three late freezes in March that

She says the sandy loam in

knocked off some fruit. So that kind of

South Georgia is great for Satsumas

slowed it down a little bit," Price says

and "we've got the weather. We've

of that first harvest.

got farmers who know how to grow

"[2019] is going to be the big

things.

year," Savelle says. "We're going to

"The closer you grow it to freez-

see the acreage just soar. Last year it

ing--without freezing it--is impor-

doubled, from 40,000 trees to nearly

tant to taste."

80,000 trees, around 75,000 now.

Increasing acreage

People are putting in 35 acres here and there, and that will add up in a

PERRY SAVELLE

A former FBI agent, Savelle and

hurry."

her retired-banker spouse, Perry, came home in 2015 to their farms in South Georgia. But the word "retirement" didn't figure into their image of life after careers. "We just closed one chapter of our lives and opened another," she says.

Lindy Savelle and Sam Pardue, dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia, promote Georgia citrus. Learn more at squeezethedayga.com.

The potential for a bumper crop
Price estimated in 2017 that 144 trees on just a single acre could produce about 30,000 pounds of fruit in 10 years, when they hit their

Focused on Satsumas at their

stride. That math is staggering when

farms, she's also eager to introduce other types of citrus, such as you take into account the more than 750 acres that are currently

grapefruit. Another possibility, she says, is kumquats, which are planted. And it's not stopping there.

among the more cold-hardy citrus types. Kumquats can tolerate

While production could be huge, marketing that fruit is the

temperatures as low as 14 degrees without suffering damage. By only way to convert it into income for the farmer. Although some

contrast, most citrus is damaged at 28 degrees. Marketing this grocery stores and specialty-food stores have offered Satsumas

exotic fruit, however, could be a challenge.

for some time, most of South Georgia's growers are selling at

The couple has about 5 acres planted, with 200 Satsuma

roadside stands and area farmers markets. But will those outlets

trees on their farm in Mitchell County and about 800 on their

be enough to handle all the potential production?

farm in Thomas County, she says. Their trees likely will bear

Many other citrus varieties may make their way into South

fruit about one year early, but that first year's crop "won't be

Georgia farms, but meanwhile, the Satsuma orange is giving the

pretty and won't taste very good," she says. But it's a start.

state another locally grown product to enjoy.

The first Satsuma trees were planted in Georgia in 2013,

"With the growth of the industry in our state, citrus could

and the first big commercial harvest came last year, according to very soon become a significant contributor to Georgia's agricul-

the UGA Extension Service in Lowndes County.

tural economy," Saville says.

"It wasn't as much as it could have been, because we had

Jane F. Garvey is a food, wine and travel writer from Decatur.

28 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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GMAG Trim size template.indd 1

5/10/18 2:31 PM

GEORGIA'S Energy Outlook By Alan C. Shedd

ISTOCK.COM / WSFURLAN ISTOCK.COM / CHANDLERPHOTO

Solar energy for your home, part 1

I n the second article in this series, we discussed energy efficiency and steps homeowners should take before investing in renewable-energy technology at home. Read on to learn ways you can leverage Georgia's most abundant renewable-energy source-- solar energy--to help power your home.

Passive solar energy

When most people think of using

solar energy at home, they think of rows

of shiny solar panels on the roof.

However, taking advantage of warmth

from the sun in winter and keeping it out

in summer are simple ways to save on

energy costs. Passive solar principles

utilize your home's design, orientation,

window placement and landscaping to

your advantage.

Solar water heaters use panels called collectors to absorb heat from the sun and

During winter months, open the shades direct it through pipes to hot-water storage tanks.

of south-facing windows to let the sun

help heat your home. In the summer, shade south-, east- and west-facing windows with

Solar water heating

overhangs, plants or

Water heating is the second-largest energy use in the home

shrubs to keep the

after heating and cooling. Installing a solar water-heating system

home cooler and cut can be a wise investment.

down on air-condi-

Most systems consist of a storage tank, solar collectors,

tioning costs.

pipes, a pump and controls.

Add a greenhouse

The solar collectors--mounted in a sunny, south-facing

or sunspace to the

location--have metal absorber plates and insulated boxes

south side of your

with glass covers, which get hot when the sun shines. Fluid is

home to provide

pumped through the collectors, picks up the heat from the sun

supplemental heat, and warms water in a storage tank. Often the fluid contains

a sunny spot to sit in antifreeze to protect the system from freezing. Solar water heat-

Allowing sun to stream through south-

winter or a place to ers work year-round. In sunny weather, the sun provides free hot

facing windows can help warm your home in winter.

grow plants. Passive water; during cloudy days or when more hot water is used, your solar designs for such conventional water heater helps out.

spaces absorb heat

Solar water-heating systems vary widely in size and cost. A

on sunny days, then release it into the home at night. system suitable for a family of four could cost between $4,000

During hot summer months, close off the sunspace and $8,000 to purchase and install. You may be able to receive

from the rest of the house and vent to the outdoors to rebates or tax credits to help defray the cost. Shop for a system

allow heat to escape.

that is certified OG-300 by the Solar Rating and Certification

If you are planning a new home, position it to take Corp. (SRCC), and make sure the installing contractor has

advantage of the winter sun. Masonry floors store

certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy

energy, soaking up the sun's warmth and helping to Practitioners (NABCEP).

keep the home warm overnight. Reduce the window

Alan C. Shedd is the director of sustainability for Tucker-

area on the east and west sides and use overhangs

based Oglethorpe Power Corp.

and landscaping to keep the home cool.

