The Barrow County School System is pleased to announce that on Monday, December 18, 2017 the Barrow County School System and the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land executed a Deed of Gift Deed document. The signing of this instrument made it possible for the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land to donate two parcels of land along Highway 53 to the Barrow County School system. These parcels totaling just over 90 acres will be used by the System's agriculture programs to expand opportunities for hands on learning activities associated with agriculture education and natural resource conservation. "We are very thankful and excited about the donation of this land because it will expand the agricultural education opportunities for Barrow County students, and increase their awareness of conservation and stewardship," said Ashley Best, Agriculture Educator and FFA Advisor for Barrow County Schools.

The Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land (STPAL) was founded in Georgia in 2012 and is a 501-C-3 trust based in Cobb County dedicated to responding to the need for preservation of undeveloped or restorable land in various areas and making it available for responsible use by local communities. STPAL has taken ownership of over 10,000 acres of natural land across 36 properties in various counties in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. For more information or a complete list of properties, visit the STPAL website at www.stpal.org. STPAL executive Director, Bill Jones, notes, "Donating these tracts of farm land to the Barrow County School System is an outstanding example of a public private partnership. It fulfills STPAL's mission to provide public benefit using permanently conserved natural land. STPAL appreciates the efforts of State Representative Terry England, Ashley Best, and others within the Barrow County Schools Agriculture Program to make this transfer a reality and looks forward to seeing the property becoming a valuable resource for agricultural education in Barrow County."