The Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation has committed $1 million during the next four years to continue the “Destination Ag” program at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Destination Ag, in operation since September, connects students and teachers to the importance of agriculture and natural resources in their daily lives. Last August, the Langdale Foundation announced a $250,000 gift to the ABAC Foundation to launch a major agriculture and natural resources literacy program at the museum. Since then, Destination Ag has touched the lives of 5,000 elementary students in Tift, Colquitt and Cook counties.
“ABAC and the staff at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture exceeded our expectations during the inaugural year of Destination Ag’s operation,” said Donnie Warren, Foundation executive director. “They are raising the bar for agriculture and natural resource education in our area.”
Museum Director Garrett Boone said the additional funding enhances the educational mission of the museum, which became a part of ABAC in 2010.
“For the past nine months, the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation has allowed us to provide a dynamic, living laboratory through Destination Ag that showcases agriculture and natural resources by offering transformational experiences to children and teachers across South Georgia,” Boone said.
Key components of the program include hands-on museum field trips for the young learners focusing on the value of agriculture and natural resources with an emphasis on careers.
“By taking part in Destination Ag, these kids know where their lettuce and tomatoes and beef come from,” said Wesley Langdale, the Foundation’s chairman. “Everyone in this country wants safe food. Our kids need to know that we grow our own.”
Boone said that as the program develops, students in second through fifth grades will be added in the counties of Berrien, Irwin, Turner, Ben Hill and Worth.