30 Georgia Magazine September 2019

30_GEO_SW_0919.indd 30

8/13/19 3:08 PM

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ANNE MARIE KYZER DAVID STEMBRIDGE

Dick Byne, from left, visits with the Hydrick family: Sawyer, Beckham, McCall, McKenna and Andrew. Two of the boys, Sawyer and McCall, were saved with the help of Byne's blueberries.
is their favorite color

Georgia Grown blueberries prove crucial to boys' recovery
By Anne Marie Kyzer
T he story of two brothers who were diagnosed as toddlers with a rare esophageal disease forever changed the way a Burke County farmer viewed his blueberry crop. Eosinophilic esophagitis, a lifethreatening condition, left McCall and Sawyer Hydrick, now 11 and 8, in considerable pain and malnourished. "Their bodies couldn't digest food the way most children do," their mother, McKenna Hydrick, says. "It manifests like an autoimmune disease. There were times when they were exhausted and their bones hurt." At age 3, Sawyer survived for months solely on a liquid medical formula and was diagnosed with having failure to thrive. Black circles appeared below his eyes, and his abdomen swelled from
32 Georgia Magazine September 2019

malnutrition. "He slept about 15 hours a day," Hydrick recalls.
Meanwhile, McCall vomited chronically and nearly died three times when food allergies flared. Doctors scrambled for answers. Hydrick and her husband, Andrew, worried about the boys aroundthe-clock.
That's when blue became the

`She shared that her boys were alive because of something I did. Now, when I ride out to my farm, I see something totally different. There's a motive behind it. I see health and making people's lives better.'
-- Dick Byne
Hydricks' favorite color. They discovered the organic blueberries grown by Dick Byne on his family farm near Waynesboro.
"The first food the doctors cleared Sawyer to eat was blueberries," Hydrick says, noting that they had to be produced without pesticides so his body could tolerate them. "We went to Whole Foods and started buying blueberries, and they were Mr. Byne's. Sawyer ended up eating only blueberries for about three months.
Continued on page 32

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ISTOCK.COM / SELCUK1

MCKENNA HYDRICK

DAVID STEMBRIDGE

Right: Brothers, from left, Sawyer and McCall Hydrick now lead healthy, active lives and enjoy
most foods without reaction. Their younger brother, Beckham, did not
have the esophageal disease.

Below: Sawyer and McCall walk among the bushes at the Bynes'
farm, which produced the berries that proved critical in saving their lives.

Continued from page 30
Mr. Byne had no idea this kid in North Augusta was literally being sustained by what he grew." It took time and surgical pro-

cedures to test the effects on Sawyer's

esophagus to confirm blueberries were

safe and his body could digest them. Later,

McCall was cleared to eat them as well.

"We were going to Whole Foods

and buying all these blueberries," says

Hydrick, recalling their $40-per-day blue-

berry needs. The boys ate quart after quart

of those Georgia Grown blueberries--to

the point their hands were stained blue.

McCall and Sawyer ate blueberries instead

of popcorn as they watched movies and

even left their favorite fruit for Santa at

Christmas. Their brother, Beckham,

now 7, did not have the disease.

Byne learned of his impact during a

chance meeting in Whole Foods one day,

when he was dropping off a shipment.

Passing it on

Hydrick, who had taken a job there as a healthy-eating coordinator, jumped at the

The experience with

opportunity to meet the farmer who saved

her sons prompted

her children unknowingly.

McKenna Hydrick to

"I will never forget that look of

launch her blog, threebittybirds.com, as appreciation," Byne says, recalling his

a way to o er encouragement, healthy- amazement at her story. "To know they

living tips and allergen-aware recipes to survived on one food, and it was the food

help others battling allergies and chronic I produce. It gave humble a whole new

illness. Check out the current recipes,

definition for me."

featuring blueberries!

Byne, whose blueberries are sold in

six Southeastern states, has been cultivat-

ing blueberries for nearly four decades

with help from his wife and four daugh-

For more information about Byne blueberries, ters. He says the encounter changed his

visit byneblueberries.com.

perspective entirely.

"I felt like I was just a farmer until that point," he says. "Then she shared that her boys were alive because of something I did. Now, when I ride out to my farm, I see something totally different. There's a motive behind it. I see health and making people's lives better."
The two families formed a bond that strengthened them both, and they have kept in touch.
In the five years since the worst of their illness, the boys have been able to test and clear new foods, enduring more than 40 surgical procedures between them. Rounds of treatments last year enabled them to experience foods that most children take for granted--like Chick-fil-A meals and french fries--for the first time. Sawyer is in complete remission from the disease, with a handful of food allergies now as his only dietary hurdle. McCall is nearing remission as well; the Hydricks hope a medical procedure this fall will reveal he no longer needs medication.
In the midst of this journey, the family moved from North Augusta, S.C., to Nashville, Tenn., so Hydrick could pursue her goals as a musician. But they won't forget Byne and his blueberries.
"We had to go to Whole Foods in Nashville, and the first thing I saw when I walked in the store was a display of Mr. Byne's blueberries," she says. "Seeing that display brought a sense of small-town comfort and served as a reminder of this man who helped us."
Anne Marie Kyzer is a freelance writer and real estate agent in Burke County who loves sharing about her community.

