MTC & Tiftarea Academy Students
Attend Ag Day with Governor
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Pictured, left to right, at the Atlanta Braves’ Turner Field are student Josh Beaty, EHO instructor Cherie White and student Kalpesh Patidar. Beaty and Patidar are dually enrolled students in the Environmental Horticulture program at Tiftarea Academy through Moultrie Technical College. |
TIFTON, GA. Dually enrolled Moultrie Technical College (MTC) and Tiftarea Academy Environmental Horticulture (EHO) students celebrated Agriculture Day with Governor Sonny Perdue on March 15, 2007, in Atlanta. Attending students tasted new food products made from Georgia-grown peanuts, honey and soybeans. Many vendors relating to agriculture and agriculture-related colleges displayed their booths and also gave out samples of food relating in some way to agriculture. Governor Perdue spoke to the students, legislative dignitaries and other supporters of agriculture explaining his appreciation of agriculture in the “fine state of Georgia.” He also presented several Environmental Stewardship awards to local farmers and growers for their entrepreneurship in creating new Georgia-grown food products.
After the Governor’s speech, students were treated to an adventure in urban agriculture at Turner Field where Turfgrass Superintendent Eddie Mangham spoke of his day-to-day operations of maintaining the home stadium field of the Atlanta Braves professional baseball team.
EHO Turfgrass students Kalpesh Patidar and Josh Beaty, who are obtaining both high school and college credit through the EHO program, said they were amazed to learn that Turner Field had a vast array of irrigation piping, a vacuum system and 12-foot sand and clay base underneath the sod layer. “It was really interesting to hear how the superintendent maintains the Tift419 sod and how often he mows it,” said Beaty.
For more information on Moultrie Technical College’s dual enrollment Environmental Horticulture program for Tiftarea Academy students, contact instructor Cherie White at (229) 391-2641.
