JIMMY CARTER’S AGRICULTURAL LEGACY

FORMER PRESIDENT BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION TO FARMING, RURAL LIFESTYLE, GEORGIANS SAY

By MARIA M. LAMEIRAS

UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jimmy Carter, 98, entered hospice care last month. The University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences takes a look at his agricultural and personal legacy.

There is, arguably, no single individual who has brought more national attention to agriculture and the state of Georgia than Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, who grew up in the tiny farming community of Archery, about three miles outside of Plains.

A member of the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame, which is housed at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Carter is revered for his activism, compassion, and overarching humility, as well as his influence on agriculture and public health.

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, Carter served as a submariner in the U.S. Navy's Atlantic and Pacific fleets before returning to Georgia with his wife, Rosalynn, and their children in 1953 to run the Carter family peanut farm and warehouse in Plains.

He began his political career on the local level, serving on the school board in Plains before his 1962 election to the Georgia Senate. He became Georgia’s 76th governor in 1971, and on Nov. 2, 1976, Carter became the first native Georgian elected to serve as president of the U.S.

During his time in political office, Carter remained a steadfast supporter of Georgia agriculture. Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said that President Carter's contributions to agriculture have helped shape the way others think about agricultural production.

“The former president is easily recognized as the most famous peanut farmer, and his work in and out of the fields in South Georgia have given others a different level of respect for farming and agriculture,” said McCall, who was inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2022.

“Mr. Carter's national campaign 47 years ago helped others better understand the plight of rural Americans. For those connected to Georgia's No. 1 economic driver, we can all appreciate that,” McCall said.

“It is with deep gratitude that Mr. Carter dedicated himself to a rural lifestyle and tirelessly worked on behalf of other people while serving as a lawmaker, Georgia governor, and U.S. president. We say, thank you.”

After his service as president, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter founded The Carter Center in Atlanta to address national and international policy issues and advocate for agricultural development, human rights, conflict mediation, and free and fair elections.

Widely recognized as one of the most diplomatically active former presidents in U.S. history, Carter was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.

“Jimmy Carter is an inspiration. He is the perfect example of the importance of service, of helping others, and of continuing to be active,” said Abit Massey, former head of the Georgia Poultry Federation and a friend of Carter’s.

Among those acts of service are The Carter Center’s efforts to eradicate guinea worm disease around the globe and his personal efforts in support of fair elections and fair treatment of people both in the U.S. and in other countries.

“He took an interest in equal rights and civil rights when they were not popular in the South, but again he saw the things that should be done and how people should be treated,” added Massey, who was inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1996. “To have the influence to call the leaders of other countries when someone was being unfairly treated or unfairly imprisoned, to step up and be involved, is incredible.”

In addition to their global advocacy work, the Carters have dedicated decades of service and support to Habitat for Humanity, the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that was founded in Americus, a neighboring town to the Carters’ hometown of Plains.

During more than 35 years of service with the organization, the Carters helped build and renovate more than 4,000 homes in 14 countries through their involvement with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, according to Habitat for Humanity’s website.

“President Carter will forever be known as the ‘peanut president’ from Plains, Georgia, however his greater legacy is his commitment to the needs of his neighbors across the globe,” said Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “He has set an example for all of us, and Georgia’s peanut industry is no different. Our humanitarian efforts to feed the hungry have roots in the spirit of President Carter.” 

Carter’s influence reaches from individual citizens to the highest levels of government.

According to The Carter Center, response to a public invitation to send messages of peace and comfort to President Carter and his family via an online portal has received an overwhelming response.

President Joe Biden, who has remained friends with Carter since they first met in the mid-1970s, traveled to Plains with First Lady Jill Biden in the early days of his presidency for a private visit with the Carters.

Reflecting on his long acquaintance with Carter, Massey concluded with a sincere observation: “The odds were against him when he ran for Senate, then governor, then president, but he beat the odds many times,” Massey said. “He is in hospice now, but I hope he beats the odds again and stays around awhile.”

Youth of the Year finalists gather for a recognition luncheon. Madeline Perrin, at right, was named Youth of the Year by the Exchange Club of Tifton.

TIFTON EXCHANGE CLUB

NAMES YOUTH OF YEAR

The Exchange Club of Tifton recognized the Class of 2023’s brightest students at a luncheon Monday, naming Madeline Perrin, a senior at Tift County High School, as Youth of the Year.