34 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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My GEORGIA By Neil Joiner

Lessons in a new cotton sack

JANET JOINER COURTESY DAVIS FARMS IN DOERUN

D uring my childhood in the 1950s, the cotton on our Dooly County farm was harvested by hand. I picked a few bolls, but not enough to pretend the hot work shaped my outlook on life. It was, however, because of cotton that I got my first experience in buying on credit.
My approach to picking cotton was admittedly unremarkable, but I felt slighted by being given a short, tattered, secondhand sack for my field expeditions. With the innate wisdom of a 9-year-old, I knew my success in the cotton field hinged on being equipped to look the part. Mickey Mantle didn't swing a kids' bat with cracks in the wood. Neither would I.
Joiner's Store was just a short walk from our home. Uncle Emmett kept charge tickets in a cigar box for Daddy and many others in the community.
As a boy, Neil Joiner used a sack similar to this to pick cotton on his family's farm. This sack and other artifacts related to Georgia's cotton industry are on display at the Georgia State Cotton Museum in Vienna. Learn more at bit.ly/ cottonmuseum.
36 Georgia Magazine September 2019

Customers would pay him weekly or monthly or when the

crops were gathered. I saw something one day in the store that I

wanted, and I figured it might be time to start my own account.

There was a brand-new 6-foot cotton sack hanging on the

store wall that begged me to try it on. Its beige cloth body was

beautifully accented with a reinforced brown-leather bottom.

That sack whispered my name just like sirens call sailors from

the deep blue water. Uncle Emmett didn't try to talk me out of

buying that cotton sack. He let me enjoy my boundless opti-

mism.

It didn't take long for me to realize I'd made a mistake.

That big sack was heavy to drag and took considerable time to

fill. The welcome breaks to empty the bag and weigh the cotton

came less often. My enthusiasm melted more quickly than the

ice in the Mason jar at the edge of the field.

I paid for the cotton sack, but I was thrilled to retire it when

Daddy bought a one-row tractor-mounted picker. I'd had a good

lesson about easy credit--a valuable reminder to use caution

when spending money I don't have.

Uncle Emmett also helped me to understand that old say-

ing: "All that glitters isn't gold." I foolishly thought that new sack

would transform my cotton picking to legendary status.

Even now I sometimes ignore lessons I've already learned.

It can happen to any of us. We see that new cotton sack and

we're smitten. We like the fresh scent of the material and the

smooth texture. We believe that if we

had that new cotton sack, life would be

much better.

It didn't take but a few rows of cot-

ton for me to understand that I didn't

need a new sack. What I needed was a

new attitude and a better effort. That

new sack was seldom filled to the top

with cotton, but it was packed full of

lessons that, thankfully, linger on.

Neil Joiner lives near Vienna and

writes a column found in several

Pickers such as this

newspapers as well as a blog at

make the process

joinerscorner.com. He is a member

easier for cotton farmers.

of Middle Georgia Electric Membership Corp.

To submit a My Georgia story, send the essay (no more than 500 words) and 300-dpi digital photos by email to mygeorgia@georgiaemc.com or by mail to the address listed on page 6. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be included for photos to be returned. Published essays pay $100. Georgia Magazine reserves the right to edit submitted pieces.

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Around GEORGIA By H.M. Cauley

Kayleigh Brigola, left, and Sarah Fangman pick lavender at Lookout Lavender Farm in Rising Fawn.

COURTESY LOOKOUT LAVENDER FARM

Straight from the source
U-pick farms provide fresh produce, family fun

ISTOCK.COM / ANDREY ELKIN

38 Georgia Magazine September 2019
38-49_Around_GA_SW_0919.indd 38

F ortunately for fans of fresh produce, Georgia is rife with options. With the array of community farmers markets and small-growers' roadside stands, it's not hard to find the latest crops close to the fields where they grew.
And if you opt to visit one of the state's pick-it-yourself farms, you can have both the crop and field together.
Picking produce provides more than just a chance to pluck a perfectly ripe blueberry or snap a crispy apple from a branch. It also can be an enjoyable family outing for all ages, a daytrip to a bucolic location and the opportunity to commune with Mother Nature in her purest form.
It's also one of the fastest-growing types of tourism in the state. "A U-pick farm is a niche inside agritourism," says John Slemmer, a Roswell-based writer whose site, pickyourown.org, keeps tabs on what's in season around the state. "It's great for families with young children who want an educational and entertainment experience like they find at farms with playgrounds and hayrides. Other people want to pick fresh fruit and preserve it. And it's great for those who for health reasons are looking for
Miles Murdock reaches for the best apple at B.J. Reece Orchards in Ellijay.
8/14/19 9:25 PM

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an in

Fall

TRAVEL GUIDE

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Enter by sending in the coupon on page 49, or online at georgiamagazine.org.

ISTOCK.COM / ANDREY ELKIN LACEY MCKEOWN

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Erin McKeown displays her strawberries at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough.
healthy vegetables and fruits." One of the hallmarks of many pick-
your-own properties is the commitment to organic principles, so visitors are likely to find the most natural products.
"We don't fumigate the soil, and we minimize the use of chemicals and pesticides," says Robert Cook, owner of the 60acre Cook Family Farm in Hamilton. Only 4 acres are devoted to spring and summer U-pick crops, including strawberries, blueberries, kale, cabbage, watermelons and tomatoes.
For 30 years, Debbie Durden has been welcoming blueberry U-pickers to Berry Patch Farms, the pesticide-free family operation in Woodstock.
"The first year we opened, we sold everything we grew on the first weekend,"
Continued on page 40

SAVOR THE SEASONS
in Upcountry South Carolina
B looming Dogwoods and Azaleas announce the arrival of Spring. In Summer, explore waterfalls, cruise freshwater lakes, and challenge the rapids of the National Wild & Scenic Chattooga River. Fall is harvest time for crisp apples and a gigantic display of breathtaking foliage as you meander the scenic byways. A Winter visit to hike trails with unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a wonderful weekend getaway. No matter when you visit, you'll find that the Upcountry is Perfectly Seasoned!
UpcountrySC.com | 800.849.4766 | FREE Visitors Guide

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Around GEORGIA

MARJIE MCREE / CORNWELL BLUEBERRY FARM

COURTESY C&J BERRY FARMS

Above: Twins Allie, left, and Ava Harris sample a few blueberries during their family's outing to Cornwell Blueberry Farm in Americus. Left: Chris Rehberg, owner of C&J Berry Farms in Hartsfield, checks out the blueberry crop with his English cocker spaniel puppy, Mack.

