Skillet Festival almost here

QUITMAN, Ga. — On the third Saturday in October each year, Quitman’s historic courthouse square comes alive with the sights and sounds of unique food, farm and craft vendors from throughout the South at the Brooks County Skillet Festival.  “In its seventh year, the Skillet Festival truly gets better with age as we celebrate our region’s rich heritage of agriculture, handmade goods, delicious food, high-quality vintage finds and so much more,” according to a statement from organizers. “Brooks County invites you to enjoy all the wonderful things we have to offer at our distinctive event.” The Skillet Festival is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, on the Brooks County Courthouse Square, 100 E. Screven St. There will be a large variety of vendors in attendance, all-day entertainment and activities for the entire family. “Brooks County is not just where we’re from. It’s who we are. We pride ourselves on selecting the highest quality vendors and offering an experience unlike any other at the Skillet Festival. We are looking forward to the 2017 Skillet Festival as our best event yet and hope you will join us. Here in Brooks County, we are proud of all we have to offer and excited to showcase it on Oct. 21,” Kelly Hanks, executive director of the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. The Skillet Festival was founded by a community organization called Destination Brooks, which formed from the Leadership Brooks class. Brooks County was the pilot community of a Georgia Department of Tourism program to build tourism plans for rural communities, according to the press release.  One of the facets of the program was a recommendation that Brooks County begin an annual event for the county.  “With the county’s heavy agricultural presence, we began to come up with ideas for our festival based on a homegrown, homemade model, then combined that with food and unique entertainment and the Skillet Festival was born,” according to the press release.  Some aspects of the festival have evolved through the years and its management has changed hands from Destination Brooks to the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the Skillet Festival, contact the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber of Commerce, (229) 263-4841 or email qbccskilletfestival@gmail.com.

Future Farmers of America recognizes ABAC provost with honorary degree

TIFTON, Ga. — Dr. Jerry Baker, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been selected to receive the Honorary American Future Farmers of America Degree at the 2017 National FFA Convention and Expo on Oct. 27 in Indianapolis. A total of 52 ABAC students will also receive FFA American degrees at the national convention. The Honorary American FFA Degree is an opportunity to recognize those who have gone beyond valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturists. The award is given annually to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through personal commitment. Prior to his appointment as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at ABAC on July 1, Baker had served as the dean of the ABAC School of Agriculture and Natural Resources since 2014. Before coming to ABAC, Baker was the chief executive officer and executive director of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society, an international honor society for scientists and engineers.

SOSMP hosting talent contest final Saturday

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The long wait is over for the 12 You Can Be The Star finalists. After the talent contest finale was postponed due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Irma in early September, the 12 contestants will finally have their shot at $5,000 on Saturday. The most money ever awarded at a Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park contest will be won Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. The finalists, which were chosen from three different preliminary competitions are Joshua Edwards (High Springs), Brittanie Powell (Live Oak), Reginald Stacy (Bronson), Hallie Davis (Jasper), Kara Orndorff (Jasper), Hillary Bailey (Macclenny), Jessica Stewart, (Jacksonville), Sondra Hunt (Lake Butler), Bryan Johnson (Live Oak), the duo of Karley Scott Collins & Alex Sandlin (Lake City), Kelby Shea Cornman (Jacksonville) and Sadie Miller (Branford). The weekend at SOSMP begins Friday with the popular Jukebox Oldies band. A Valdosta, Ga., oldies band, Jukebox Oldies will perform Friday in the Music Hall to the audience’s delight. Doors to the Music Hall will open both days at 6 p.m. Friday’s performance begins at 8 p.m. For those interested in renting one of the park’s cabins, a spot to park an RV/camper or primitive camp for one of of the Spirit of the Suwannee’s other events such as Hulaween on Oct. 27 – 29 or just need additional info, please call the park at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com or go to www.musicliveshere.com. The park is located 4.5 miles south of Interstate 75 and 4.5 miles north of Interstate 10 at the beautiful Suwannee River off U.S. Highway 129 at 3076 95th Drive.

State agencies, farmers urge caution with farm vehicles

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Director Harris Blackwood of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Crisp County farmer John Bullington will talk Wednesday about the dangers farmers face while operating farm vehicles on state roads. In a presentation at 10 a.m. at the Georgia Grown Pavilion of the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition, Bullington will discuss several recent crashes involving farmers in his home county. Last year in Georgia, there were more than 480 crashes involving farm and construction vehicles. Twelve people were killed, and 184 injured. “Some farmers injured in crashes operating tractors and other vehicles on the road are never physically able to work again while others risk losing their farming operations from not being able to work during their recovery,” said a press release from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  “Many crashes involving farm vehicles can be prevented by motorists staying alert and being ready to significantly reduce their speed when they drive up on slower-moving farm vehicles on the road.”

Spatial Effects to perform at the Blunt House

DALTON, Ga. —  Gospel music and traditional hymns will be sung by Spatial Effects to benefit the Blunt House on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Blunt House’s backyard. Spatial Effects is composed of Earl Brackin (mandolin and vocals), Todd Brock (fiddle), Tom Brown (banjo and harmonica), David Crawford (guitar and vocals), Phil Paris (bass and vocals), John Pitts (vocals) and Tim Witt (Dobro and bass). This unique musical group will play old favorites such as “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “Pass Me Not” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” The performance will benefit Dalton’s second oldest house, the 1848 Blunt House, which was the home of Ainsworth Emery Blunt and three generations of his family. It was used as a Union hospital during the last year of the Civil War. In 1978 the house was left to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society by Blunt’s youngest granddaughter, Emery Kirby Baxley. The Blunt House is at 506 S. Thornton Avenue. Park in the Valley Drive section of the First United Methodist Church parking lot and enter through the back gate. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. For more information, call (706) 271-8702.