WAYCROSS

magazine

Ware County Farm Bureau Women's Committee hosted it's

first Ag In The Classroom educator training recently at the Mixon
Pond House in Waresboro. Teachers from all Ware County Ele-
mentary schools were included. The day began with breakfast
items, served by Ware County High School FFA executive board
member Jordan O'berry and WHCS FFA student Chasity Whitley,
and an introduction by Ware County Farm Bureau's Executive
Board President - Lannis Moody.  Joe Slusher, UGA Extension
Agent for Ware County, gave a presentation on the economic im-
pact agriculture has in Ware County. Teachers also heard from
the Ware County Interim Women's Committee Chair, Mary Alice
Aldridge, concerning the purpose of learning for the day and in-
troduction of the workshop conductor, Ms. Donna Rocker - Ag In
The Classroom Facilitator. Assisting Ms. Rocker with presentation
set-up and delivery were Michael Purvis and Katie Gazda. 

The day's progression included lessons presented by Ms.

Rocker, including an assistant during a lesson who was very fa-
miliar to the attendees, Mr. Jim LeBrun, Superintendent of Ware
County School System. Many of the classroom activities Ms.
Rocker shared related to a very prominent topic of learning in the
world education today: STEM.  STEM involves the integration of
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into everyday
classroom standards-based lessons. Teachers participated in
sample agriculture-related lessons which can be incorporated
into many core subject standards they already teach in their
classrooms.  When lesson presentations were completed, the
participants all received a donation of varied and rich sets of con-
sumables and lessons sponsored by Ag in the Classroom. 

After lunch, everyone enjoyed a leisurely but educational farm

tour. Two farming sites were visited. The transportation for teach-
ers was sponsored by Ware County Schools transportation and
Ware County 4-H. At Moody's Dairy, the first stop on tour, many
were awed by the process of milking dairy cows. Cager Moody
was a gracious host and expert discussion leader as participants
learned important points such as the length of time required to
milk the entire herd of cattle, the steps necessary to ensure the
best health of the cattle and delivery of  best milk, along with the
importance of blending the appropriate proportions of varied nu-
trients in feed that are fed to the cattle.  The second and final
farm visit of the afternoon was a peanut field, located near Bick-
ley, where Mr. Z.A. Music and daughter Laura were harvesting
peanuts. At this site, the group heard from both Mr. Music and
Laura on the steps involved in harvesting the peanuts. Laura 

shared with the group the process of digging and harvesting the
peanuts, as well as explaining the pieces of equipment being
used in the field. Z.A. shared the importance of rainfall, the types
of pests that impact the quality of the peanuts harvested and the
average production per acre, among many other interesting facts.

When the tours were completed, the groups returned to Mixon

Pond House to depart. The day's activities were greatly enjoyed
by all attendees. Food items for both breakfast and lunch were
prepared and set forth by members of the Ware County Farm Bu-
reau Women's Committee and volunteers: Mrs. Angie Moody,
Mrs. Maisie Stewart, Mary Alice Aldridge and Ware County Farm
Bureau Office Staff members - Mrs. Emily Godwin and Mrs. Ruby
Pittman.  The gracious donations of members of Ware County's
Ag community and it's supporters made the day's events possible
by absorbing the costs for substitute teachers for the educators
and food items supplied for the meals. Contributors to this won-
derful learning experience include Cornelius Farms, Aldridge
Farms, Mixon Farms, Rouse Farms, Waters' Logging, General
Bearing and Industrial, Waycross Bank and Trust and Ware
County Farm Bureau Office Staff. For more information contact
Emily Godwin, at 912-285-1816.

Training participants - left to right - Ware County Ag Extension
Agent Joe Slusher, Cager Moody (Moody's Dairy), Jeffery
McCarthy, Jeanette Causer, Tina Goble, Dana Lucas, Morgan
Hyers, Anita Lee, Elizabeth Grantham, Christopher Klaeger,
Breanna Dixon, Lori Barber, Richard Bell, Jan Hughes, Mary Alice
Aldridge and Susan Shepherd.

Ag in the Classroom

by Mary Alice Aldridge

Above, Z. A. Music and right Cager Moody

Above, Laura Music & right, Jim LeBrun with Donna Rocker