Continued from page 39 Durden says. "We have 40 acres, but we still can't grow enough. Our berries are so delicious you can eat them right off the bush."
Blueberries peak in July, depending on the weather. In the fall, Durden adds pumpkins and evergreens to the inventory.
"We bring in Fraser firs from North Carolina, but we also have some trees you can cut yourself, and we make our own wreaths," she says. "We also make our own fried pies, cold apple cider, funnel cakes and hot chocolate, and we have free hayrides."
In the fall, many farms offer cut-yourown tree options. The Kinsey Family Farm in Gainesville grows Carolina Sapphire and Leyland cypress varieties that are ready to cut for the holiday season. Earlier in the fall, take a hayride and select a pumpkin, or shop the farm's nursery selection of plants and flowers.
Variety of options
Another plus of the pick-your-own farms is that many large producers can boast a broader
Continued on page 42

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Around GEORGIA
Around GEORGIA
Continued from page 40 selection of varieties than what might be available in grocery stores. That's the case at the 100-acre Red Apple Barn in Ellijay, where Barry Pritchett's family has been growing apples since 1965. Ten years ago, they launched a U-pick option and a farm store.
"We have about 21 types of apples that start coming in around the first of August and last until the first of November," Pritchett says. "Sometimes, the U-pick runs out of varieties early. The Cameo, Fuji and Red Delicious are really popular, and we don't have a lot of them, so they go quickly."
Red Apple Barn also has gift baskets, flowers and pumpkins for sale for those who'd rather not head out into the 12 acres devoted to apples. Picnic tables along a creek and games of horseshoes and cornhole provide diversions. In the fall, tractor rides are also featured.
"Coming here is a tradition

Above: Sugar Hill Berry Farm in Murrayville has several U-pick crops that vary by season. From Labor Day weekend through October, visitors can pick their own muscadine grapes. Left: In the spring and summer, peaches are available for U-pick at Sugar Hill Berry Farm.

COURTESY SUGAR HILL BERRY FARM COURTESY SUGAR HILL BERRY FARM

42 Georgia Magazine September 2019
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8/14/19 9:18 PM

COURTESY SUGAR HILL BERRY FARM DEBBIE KNOBLOCH COURTESY RED APPLE BARN
?????????????????

Geneva Schmiege, left, and Arella Knobloch celebrate their strawberry-picking success at Washington Farms. This year was the farm's final year for U-pick strawberries, but it will continue to offer blueberry and blackberry U-pick.

Visitors to Red Apple Barn in Ellijay ride the wagon out to the apple trees for an afternoon of U-pick.
Continued on page 44

Hillcrest Orchards
Weekends Sept. & Oct.
U-pic apple festival, pig races, live entertainment, cow milking, playgrounds, apple tree maze

Farm Market Open Daily

Weekdays: MondayFriday
Farm Market, Bakery, Petting Farm, Wagon Rides

706-273-3838 HillcrestOrchards.net 9696 Hwy. 52 E. Ellijay, GA 30536 9 miles east of Ellijay
www.georgiamagazine.org 43

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Around GEORGIA

Left: In addition to picking their own apples, families can choose pumpkins at Red Apple Barn in Ellijay. Right: Helen Marrin, daughter of Lookout Lavender Farm owner Alice Marrin, holds a bundle of lavender from the Rising Fawn farm, which offers U-pick opportunities on selected dates.

COURTESY RED APPLE BARN COURTESY LOOKOUT LAVENDER FARM
MONICA CONLIN

altogether festive

DOWNTOWN MUSIC FEST
September 7
Taste of Carrollton
September 12

Roopville Homecoming Festival
September 21
McIntosh Reserve Fall Festival
September 28-29

Little Big Jam Music Festival
October 3-5
Mt. Zion Founder's Day
October 5

Arts Festival OF CARROLLTON
October 12-13
OKTOBERFEST fall festival
October 26

Whether you're looking for a festival that sparks your taste buds, appeals to your creative side or is jam-packed with live music, Carrollton offers a line-up that is sure to be altogether exciting.
CARROLLTONGA.COM

44 Georgia Magazine September 2019
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sSoemefpaeoraompgfpesGow4er8oitturfhgonUiriata-i'spelismics.ktaonfy
Continued from page 43 for many people," Pritchett says. "One family from a South Georgia town is here every year to pick Mutsu apples. Sometimes we see four generations in one family here."
Plan ahead
Whatever the reason to head out into the fields, the best experience is one that's planned in advance, Slemmer advises.
"The most important thing is to call the farm or at least look at the website or Facebook page to see if it's open," he says. "Even then, the information can be out of date if there was a windstorm the night before. So before you drive, make sure what you want is in season, they've got it, and they're open and ready to have you as a patron."
Farm visitors also should consider their clothing choices carefully.
"You will be going into a field," Slemmer says, "so if it's been rainy, you want to wear shoes you don't care about in case they get really muddy. Strawberries,
8/14/19 9:19 PM