Madeline, the daughter of Chuck and Anna Perrin, will represent the Tifton club in the state Exchange Club Youth of the Year competition.

She was among 12 finalists from Tift County High and Tiftarea Academy who were recognized for their achievements and extracurricular activities throughout their high school career. The finalists were chosen from an application process, which included listing their school achievements, extracurricular activities, grade point average, as well as writing at least one essay. 

The finalists were Caroline Barksdale, Betsy Branch, Lauren Brey, Brayden Callison, Carter James Cook, Kylei Lauren Cutts, Ella Daniell, Emma Lee Daniels, Madelyn Grace Odom, Madeline Perrin, Kaitlyn Rowe, and Ann Catherine Walker. Each finalist received a plaque and scholarship. 

The Youth of the Year received an additional plaque and scholarship.

A local board of volunteers meet to discuss Tift County’s emergency food and shelter grants.

TIFT COUNTY TO GET GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY FOOD, SHELTER PROGRAMS

Tift County will receive a total of $53,225 in federal funds this year to supplement emergency food and shelter programs, and a local board of community volunteers met this week to set guidelines for administering the grants.

The local board is comprised of community leaders and representatives of local organizations. The grants are being administered through the United Way of South-Central Georgia.  

Congress created the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in 1983 to help meet the needs of people in communities throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for food and shelter.

For information, email patmckinnon@uway-socenga.org.

FIFTH GRADER WINS DESTINATION AG DISTRICT POSTER CONTEST

The Tift County Board of Education recently recognized Abby Williford as the district winner of the poster contest for Destination Ag, a program of ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

Abby is a fifth grader at Charles Spencer Elementary School. Her work will be displayed at the Tift County School System’s administrative office.

Pictured from left are Tift County School Superintendent Adam Hathaway, BOE Chairman Jonathan Jones, Abby Williford, Charles Spencer Principal Paul Nelson, and Abby’s teacher Jessica Walls.

ABAC BAND DIRECTOR RECEIVES TOP HONOR FROM GA MUSIC EDUCATORS

The Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) recently presented Deborah Bradley, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's band director, with its the organization’s highest recognition award.

Bradley received the GMEA’s Distinguished Career Award at a recent statewide meeting. She also received a Certificate of Service for a 40-year music career.

“She has spent 40 years as a music educator with no signs of slowing down. Ms. Bradley has taught middle school, high school, college, and even adult bands. Throughout her career, she has been named Teacher of the Year for both Valdosta Junior High and Cook High School as well as systemwide Teacher of the Year for Cook County Schools,” said Dr. Matthew Koperniak, GMEA president.

"She has received numerous national honors which include the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor 2019, the Sudler Order of Merit, Tau Beta Sigma’s Outstanding Service to Music Award, the Silver Baton, and the International Golden Rose Award from Women Band Directors International. Despite her many accolades she remains a service-oriented, student-focused, humbled teacher and leader. Her passion and purpose serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Bradley previously served as staff director for the Lowndes High School marching band and band director at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta. She performs in community ensembles and recording studios on the saxophone and is an active adjudicator for the Georgia Music Educators Association and the Georgia Bandmasters Association.

“I have loved every phase of my professional career,” Bradley said. “Through band music and history, teaching has been very rewarding. I have enjoyed watching my students become responsible citizens in their communities. With band, chorus, and drama, we can balance our students’ lives. The arts are the great equalizer in America. It gives way to increasing global connections.”

DPH RELEASES TIFT FOOD SCORES

The Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) conducts inspections of food-service establishments and issues food-service scores based upon compliance with health regulations.

If a food-service establishment receives a grade of “C” and or “U” during a routine

inspection, then the health department must conduct a follow-up inspection to ensure the issues have been corrected.

During the past two months, the following food-service establishments were inspected in Tift County:

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

This male kitty, “Scampers” is among the pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Scampers and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

FIRE GUTS COMMERCIAL BUILDING

ON TIFTON’S THIRD STREET

~ MARCH 16, 1905

Fire broke out at about 1 a.m. on March 16, 1905, in Judge John Murrow’s brick commercial building on Tifton’s Third Street. The building was gutted, but the walls remained. Businesses that burned inside the building were M. Regopolous’ fruits and groceries, E.E. Youman’s meat market, Joseph Anderson’s watch and gun repair shop, C.L. Parker’s meat market, and J.B. Murrow’s barber shop, where the blaze was thought to have started.

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor