This is the first article I will be writing on a regular basis for the Calhoun Times. I guess I should start by introducing myself. My name is Barry Bailey and I am the new Gordon County Young Farmer Teacher.

Don’t stop reading if you don’t feel that you fit into the category of being a farmer or being young. Let me explain. I teach a class of Agriscience in the morning at one of the county schools. This term it is at Sonoraville High School. After my duties at school are fulfilled, I am assigned to work with farmers in the county. My day might consist of visiting farmers or landowners, setting up meetings or working with FFA members.

Our Young Farmers have a monthly meeting and meal, have educational programs and also work with several events each year such as the Gordon County Relay for Life.

Our group is very active. In addition to the monthly meetings, the group is involved in events around the county or state almost every month.

According to the Georgia Young Farmers website, “The Georgia Young Farmers program is an educational program designed for the systematic instruction of young farmers actively engaged in the business of farming. The program is under the direction and supervision of the State Depart-ment of Education and the local agriculture departments in the high schools. The instructional program is planned jointly by the young farmer teacher and class members.

The Young Farmer program was initiated in 1951. In 1971, the Georgia Young Farmers Associa-tion was organized as an extension of the instructional program.” The Gordon County Young Farm-ers was organized in 2000.

It is important for potential members to understand they do not have to be farmers in order to join the Georgia Young Farmer Program. If you are in support of agriculture, agricultural educa-tion, and the values it teaches our future leaders, then you can become a member of the Georgia Young Farmer Program.

What about the issue of being young? Anyone can join our local chapter at age 19 and may remain a member as long as they like, so joining the Young Farmers is a good way to continue being young. Our group is very family oriented and many of our members bring their children who are not yet 19 to our meetings.

Dues for our group are $30 per person or $50 per couple. This might sound a little expensive, but, don’t forget, we eat at each meeting, help send members to events and donate back to the commu-nity. The investment will repay itself very quickly!

Our next meeting will be at the Farm Bureau Building on September 17 at 7 p.m. Our Speaker is Mr. Ted Dyer. Mr. Dyer is an Extension Animal Scientist for Beef in charge of the bull evaluation program at Calhoun. He will be speaking on beef herd management.

Please give me a call at 678-986-6430 and let me know if you plan to attend and keep the number if you need to call about questions relating to agriculture.

I hope to meet you soon.