COURTESY LOOKOUT LAVENDER FARM MONICA CONLIN COURTESY THE BLUEBERRY FARM

Kelsie Good enjoys a day of picking peaches at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough.
raspberries and blackberries are messy and will probably stain whatever you're wearing."
Many farms provide buckets, baskets, bags and other picking containers. But it's always a good idea to think about how the items picked will survive the trip home.
"Almost all crops are better if they're spread out," Slemmer says. "If you just pile up strawberries in a big bucket, they'll get mushy. I like using dishpans, large pots or flat boxes like you can pick up at Costco."
Pickers also should find out how the growers expect to be paid.
"These days, all but the smallest farms take credit cards, but you should still ask if they only take cash," Slemmer says. "Find out what the prices are. Some farmers structure their farm and pricing to be agri-entertainment, so you're paying to have a day at the farm, while others simply offer items at reasonable prices. But knowing the price can help you figure out if a trip to the farm is worth a long drive."
There's one last point Slemmer says many people often overlook in their excitement to get out there and start picking. "Don't forget to ask if they have a restroom, a port-a-potty--or neither!"
H.M. Cauley is an Atlanta-based freelance writer.
Continued on page 48
38-49_Around_GA_SW_0919.indd 45

Many farms provide buckets, baskets, bags and other picking containers. But it's always a good idea to think about how the items picked will survive the trip home.
www.georgiamagazine.org 45
8/14/19 9:19 PM

Experience GEORGIA'S BLUE RIDGE

BlueRidgeMountains.com
Ride the rails and enjoy the Fall foliage through the Chattahoochee National Forest. On your journey, you will experience the unique towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN.
www.brscenic.com 877-413-8724

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Olive Festival: October 26
Calling all foodies! e NEW Olive festival will be a food-centered event located in our Garden. Come taste locally-sourced foods that were available in the ancient world!

Christmas in the Ancient World
Celebrate Christmas at Biblical History Center on December 14th! e Garden will come alive
with the men and women from the Christmas narrative. We will have ornament making
stations, a live nativity, local choirs, and more!

Tours Offered Daily
Traditional Garden tours, Plants in the Bible, Women in the Ancient World, and Parables tour o ered Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm.

OPEN TUESDAY - SATURDAY, 10AM - 5PM

Come and experience the Ancient Biblical World through our Archeological Replica Garden, Biblical Life Artifacts, and Biblical Meal!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook to learn more about the fun events we have happening!

$20 per adult $15 per child (ages 6-12) Children ages 5 and under are Free
BiblicalHistoryCenter.com 130 Gordon Commercial Drive LaGrange, Georgia (one hour southwest of Atlanta) 706.885.0363

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48 Georgia Magazine September 2019
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K.COM / ANDREY ELKIN

Around GEORGIA

Continued from page 45

Get pickin'!

For more information

about U-pick farms, go to

ISTOC

pickyourown.org. Here are a few

U-pick places in Georgia to check out:

Berry Patch Farms, 786 Arnold Mill Road,

Woodstock; (770) 926-0561,

berrypatchfarms.net

B.J. Reece Orchards, 9131 Highway 52 E.,

Ellijay; (706) 276-3048, reeceorchards.com

The Blueberry Farm, 1363 Highway 151,

Lafayette; (423) 301-2717,

theblueberryfarm.com

C&J Berry Farms, 1937 Thigpen Trail,

Harts eld; (229) 474-9225,

facebook.com/cjberryfarms1

Cook Family Farm, 2621 Hudson Mill

Road, Hamilton; (706) 457-4684,

cookfamilyfarmga.com

Cornwell Blueberry Farm, 304 Cornwell

Road, Americus; (229) 938-9496,

bit.ly/cornwellblueberries

Hillcrest Orchards, 9696 Highway 52 E.,

Ellijay; (706) 273-3838,

hillcrestorchards.net

Kinsey Family Farm, 7170 Jot Em Down

Road, Gainesville; (770) 887-6028,

kinseyfamilyfarm.com

Lookout Lavender Farm, 1039 North

Moore Road, Rising Fawn; (706) 993-1145,

lookoutlavender.com

Mercier Orchards, 8660 Blue Ridge Drive,

Blue Ridge; (706) 632-3411,

mercier-orchards.com

Red Apple Barn, 3379 Tails Creek Road,

Ellijay; (706) 635-5898, redapplebarn.com

Red Oak Lavender Farm, 2882 Red Oak

Flats Road, Dahlonega; (706) 974-8230,

redoaklavender.com

Southern Belle Farm, 1658 Turner Church

Road, McDonough; (770) 288-2582,

southernbellefarm.com

Southern Grace Farms, 3131 Vickers

Church Road, Enigma; (229) 533-4314,

(229) 533-8585, southerngracefarms.com

Sugar Hill Berry Farm, 6646 Jake Kemp

Road, Murrayville; (770) 540-6952,

facebook.com/sugarhillberryfarm

Washington Farms, 5691 Hog Mountain

Road, Bogart; (706) 769-0627,

washingtonfarms.net

For many more Georgia farms that o er

U-pick, see bit.ly/ggupick.

8/14/19 9:20 PM

K.COM / ANDREY ELKIN

Find Hidden

ISTOC

Wonders

Just off the beaten path

WHERE history AND nature flow DiscoverAlbanyGA.com
h
r
38-49_Around_GA_SW_0919.indd 49

Fall
TRAVEL GUIDE
To get free information on the destinations listed here AND qualify for the giveaway
drawing, check the ones you're interested in and clip and mail this form. Or, enter online
by clicking the contest link at georgiamagazine.org.
Online responses will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Walmart gift card!
Mail this coupon to: Georgia Magazine, September 2019 Prize Drawing, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085.
Albany Alpine Helen Apple Festival, Ellijay Augusta Arts Festival Biblical History Center Blue Ridge, GA Blue Ridge Scenic RR Carrollton, GA Cartersville, GA Hillcrest Orchards, Ellijay JapanFest Kingsland, GA Lane Southern Orchards Statesboro, GA Mercier Orchards Prater's Mill Red Apple Barn, Ellijay Upcountry SC
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www.georgiamagazine.org 49

8/14/19 3:56 PM

GEORGIA Gardens GEORGIA Gardens By Helen Newling Lawson

Growing figs

F igs, Ficus carica, are easy to grow in most areas of Georgia, with a sweet fruit that is a delicious late-summer treat.

