http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpZ0TGjbWE&feature=player_detailpage
AMEN Paul Harvey!!!!
Anybody see them chicken houses?
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
AGL Session 2
AGL Session 2 kicked off with a non-traditional river boat tour from Bull River Cruises. We learned about the various factors that affect river health and those that make their living on the water. We were able to see shrimping boats as well as some prominent yacht clubs and repair stations.
We toured the Georgia Ports Authority and learned about the importance of Georgia’s ports in Savannah and Brunswick to agriculture in Georgia. The deepening of the port in Savannah is expected to greatly increase exports, which is a great competitive advantage for the State.
We also visited the First African Baptist Church in Savannah. It is the first African American Baptist Church in North America and it was founded by slaves. We learned a great deal of history. It was even a stop on the Underground Railroad.
We visited East Coast Terminal, which is an independent shipper of primarily wood chips and wood pellets. Turkey is their main receiver of these Georgia Goods.
I am reminded all the time that growth begins where our comfort zone ends. I tried my very first oyster at Bernie’s on River Street. It wasn’t offensive, probably because it was drenched in horseradish and cocktail sauce, but I probably won’t be ordering any more. Check one item off my bucket list that I didn’t even know existed!
We visited the Vidalia Onion Museum where classmate Kevin Cronic tried out the kids’ onion sorter simulator.
We visited several onion packing houses and learned about cooling, packing, and warehousing onions before final shipment. Because it is not Vidalia onion season, most packing houses import Peruvian sweet onions—never labeled as Vidalias, of course—to create a steady supply of sweet onions for grocers and food processors. These are at Herndon Farms.
There are a lot of gaps here, mostly because I didn’t take as many pictures and I usually do. We learned about Ogeechee River Keepers, the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, coastal fisheries from Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, coastal hazards preparation from Tybee Island local officials, challenges facing the Georgia wild shrimping industry at Lazaretta Packing, visited Briggs and Stratton in Statesboro and met with development authority officials, visited local schools to learn about educational challenges, visited Safe Haven—a domestic violence shelter, and several other Vidalia onion operations including Stanley Farms (including a wonderful dinner and fellowship at the Stanley family lodge), Vidalia Valley, and Bland Farms.
It was truly a great information-packed week. I can’t wait for Session 3 in the Macon/Atlanta areas!
We toured the Georgia Ports Authority and learned about the importance of Georgia’s ports in Savannah and Brunswick to agriculture in Georgia. The deepening of the port in Savannah is expected to greatly increase exports, which is a great competitive advantage for the State.
We also visited the First African Baptist Church in Savannah. It is the first African American Baptist Church in North America and it was founded by slaves. We learned a great deal of history. It was even a stop on the Underground Railroad.
We visited East Coast Terminal, which is an independent shipper of primarily wood chips and wood pellets. Turkey is their main receiver of these Georgia Goods.
I am reminded all the time that growth begins where our comfort zone ends. I tried my very first oyster at Bernie’s on River Street. It wasn’t offensive, probably because it was drenched in horseradish and cocktail sauce, but I probably won’t be ordering any more. Check one item off my bucket list that I didn’t even know existed!
We visited the Vidalia Onion Museum where classmate Kevin Cronic tried out the kids’ onion sorter simulator.
We visited several onion packing houses and learned about cooling, packing, and warehousing onions before final shipment. Because it is not Vidalia onion season, most packing houses import Peruvian sweet onions—never labeled as Vidalias, of course—to create a steady supply of sweet onions for grocers and food processors. These are at Herndon Farms.
There are a lot of gaps here, mostly because I didn’t take as many pictures and I usually do. We learned about Ogeechee River Keepers, the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, coastal fisheries from Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, coastal hazards preparation from Tybee Island local officials, challenges facing the Georgia wild shrimping industry at Lazaretta Packing, visited Briggs and Stratton in Statesboro and met with development authority officials, visited local schools to learn about educational challenges, visited Safe Haven—a domestic violence shelter, and several other Vidalia onion operations including Stanley Farms (including a wonderful dinner and fellowship at the Stanley family lodge), Vidalia Valley, and Bland Farms.