Which fig to plant
Georgia gardening expert Walter Reeves gives a ringing endorsement to the variety `Brown Turkey,' saying, "They just grow great." Or, if you're feeling what he calls "kooky and crazy," he recommends `Hardy Chicago' for the fruit's rich raspberry color.
Gerard Krewer, co-author of the University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension publication "Home Garden Figs," recommends `Celeste,' also known as sugar fig, saying "[it] is generally the best all-around cultivar for Georgia from my observations."
The best option for your landscape depends on where you live. Figs can be quite sensitive to cold, and picking a variety that is hardy in your area without extreme winter protection measures will give you the best results.
If you garden in zone 7a or 7b, try any of the varieties mentioned above, along with `Little Miss Figgy,' but be prepared to provide winter protection in zone 7a. In the Piedmont area (zone 7b), you can also try `Conadria.' `Brown Turkey' is not quite as hardy in zone 7b, but even if it freezes to the ground in winter it may still produce fruit the following summer.

Gardeners in zone 8, or below the Fall Line, can plant any of the above-mentioned varieties, plus less cold-hardy ones like `Alma,' `Green Ischia,' `Hunt,' `Kadota,' `LSU Purple' and `Magnolia.' For a map of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zones, visit bit.ly/phardmap.
It is easy to start new fig plants from stem cuttings, so a simple and cost-effective solution to finding a fig that grows well in your area is to ask to take a cutting from a neighbor's bush.
Planting
Choose a site that receives eight hours of sunlight per day. Planting on the south side of a building can help protect figs from freezing.
If possible, do a soil test before planting to check for root-knot nematodes. Avoid planting

A simple and cost-effective solution to finding a fig that grows well in your area is to ask to take a cutting from a neighbor's bush.

ISTOCK.COM / HDAGLI

`Kadota'
50 Georgia Magazine September 2019
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8/13/19 5:24 PM

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where figs were grown previously to limit the risk of these microscopic worms, which are the primary pest threatening fig trees in Georgia. Your local Extension office can help with soil testing; to find an office near you, visit extension.uga.edu/ county-offices.
Plant your fig in fall or early winter if you are in the southern portion of the state. In zone 7a or 7b, wait until after the danger of hard freezes in spring but before the plant begins to put out new growth.
Figs have wide-spreading root systems and often will put up additional sprouts from the roots. Dig a hole that is three to four times wider than the root
`Brown Turkey'
50-52_Gardens_B_SW_0919.indd_in_progress.indd 51

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8/13/19 5:24 PM

GEORGIA Gardens

COURTESY SOUTHERN LIVING PLANT COLLECTION ISTOCK.COM / ANNA SHEPULOVA

ball or container. Space your fig at least 10 to 15 feet away from surrounding plants or structures. You also should plant your fig several inches below the level of the surrounding soil, to encourage sprouting.
Water well at planting and provide regular water throughout the summer. Mulch the area around your fig to conserve
moisture and limit competition from grass or weeds.
`Celeste' and `Little Miss Figgy' are smaller cultivars that fit well into containers, a space-saving option that can also help provide winter protection. Put the container on a wheeled base so you can move it easily into a garage or other protected area when temperatures dip below freezing.

Pruning

Pruning your fig to a bush form

can make it easier to harvest the

fruit, as unpruned trees can reach

30 feet in height. In areas where figs

are prone to freezing, your fig may

`Little Miss Figgy'

stay bush-sized naturally. Prune thin-

ner or crowded branches flush with

the ground or trunk, allowing a select

number of well-spaced branches to grow strong enough to sup-

port the weight of the fruit.

Fertilizing
If plants are over-fertilized, they may not bear many figs or may drop them before they ripen. Fast growth can also make them more susceptible to cold damage.
"Some of the most productive plants I have seen in both South and North Georgia are figs that are growing rather slowly in yards with lots of sun," Krewer says.
If additional feeding is needed, use a balanced generalpurpose fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 pound of fertilizer per foot of height, up to 5 pounds per year. Do not fertilize at the time of planting, but fertilize young plants in March, May and July. Established plants that are bearing fruit well need to be fertilized once a year in early spring.

Enjoying your harvest
Fig trees generally begin bearing fruit two to three years after planting. Your figs will be ripe in late summer or early
fall, depending on the variety. Allow them to ripen fully on the tree. Figs can be eaten fresh, stuffed with sweet or savory fillings, dried or made into preserves. They also pair well with fresh cheeses and salty meats and make a beautiful addition to a salad. Helen Newling Lawson is a freelance writer and Master Gardener in Forsyth County.

Fresh Fig Salad
Perfectly ripe figs are delicious eaten out of hand, but they're also great in simple preparations, like this salad. Figs' rich texture and light sweetness partner especially well with hearty or peppery greens like arugula.
FRESH FIG SALAD
Courtesy UGA Cooperative Extension Lemon Vinaigrette 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon honey Salt and pepper, to taste Salad 8 cups arugula or mixed greens 1 cup fresh figs, sliced 1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
For vinaigrette: In a small jar with a lid, combine ingredients for vinaigrette. Shake to mix.
For salad: Place arugula or mixed greens in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat. Divide greens among 8 salad plates. Top each plate of greens with sliced figs, toasted pecans and goat cheese. Serves 8.

52 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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8/14/19 12:01 PM

GEORGIA Cooks By Laura Raines

Class in session
Sharpen your culinary skills in a cooking class

W hen it comes to culinary classes, Georgia offers a veritable buffet--from down-home to gourmet, basic to advanced and regional to international. People come to them for different reasons: to learn the basics, to advance their skills, to be more adept at entertaining or just to have fun in the kitchen with family and friends. "Everyone has to eat," says Chef Darin Sehnert, founder of Chef Darin's Kitchen Table, chefdarin.com, in Savannah. "And you can eat more cheaply and better at home if you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. So why not improve and enhance your skills?" Sehnert teaches students how to make low-country favorites like shrimp and grits as well as how to cook Italian, Thai and French dishes in his fully equipped kitchen at the back of his kitchen store. "I focus on understanding the equipment, the ingredients and the techniques," he says. "We all cook, learn, laugh and eat together. More than a great meal, I want to give them a great
Students learn to make watercress and aspargus pizza at Sur La Table in Atlanta. Sur La Table offers multiple baking and cooking classes each week.
54 Georgia Magazine September 2019

DARIN SEHNERT

SUR LA TABLE

time. I want them to leave not being afraid to get in the kitchen and try things, to be inquisitive."
Young working friends kept telling Chef Jake Rothschild that they didn't have time to cook and were tired of delivery. They begged him to open a restaurant. Instead, he opened The Cooking School at Irwin Street, irwinstreetcooks.com, in Atlanta in 2011, believing in the old adage that it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him one.
"Cooking is entertainment. It's about enjoying the food and one another," Rothschild says.
He says he loves teaching how to make Southern comfort foods--fried or baked chicken, collard greens, corn on the cob--in a healthy way. In his classes, whole families get involved in making pasta and meatballs from scratch and get to re-create the spaghetti-strand scene from the classic Disney movie "Lady and the Tramp."
"Everyone gets involved. They put down their phones and talk to each other. Preparing food breaks the ice. My mission is to build bridges, and I love seeing the joy on their faces," he says.
"Often people don't know each other when they start a class here, but by the time they leave they're like family," says Lindy Singleton, culinary studio chef and food and beverage coordinator at Chteau lan Winery & Resort, bit.ly/chatelancook, in Braselton. "They're taking pictures together, exchanging phone numbers, making plans. It's amazing how close people get when they cook together."
Chteau lan chefs teach corporate and private groups in their culinary studio on the second floor of the winery.

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8/14/19 12:43 PM

1

Students in Chef Darin Sehnert's Meatless Mediterranean class learn to make stuffed grape leaves.

Chef Jake Rothschild of The Cooking School at Irwin Street in Atlanta puts a healthy twist on Southern comfort foods. His advice to anyone who wants to learn to cook for themselves or for guests is to just jump in and enjoy it.
"Cooking TV shows are good for watching, but a cooking class should be hands-on," he says.
BUTTERMILK FRIED (BAKED) CHICKEN WITH STREET CORN

Chicken

8 chicken thighs (about 6 ounces each),

skinned

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black

pepper

1 cup buttermilk

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Cooking spray or oil mister

Coating

2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

"It's a fun date night, a great way to celebrate a 1/2 cup crushed cornflake crumbs

special occasion or an activity for corporate team-

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

building," Singleton says. Menus are posted months ahead of time so that
guests can choose what they'd like to make. "We offer a huge variety of meals and try to

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1-1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

?J?A??K?E??R?O??T?H?SCHILD

include something they could make for their fam-

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

ily and something a bit challenging for the more

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

advanced cook in every class," she says. "They leave

In a medium bowl, season the chicken thighs with salt, paprika, poul-

with new skills, recipes and knowledge of some new try seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper. Combine buttermilk and

wines."

lemon juice and pour over chicken. Refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours.

The beautiful setting of rolling hills and vine-

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a rack on a baking sheet and lightly

yards adds to the experience.

spray with oil (or line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with oil).

"When you pull in here, you get the feeling of a

In a shallow bowl, combine panko, cornflake crumbs, Parmesan, salt,

getaway," she says. "People tell us that this is a great parsley, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and chili powder.

escape close to home."

Dredge thighs, one at a time, in the mixture, making sure to get a good

e

Laura Raines is a Mableton-based freelance

covering. Place in one layer on prepared rack or baking sheet.

writer.

Bake for 20 minutes on the middle rack in the oven, flipping over at the

halfway point to brown on both sides. Check the chicken to make sure it is

cooked all the way through before serving. Serves 8.

-

More cooking classes in Georgia

Street Corn

Beechwood Inn Cooking School, Clayton,

1/4 cup Duke's Mayonnaise

beechwoodinn.ws/category/cooking-school

1/4 cup sour cream

Cooking Classes at Barrington Hall, Roswell,

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

bit.ly/bhcooks

Juice of 1 lime

Sur La Table, Atlanta, bit.ly/surtabcook

6 ears corn

The Cook's Warehouse, Atlanta,

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

cookswarehouse.com

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or basil, if preferred)

The Farmer and the Larder, Brunswick,

1 teaspoon chili powder

farmerandlarder.com

Sea salt and white pepper, to taste, optional

Vino Venue, Dunwoody,

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine

vinovenue.com/shop/our-courses

mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder and lime juice. Spread MORE

www.georgiamagazine.org 55

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8/14/19 12:43 PM

GEORGIA Cooks
mixture on corn, saturating the entire cobs. Sprinkle corn with Parmesan cheese and cilantro (or basil),
turning to coat all sides of corn. Place corn in aluminum foil or parchment paper and wrap
to cover. Bake for 25 minutes, checking at halfway point. Serve immediately, garnished with chili powder, sea salt and white pepper, if desired. Serves 6.