It was truly a great information-packed week. I can’t wait for Session 3 in the Macon/Atlanta areas!
Friday, January 25, 2013
SE GA... What can I say?
Well, another fantastic and amazing week that has obviously impacted all of us as evidenced from the time of reflection last night. SO many new relationships fostered and deep connections made. Thanks AGAIN to our Board and sponsors and ALL who are making this fantastic program possible!
Session II
I wanted to thank everyone for making Session II great. We learned a lot, met some great people and had fun. A couple of nicknames were even bestowed upon worthy recipients.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Session II begins...
Today we began our second session of the Advancing Georgia's Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry Class I program in Savannah. While the class is still fairly new, I can tell you one thing I am positive about--they are prompt! The agenda said they should begin arriving at 3pm today and our first activity would begin at 3:30pm. The first truckload of participants arrived around 2pm. The last person walked up right on time.
We spent our first few hours together on the Savannah River. Here are a few photos from the day:
We spent our first few hours together on the Savannah River. Here are a few photos from the day:
 |
| The Norma Jean shrimp boat |
 |
 |
| At Thunderbolt Marine -- too bad we weren't able to get on this yacht. |
 |
| Group shot of Class I enjoying the Savannah River |
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Getting ready for session II
As I'm packing tonight for session II, I am excited about seeing everyone again. During session I it amazed me that we were able to learn so much about each other in such a short period of time and that everyone was so open. We discussed many things (both personally and professionally) which I would not have normally confided with my co-workers. I went into session I thinking about the phrase "nothing worth doing is ever easy" since participating in the program was definitely outside of my comfort zone. This phrase seems even more fitting after reading through Rochelle's message in the session one newsletter.
At the end of session I we had our reflection time, I've always been slow with reflection because I prefer to step back from a situation, breathe a little bit and then I can really evaluate the situation. At another leadership training I was told that this was due to my personality type. This reflection was no exception, as I was un-packing at home that afternoon I realized what my reflection was. The word that came to mind for me was 'engage', I often become bogged down with work and life and am not always able to do the things about my job which I truly love because everything else gets in the way. This first session truly energized me and I came back to my job with new perspectives on many situations I have been facing and a healthy appreciation for good leaders. It takes skill to acknowledge, understand, and utilize the strengths and weaknesses within one's own self and those of co-workers.
I'm sure session II will be even better than the first!
At the end of session I we had our reflection time, I've always been slow with reflection because I prefer to step back from a situation, breathe a little bit and then I can really evaluate the situation. At another leadership training I was told that this was due to my personality type. This reflection was no exception, as I was un-packing at home that afternoon I realized what my reflection was. The word that came to mind for me was 'engage', I often become bogged down with work and life and am not always able to do the things about my job which I truly love because everything else gets in the way. This first session truly energized me and I came back to my job with new perspectives on many situations I have been facing and a healthy appreciation for good leaders. It takes skill to acknowledge, understand, and utilize the strengths and weaknesses within one's own self and those of co-workers.
I'm sure session II will be even better than the first!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Session II: What are you looking forward to?
Hey y'all! With Session II quickly approaching I thought I'd sneak a quick blog post in. This is my first time doing this and I must say it is surprisingly easy!
Fellow classmates: I don't know about y'all but I am excited for the upcoming session! I'm not sure what I'm looking forward to the most about next week. Perhaps the sunshine and warm-er weather of South GA (haven't seen the sun going on 4 days in NE GA), the programs or seeing all of you!
What are you most looking forward to during Session II?
-Tate
Fellow classmates: I don't know about y'all but I am excited for the upcoming session! I'm not sure what I'm looking forward to the most about next week. Perhaps the sunshine and warm-er weather of South GA (haven't seen the sun going on 4 days in NE GA), the programs or seeing all of you!
What are you most looking forward to during Session II?
-Tate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)