Chef Darin Sehnert chops ingredients for class. In several of his classes, he teaches the basics of low-country cuisine.

COURTESY DARIN SEHNERT

People are excited to be able to make something different, but they are often intimidated by dishes like crme brle. "[In class] we can break down the techniques into layman's terms and show them how to do it," says Lindy Singleton, culinary studio chef at Chteau lan in Braselton.
CRME BRLE

2 cups heavy cream

1 vanilla bean

4 egg yolks

3 ounces granulated sugar

6 ounces sugar in the raw

Heat oven to 300 degrees. In a heavy-bottomed stain-

less-steel saucepan, heat cream with vanilla bean over

medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring to ensure it does

not burn. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes.

Remove and discard the vanilla bean.

In a mixing bowl, blend egg yolks with granu-

Students at

lated sugar until well-incorporated.

Chteau lan Winery

Temper in the egg mixture with

& Resort learn the steps

the cream by stirring 1/2 cup of hot

to make crme brle.

cream into eggs. Slowly stir this

egg/cream mixture into the

remaining cream. Stirring, cook

over medium heat until slight-

ly thicker. Divide mixture

into 4 (4-ounce) ramekins.

Create a water bath

by placing ramekins in a

baking dish with sides. Add

enough hot water to dish

so the water level reaches

halfway up the sides of the

ramekins. Carefully place

dish in oven and bake until set.

Remove from oven and place ra-

mekins in refrigerator to continue

CHTEAU

LAN

WINERY

&

RESORT

setting and until cool. Note: Once

cooled, ramekins can be wrapped tightly

with plastic wrap and stored up to three or

four days before finishing and serving.

When ready to serve, sprinkle each ramekin with raw

sugar. Using a culinary blowtorch, torch the sugar until it is

caramelized. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

56 Georgia Magazine September 2019

Chef Darin Sehnert of Chef Darin's Kitchen Table in Savannah loves to introduce members of his cooking classes to local cuisine and regional flavors combined in unusual ways. He also encourages them to taste as they cook.
"Not tasting is like not looking at a map on a road trip," he says.
An unlikely companion to sweet melons, green tomatoes provide an interesting counterpoint of tartness that helps to accentuate the melon's sweetness. The slight punch from the sweet onions adds another layer of flavor.
MELON AND GREEN TOMATO SALAD
Salad 1 cantaloupe, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch chunks 2 cups watermelon, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/2 medium Vidalia or other sweet onion, cut in thin strips 1 inch long 3 medium green tomatoes Dressing 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard 1 teaspoon grated onion 1 cup vegetable oil 1-1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
In a large bowl, combine cantaloupe, watermelon and onion slices.
Core green tomatoes and cut each into 8 wedges. Cut each wedge into 3 pieces crosswise and add to the melon in the bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the cider vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, dry mustard and grated onion. Whisk to combine so that the salt and sugar begin to dissolve. Slowly drizzle in vegetable oil in a thin, steady stream while whisking constantly to emulsify. Add poppy seeds and pour over melon and tomato mixture in bowl. Toss to coat. Note: Dressing also may be made with an immersion hand blender. Simply put all dressing ingredients into a large glass measuring cup and blend until emulsified. Yields 8-12 servings.

54-56_Cooks_0919.indd_in_progress.indd 56

8/14/19 12:43 PM

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8/15/19 2:59 PM

Hometown HERO By Amber Lanier Nagle

Johnny Jennings
Ringgold man recycles for his favorite charity

J ohnny Jennings still remembers a chance meeting with three young boys from the Georgia Baptist Children's Home in Hapeville in 1949.

"They threw their little arms around my knees and waist and

asked me, `Will you be our daddy?'" 88-year-old Jennings says. "After

that day, I knew I had to help the children there."

The Hapeville home moved in 1968 and changed its name to

the Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries in 1985.

It now operates several homes in Georgia.

While leading a fifth-grade Sunday school class at Burning Bush

Baptist Church in Ringgold in 1985, Jennings suggested a service

project to help the children's homes.

"The boys in my class asked, `What can we do to raise

money?'" he remembers. "I suggested we collect paper,

cardboard and aluminum cans to recycle. We earned $57

that first year and donated every cent to the

children's homes."

In the 34 years since, Jennings has collected

pennies and recyclables from his neighbors, local

businesses and churches; hauled the

products to a recycling center in Chattanooga;

and exchanged his loads for cash.

To date, he has donated more than $416,000

to the children's homes by collecting $29,799.65

in pennies and converting 500,000 aluminum

cans and 10,613,820 pounds of cardboard and

paper to money. He holds onto the crushed cans

through the summer and delivers them for cash

in winter, when aluminum conversion rates

are at their max. One year when the market for

recycled materials was particularly strong, his

efforts raised $35,000 for the homes.

"I still load the truck myself," says Jennings, a Marine

Corps veteran who served during the Korean War and a

North Georgia EMC member who worked as a welder before

retiring. "I had two mini-strokes a couple of years ago, and

they say I have Parkinson's [disease], but I'm still out here

recycling and doing what I can." "My favorite quote is `The meaning of life is to find
your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away,'" says Jennings, quoting artist Pablo Picasso. "I believe that's true."
Jennings doesn't plan to stop his fundraising--or "friendraising"--activities any time soon.
"I won't stop until the undertaker turns my toes up," he says, laughing. "This is my mission, and I will continue to serve as long as I can."

Do you know a hometown hero like Johnny Jennings? Email your nomination to jim.jess@georgiaemc.com. Include the person's name and a short description of his or her work in the community. We'll highlight selected nominees in

Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer living in

future issues.

Adairsville.

AMBER LANIER NAGLE

58 Georgia Magazine September 2019

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